Every startup, one way or another, is born when someone with a vision sees an opportunity for innovation and economic sustainability where others haven’t. What makes the founders of Madécasse unique is that these visions of prosperity had nothing to do with with themselves and everything to do with a island nation that was exporting its resources without reaping its fullest benefits.

Giorgio Armani tried to kill Fabrice Penot. At least, it seems his business almost did. A perfume designer, Fabrice worked for years on the House of Armani brand. But even though he was brought in to run the fragrance division, he was constantly called to answer to the financial and marketing departments, who demanded a justification—a real world example of how and where a particular concept has worked for someone else—for every idea he tried to pursue. Demonstrating tested marketplace success before acting is the opposite of innovation, and nearly drove Fabrice Penot mad.

Throughout most of my life as student, class participation was very highly valued.  From middle school through college, the comments at grading times were always something like this:  "Emily is a very intelligent student and always completes her assignments with competence and insight. She should trust herself more to speak up regularly in class, because when she does, she always has great points to make.  She would benefit from more frequent contribution, as would her classmates."

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