“‘Wow’ doesn’t happen by chance,” explains tech pioneer, human-centric AI consultant and author/speaker/podcast host Elizabeth Bieniek in her book, Cake on Tuesday: 25 Lessons to Unlock Corporate Innovation.

And, Elizabeth says, “corporate” or not, we’re all innovators.

Elizabeth built and led the team that created the groundbreaking Webex Hologram holographic collaboration system, in 2021. In Cake on Tuesday, she shares the lessons she learned, along the way. And while these are about leading a pioneering team of technological innovators, the principles could every bit as easily be applied to your next creative project.

Getting started, keeping the project going, and especially, building in the “wow!” element, for anyone who experiences what you’ve created, are all areas Elizabeth explores in Cake on Tuesday.

So are the elements of playfulness and fun.

“Do we (have to be serious)?” she asks, at one point, as we discuss focusing a team on a project.

(Indeed, the title of her book and podcast come from exactly that principle!)

And one of her own latest creative projects is her new podcast, Cake on Tuesday, in which she and her guests discuss tech leadership and entrepreneurship! (Be sure to subscribe.)

In this discussion we apply some of the principles from Elizabeth’s book to a hypothetical educator’s experience of creating a mini maker faire!

On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:

• How Elizabeth first became inspired to work in human-centered technology;

• The story of Webex Hologram;

• How the principles covered in her book, Cake on Tuesday, can apply to a creative project;

• How to get started on a creative project;

• Ways to keep that project simple!:

• How to keep a team focused and on track;

• Keeping the “fun” element in the project;

• How Elizabeth maintained the “fun” element as she and her team created Webex Hologram;

• The reason behind her book’s title;

• How to plan the “wow” factor into a creative project;

• One reaction to Webex Hologram that showed Elizabeth that her team had achieved that “wow” element;

• How to get through the “middle” part of a project;

• A quote which keeps Elizabeth going through the challenges;

• Her current work as a consultant, as well as her public presentations and podcast;

• How to communicate with a team effectively, without micromanaging;

• Developing your success into a “system” for future projects.