Acclaimed Author and Home Chef, Anupy Singla, on Innovation

Every time I get the opportunity, I ask great chefs this simple question:

What does innovation mean to you?

This year at the International Home and Housewares Show, I had the great pleasure of chatting with Anupy Singla.  While her website says she is a ‘journalist turned foodie turned author,’ she could not have written the books she had if she wasn’t a chef.  Anupy’s book, “The Indian Slow Cooker” is also part of the distinguished “Beyond Bollywood, Indian Americans Shape the Nation” at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History! (You can read an interview with the curator here.)

Her response to the question: “What does innovation mean to you?” is shown below.  Give it a watch and join me below the video and I’ll share my thoughts.

Anupy highlights a facet of innovation that’s one of my favorites.  The process is simple.  Take a product that is useful in one context and use it in  similar context where the product is unknown.  This principle is basically what underlies the creative problem solving process called, TRIZ.  She has applied it and combined multiple technologies to create an improved, stackable and patented, Spice Tiffin with spice levelers built into each bowl.

What are your thoughts on Anupy Singla’s view of innovation?