How to Build a Better Innovation Ecosystem: Lessons from Botswana

What does it really take to build an innovation ecosystem that's inclusive, community-driven, and grounded in place? In this episode, Alex speaks with Dr. Pierce Roe Gordon, a knowledge architect and social change educator, about what's working, what's missing, and what's possible in Botswana's innovation landscape. Drawing from years of experience living and researching in the country, Dr. Pierce shares a powerful analysis of how land, policy, history, and power shape who gets to innovate and who gets left behind. Together, we explore: - Why innovation isn't neutral, and why that matters - How youth, entrepreneurs, and Indigenous communities are navigating barriers - What it takes to move beyond extractive models and toward equitable systems of change This episode is a must-listen for anyone building, funding, or rethinking innovation, whether you're in Gaborone, Toronto, or anywhere in between.