Inside the Minds of Lifehack Lab Mentors
Following my previous blog post, Outside the Square of Lifehack HQ, I asked three out of twenty different Lab mentors five questions regarding Lifehack Labs 2014 and their view on improving society within New Zealand.
The Lab will be a five week creative workshop to tackle difficult projects for youth wellbeing. The main objective is to improve society in New Zealand. Labs will take place in Wellington between August 15th and September 19th this year.
The following questions are designed to inform interested people about the background of Lifehack Lab mentors and their career goal to help improve New Zealand society. The answers below will tell the story of who these Lab mentors are, interested people for attending future Labs, and the current participants attending Labs.
Here’s what the Lab mentors had to say:
- Senior Communications Advisor at New Zealand Drug Foundation.
1. Why did you choose to become a Lab mentor?
“Lifehack Labs is shaping up to be a great programme. I wanted to share in that and also share my skills with, and learn from, young people looking to change the world.”
2. What type of specialised skill(s) will you bring to Labs?
“I come from a communications, behaviour change, drug policy, public health, background. So working out the best thing to say to people and the best way to say it about thorny issues.”
3. What are your future career goals to help improve society and/or youth wellbeing?
“I would really like to work toward a New Zealand where there are multi-faceted services around young people that help them when they need it, and be accessible to a wide range of needs. Whether that is an application, or a drop in centre, there need to be solutions in the places where young people look for them.”
4. If you could work on one complex challenge in society within New Zealand what would it be?
“Child poverty. So much stems from the early years of life - it sets the track people go down in terms of mental and physical health and wellbeing, but also in terms of their ability to live a fulfilling life. Many social, health, and mental health problems stem from our unequal society. Let's address that and change things.”
5. What advice would you give an individual who is accepted for Lifehack Labs?
“Use this opportunity wisely. Collaborate and work together with people to make your ideas better because all the ideas that come out of Labs will make NZ a better place.”
- CEO and Founder of Chalkle.
1. Why did you choose to become a Lab mentor?
“I love it that the lab focuses on people first and foremost I have witnessed Lifehack over the last year, I think it has come on a great journey and I am excited to be a part of its next step.”
2. What type of specialised skill(s) will you bring to Labs?
“Help the participants ask why, facilitation skills, experience and advice on running a tech social impact start-up, and time and space to have cups of coffee.”
3. What are your future career goals to help improve society and/or youth wellbeing?
“Create more lifelong learning opportunities for all people and enable our communities to connect online - but then meet and learn offline.”
4. If you could work on one complex challenge in society within New Zealand what would it be?
5. What advice would you give an individual who is accepted for Lifehack Labs?
“Don't focus too much on the details. Keep your head up, your heart open, and your will engaged. Say yes to every opportunity.”
- Co-founder at Enspiral Dev Academy and Consultant/BDM at Enspiral.
1. Why did you choose to become a Lab mentor?
“I love Chels, Sam, Gina and the wider Lifehack team. The vision for Lifehack is uplifting, worthy and rewarding. Working with passionate people to better our society is one of the best things to do with your time. I am sure I will learn a lot!”
2. What type of specialised skill(s) will you bring to Labs?
“I have experience in developing how people work. Growing an individual’s skills and capabilities through self-reflection and development to improve their interaction with others. I find it easy to be vulnerable and I encourage others to do the same in a safe environment.”
3. What are your future career goals to help improve society and/or youth wellbeing?
“Through my work with Enspiral Dev Academy, I hope to be able to increase the capabilities of our students so that they are known for their good judgement, empathy and kindness. I hope to be able to influence our education system to include curriculum that builds a person rather than a resource.”
4. If you could work on one complex challenge in society within New Zealand what would it be?
“Overhauling our education system to accommodate a more diverse group. Right now our education system focuses on knowledge gathering and retention. I would like it to focus more on capabilities and skills.”
5. What advice would you give an individual who is accepted for Lifehack Labs?
“Think about what aspect of yourself that you would like to improve. This is a safe place to be yourself. Be open to change, be open to other views, be venerable and be kind.”
These three Lab mentors have different skillsets and will be valuable for Labs and they care a lot about the New Zealand society. The other Lab mentors who have not been interviewed will also be providing valuable dialogue and feedback for Lab participants.
It has been an awesome experience interviewing these talented Lab mentors and I wish the chosen Lab participants the best of luck for Labs 2014.
Lance Young, Lifehack Extern.
LIFEHACK HQ - Catalysing impact projects for youth wellbeing through technology & social entrepreneurship.
NZ’s first Social Innovation Lab - a five week immersion bootcamp to develop technology projects to improve youth wellbeing! Spread the word!