A Creator’s Lens on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
When I got the invite to judge Sheridan EDGE‘s Idea Validation Lab V.4, I honestly had no idea what I was walking into. Forty-nine students. One room at Sheridan’s Davis Campus. Business pitches that would make Shark Tank jealous. And me, sitting on a panel of judges, trying to figure out how my creator brain could contribute to evaluating the next wave of Canadian entrepreneurs.
Spoiler alert: It was everything I didn’t expect and exactly what I needed.
What Actually Matters: Innovation Isn’t About Perfect Pitches
Here’s what hit me within the first ten minutes of listening to these students present their ideas, innovation isn’t about having the most polished presentation or the slickest business model. It’s about solving real problems with creative solutions that you actually care about.
Take Knoty AnDezigns, who snagged first place. Their concept? Transforming plastic waste into handmade resin art pieces like keychains and decorative items. Simple idea, massive impact. They weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they were trying to save the planet one resin keychain at a time.
Then there was Glowbal, who secured second place with their platform designed to tackle waste management and environmental challenges right on campus. Again, not revolutionary tech, but revolutionary thinking about how to solve problems that are literally sitting in front of us every day.
As I sat there listening to pitch after pitch, I realized what separated the standout concepts from the rest wasn’t complexity. It was clarity of purpose and genuine passion for the problem they were solving.
What This Means for You as a Creator or Entrepreneur
If you’re reading this as a content creator or someone thinking about starting their own business, here’s the truth bomb that hit me during those presentations: You don’t need to create something that’s never been done before (I remind myself this every time I have a new idea. Well, as much as possible). You need to create something that matters to you and solves a problem you understand.
Every creator I know gets caught up in the “but someone else is already doing this” trap. These students reminded me that execution and perspective matter more than originality. Knoty AnDezigns wasn’t the first company to think about recycling plastic, but they were thinking about it through the lens of accessible, beautiful art pieces.
The students who stood out weren’t the ones with the most groundbreaking ideas, they were the ones who could articulate why their solution mattered and who it would help. They understood their audience because they were part of that audience.
Sound familiar? That’s literally the foundation of successful content creation and community building.
How I’m Applying This Insight (And How You Can Too)
Sitting in that judge’s chair gave me a masterclass in evaluation that I’m now applying to every aspect of my work with Black Canadian Creators and The Chonilla Network. Here’s my three-step framework that came out of this experience:
1. The Problem-First Filter
Before I commit to any new project, partnership, or content series, I now ask: “What problem does this actually solve?” Not what I think might be a problem, but what problem I’ve experienced myself or seen repeatedly in my community.
For example, when we launched our creator directory, it wasn’t because directories didn’t exist. It was because I kept getting DMs from brands asking “Do you know any other Black creators in Canada?” and realizing there was no centralized place to find us.
2. The Passion Test
Those winning students weren’t just presenting business ideas, they were sharing something they genuinely cared about. You could hear it in their voices, see it in how they answered questions, feel it in how they talked about impact.
I’ve started applying this same energy check to my content. If I’m not genuinely excited about a topic, if it doesn’t connect to something I care deeply about, I don’t create content around it. Period. Passion is the only sustainable fuel for long-term creative work.
3. The Execution Over Perfection Principle
What struck me most about the presentations was how many students were already testing their ideas in small ways. Knoty AnDezigns had prototypes. Glowbal (app) had researched campus waste patterns. They weren’t waiting for perfect conditions, they were starting with what they had.
This completely shifted how I approach our events and community initiatives. Instead of waiting until we have the perfect venue, the perfect speakers, or the perfect timing, we’re testing smaller versions first. Our recent Creative Lunch Meetup at La Ciel in Toronto started as a simple Instagram outreach answer, raising my hand that I’ll do it and building interest in IRL meetups.
The Unexpected Lessons from the Judge’s Table
Being on the other side of the pitch process taught me things I never expected:
Judges want you to succeed. Every single person on that panel was rooting for these students. We weren’t looking for reasons to say no, we were looking for reasons to say yes. This completely changed how I think about pitching my own ideas to potential partners or funders.
Questions aren’t attacks. When judges asked tough questions, they weren’t trying to tear down the presentations. They were trying to help students think through challenges they might face. Now when I get pushback on an idea, I try to hear it as help rather than criticism.
Authenticity beats polish every time. The most memorable pitches weren’t the most polished: they were the most honest. Students who acknowledged challenges, talked about lessons learned, and showed genuine reflection on their process stood out more than those with perfect presentations but no depth.
Why This Matters for the Creator Economy
What I witnessed at Sheridan EDGE is exactly what the creator economy needs more of: people solving real problems with creative solutions, starting where they are, and building as they learn.
These weren’t students waiting for permission or perfect conditions. They were testing ideas, getting feedback, and iterating. That’s the exact energy we need as creators and entrepreneurs.
If you’re sitting on an idea for a course, a product, a service, or even just a content series, stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start with version 0.1. Get feedback. Improve. Launch again.
The Ripple Effect
Judging this event reminded me why I started Black Canadian Creators podcast and group in the first place. It wasn’t because I had all the answers or the perfect platform. It was because I saw a gap that I could help fill, one creator story at a time.
Watching all of these students put themselves out there, pitch their ideas, and seek feedback was a powerful reminder that innovation happens when we stop overthinking and start doing.
Whether you’re a content creator thinking about launching a podcast, an entrepreneur with an idea you’ve been sitting on, or someone who just wants to contribute to your community in a meaningful way: the time to start is now.
Not with the perfect idea, perfect timing, or perfect resources. But with clarity about the problem you want to solve and the passion to see it through.
Huge shoutout to all the participants, my fellow judges, Aritraa Banerjee Kashish Jeswani, Fatima Gould presenter Tanika “iNsight” Riley, and the incredible team at Sheridan EDGE Nadine Sinno, PhD and Meghna Shah for organizing such an inspiring event. Events like these remind me why supporting the next generation of innovators is so crucial to building stronger, more creative communities.
Want to share your own creator journey or entrepreneurial experience? Check out our creator spotlight submissions and become part of our growing community.
Tags: Sheridan EDGE, idea validation, student startups, entrepreneurship, Sherley Joseph, innovation, Canadian creators, Black Canadian Creators, social impact, campus innovation, business pitch, mentorship, creator economy, community, student competition, pitching, startup lessons, resin art, sustainability, waste management, Knoty AnDezigns, Glowbal, experiential learning, campus events, creator perspective, changemakers
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