Michael Steiner is the Executive Director of BEST Robotics, an annual student robotics competition for middle and high school students that facilitates experiential, complex creative problem solving within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Over 18,000 students across the US participate in the program each fall. Michael is also the co-founder of Your Global Strategy, a consulting agency that works with thought leaders and governments across the globe to manage projects and drive creativity towards growth. In our conversation, we discuss how the BEST Robotics competition fosters creative problem-solving skills among students, as well as Michael’s personal and professional insights into the creative process and how best to prepare young minds for creativity and innovation.  

For our Creativity Pro-Tip, we encourage you to explore and gain expertise across fields and domains of knowledge in order to maximize your creative potential and develop your own creative problem-solving skills. 

Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter.

If you enjoy this episode, you might also like our conversations in Episode 16: Creativity, Innovation & Leadership with Robert Cleve, PhD, Episode 38: Leadership for Creativity and Innovation with Jamie Gallagher, and Episode 48: Can You Learn Creativity? with Creative Director Chris McKenna. 

At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org. Our book, also called Syncreate, walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review!

Episode-specific hyperlinks: 

BEST Robotics Website

Michael Steiner on LinkedIn

Michael’s Consulting Firm: Your Global Strategy

Creativity Researcher Mark Runco

Show / permanent hyperlinks: 

The Syncreate Podcast

Syncreate Website

Syncreate Instagram

Syncreate Facebook

Syncreate LinkedIn

Syncreate YouTube

Melinda Rothouse Website

Austin Writing Coach

Melinda Joy Music Website