Hey everyone, welcome back to Unlikely Founders! I'm Jason Miller, and as always, I'm here with my mate Oliver Bennett. Today, we're diving into something I think is super cool—how people from totally different backgrounds end up building the most creative solutions together. Oliver, you ready for this?Absolutely, Jason. I love this topic. You know, last episode we talked about how mixing creative and analytical minds can spark innovation. Today, we've got some brilliant examples—like, imagine a team with a law student, a musician, an engineer, an analytics pro, and a communications expert. Sounds like the start of a joke, but it's actually a recipe for some serious entrepreneurial magic.Yeah, and these aren't just random folks. We're talking about Santiago Neira, who's all about business and finance, but also super disciplined—like, this guy hits the gym more than I check my email. Then there's Juan Felipe Norato, who mixes music and business. I mean, that's wild, right? He's got this design thinking approach, always looking for ways to build something meaningful from scratch.And don't forget Natalia Pinilla. She's got a law background, but she's also finishing up business administration. What stands out to me is how she blends legal expertise with strategic thinking. Plus, she's working at NielsenIQ, turning complex data into insights for big consumer brands. That's a real-world example of how these skills come together.Totally. And then there's Andrés Oyuela, who's deep into supply chain and logistics. He's got this passion for working in interdisciplinary teams, which, honestly, is where the magic happens. And finally, Juan Camilo Motta—he's the communications and PR guy, but also super into tech and AI. He studied in Australia, so he's got that global perspective too.It's fascinating, isn't it? When you put all these people together, you get this unexpected synergy. Like, the lawyer sees risks, the engineer solves problems, the musician brings creativity, the analyst finds patterns, and the communicator ties it all together. It's a bit like a band, really—everyone's got their instrument, but the music only works when they play together.That reminds me of my first big supply chain project. We had a team with a finance guy, a data analyst, a logistics expert, and, weirdly enough, someone who used to work in theater. At first, it was chaos—like, nobody spoke the same language. But when we hit a roadblock, it was the theater guy who came up with this wild idea for visualizing our process, and suddenly everything clicked. We solved a problem that had stumped us for weeks. So, yeah, I totally get how these different backgrounds can create something you just wouldn't get otherwise.That's a brilliant story, Jason. And it ties in perfectly with what Natalia Pinilla's doing at NielsenIQ. She's not just crunching numbers—she's actually transforming all that messy data into clear, actionable insights for clients in fast-moving industries. It's one thing to have the data, but making it useful? That's a whole different skill set.Yeah, and I think that's where her legal and business background really helps. She can see the big picture, but also spot the details that matter. It's like, she knows how to ask the right questions, not just find the right answers. And that's huge in analytics.Exactly. And then you've got Andrés Oyuela at Casa Luker. He's using AI and teamwork to tackle supply chain challenges. I mean, Casa Luker's been around for over a century, but Andrés is bringing in new tech and fresh ideas. It's a great example of how young professionals can leverage their diverse skills to make a real impact, even in traditional industries.I love that. And it's not just about the tech, right? It's about how you work with people from different backgrounds to actually get things done. Like, Andrés is passionate about learning and building sustainable projects with interdisciplinary teams. That's what makes the difference between just having an idea and actually making it work in the real world.Yeah, and I think that's something a lot of young professionals overlook. You don't have to fit into one box. If you've got skills in law, or music, or engineering, or whatever—bring it all to the table. That's how you create practical solutions that actually stick.And sometimes, it's the unexpected combo that gives you the edge. Like, maybe the engineer sees a technical fix, but the communicator knows how to sell it, and the analyst figures out if it's even worth doing. It's all about turning those insights into real impact.Speaking of unexpected combos, let's talk about Juan Felipe Norato. He's got this blend of artistic creativity from his music studies and sharp business sense from his administration background. He uses design thinking to build projects with real purpose, not just for the sake of it. That's a rare mix, isn't it?Yeah, and it's not just about being creative—it's about channeling that creativity into something strategic. Juan Felipe's all about finding opportunities in real problems and designing solutions that actually work. I wish I'd had that mindset when I started out. I was all spreadsheets and no imagination, honestly.Well, that's where collaboration comes in, right? Like, take Juan Camilo Motta at SmartPR. He's got this knack for connecting ideas and organizing teams, but he's also open to new tech and ways of thinking. When you combine his communications expertise with tech-driven strategies, you get innovation that actually reaches people.Totally. And I think that's what makes these teams so powerful. It's not just about having good ideas—it's about having the right mix of people to turn those ideas into reality. You need the creative spark, but you also need someone to keep things on track and make sure it all makes sense.That reminds me of when I was at university. I helped launch a student-led startup—nothing massive, but it taught me a lot. We had a coder, a designer, a business student, and, well, me. I was supposed to be the 'strategy guy,' but honestly, I spent half my time just trying to keep everyone talking to each other. It was messy, but that's where the best ideas came from. You need that mix of creativity and strategy, or you just end up spinning your wheels.Yeah, and I think that's the big takeaway today. Whether you're in law, music, engineering, analytics, or communications, it's the combination that drives innovation. So, if you're listening and thinking your background doesn't fit—trust me, that's your superpower.Couldn't have said it better myself, Jason. Well, that's all we've got for this episode of Unlikely Founders. Thanks for joining us as we explored these unexpected paths to innovation. We'll be back soon with more stories and insights from the world of entrepreneurship and AI.Thanks, Oliver. And thanks to everyone listening. Catch you next time!Cheers, Jason. See you all soon!

Episodes

Unexpected Paths to Innovation