Jonathan Chia

EVER HEARD OF KIWI INGENUITY...?

Don't worry, I'm not about to tell you that I had anything to do with coining the term Kiwi Ingenuity, or that I'm even worthy of such a characteristic, but it is something that I strive to emulate in my life and work.

"KIWI INGENUTIY" DEFINITION:
"The ability to come up with quick intelligent sometimes unconventional and uncommon solutions to a situation."
 

MY STORY

I grew up in New Zealand on a farm outside of Christchurch where we farmed calla lilies. This meant that when I wasn’t busy at school studying, playing rugby, acting, and singing, I was busy pulling out weeds in the garden. In retrospect I was quite fortunate to spend my time in the garden, as there were many lessons that I learned about nurturing and growing something from scratch that I carry with me to this day.

After high school, I moved to England, where I spent one of the most enjoyable and instructive years of my life. At a prep school in West Sussex, I looked after kids aged 5 to 13, teaching english, math, drama, and physical education. Never had my words or actions carried so much weight as they did to those kids, and because of that I learned the true meaning of responsibility and the old cliché "actions speak louder than words."

After a year abroad it was time to focus on my next chapter—university. I decided to attend NYU, where I would have the ability exercise my creative muscles at Tisch School of the Arts and refine my business acumen at Stern School of Business. After graduating I quickly found a job, despite the recession, in the digital marketing team of a nonprofit that I was passionate about called Charity: Water. Working for Charity: Water was incredibly fulfilling. Not only did I get to work for a company that was doing great things in the world, I also got to learn from some of the best digital marketers of the time. The team at Charity: Water was ahead of their time, the way they were able to grow their brand and business through relevant content and social media campaigns. The company has since been lauded as a model for not only nonprofit brands but but also big businesses looking to impact the world.

The combination of nonprofit resource constraints and my need to be sponsored for a visa had me looking for other opportunities within the year. It was towards the end of 2011 that I came across Co:collectives, the company that would occupy the next 6 years of my life.

Co:collective, a strategy and innovation company, had just opened its doors. I was the sixth employee to join the fledgling business. Co:collective's unique and original approach of StoryDoing allowed me to create the overall business and brand strategy for our clients as well as partnering with the creators as they designed and prototyped Iconic Innovations. These engagements could last anywhere between three to six months. 

The great benefit of working at a project-based company like Co:collective was that I got to work in many different industries with many different people. Through these experiences I acquired new skills and insights that I can bring to bear when solving new client opportunities. After cutting my teeth in the consulting business, I had a deep desire to dive into the investing business. My company at the time Co:collective, afforded me that chance by having me pair up with some veteran venture capitalists and entrepreneurs to begin the venture arm of co:collective. This was a vastly rewarding and incredibly educating for me as I learnt how to evaluate and evolve companies that we would finally invest in. 

I am currently working on, and founder of, a new software venture from Co:collective that helps companies build cultures of innovation. That venture is called Doable. All the trials and experiences of pursuing the entrepreneurial dream has become very real for me and I'm excited about all that I have learned as I went from innovation consultant to innovation entrepreneur. To be kept up to date on my progress on this and other ventures, please feel free to read and follow my blog.

SPECIALTIES

Financial analysis and investment due diligence

Business and brand strategy

Product and innovation development

User experience

Design strategy