#12: Empowering Meaningful Human Connection Using VR Experiences w/ Caitlin Krause, Founder of MindWise, Stanford Professor, & Author

Machines can replicate processes, but they can’t detect quality. Human beings are the mindful drivers that define meaning, and that is what sets us apart.

Caitlin is an explorer in the worlds of technology, innovation, and well being. She is an author of two books named Designing Wonder and Mindful by Design, a professor at Stanford teaching classes such as “Digital Wellbeing: Healthy Relationships with Technology”. 

After teaching for two decades, Caitlin founded MindWise, a storytelling and experience design studio and consultancy, in 2015. Their impressive client portfolio includes Google, Facebook, Oracle, Ted, Evernote, and the US State Department. 

What is the PROBLEM that MindWise is solving?

How do you incorporate technology into learning experiences? Educators and managers are eager to utilize technology to teach their students or train their teams, but they fear losing touch with their humanity or compromising their quality of life. An even more challenging task is taking the salient and meaningful takeaways from a VR experience and bringing it back to one’s reality. Moments of enlightenment are often too fleeting for long-term impact. Users are not expertly guided on how to apply their newfound concepts moving forward.

What is MindWise’s SOLUTION?

Utilizing a triangle of mindfulness, storytelling and design.

By incorporating a design thinking mindset, Mindwise encourages deep inquiry and empathy through the expressive art of VR technology.

Storytelling as a form of teaching is ten times more memorable than delivering random, abstract concepts. A story can be defined as a package of what we find meaningful. Once it’s transferred, the recipient will attach their own meaning to it and its lessons are now more deeply ingrained. 

From coaching TED talks to advising at high schools and universities, MindWise delivers all forms of program support with their innovative methodology. 

As a result, MindWise pioneers connection and freedom through artificial intelligence.

Caitlin Krause’s Website

Caitlin Krause’s LinkedIn

Caitlin Krause’s Instagram

Caitlin Krause’s Twitter

MindWise’s Website

MindWise’s LinkedIn

“When you fear something it shows that you care; so how can we turn that care into an opportunity to thrive in that moment?”

Value Bomb

Fear is an indicator of how much you care about something. Therefore, the more fear you feel toward something, the more you care about the thing causing you fear. Rather than allowing this fear to cripple you into inaction, let it fuel your actions toward progress. Shift your mindset on fear and view it from a positive lens. Leverage this care as an opportunity to thrive in that moment.

Visit inventingthefuture.ai for the full show notes, which includes a full transcription of the conversation, the top 3 value bombs, people & resources mentioned, and more!

This podcast is hosted by Julian Alvarez, the Co-Founder & CTO at Vize and a Software Engineer at Facebook.