Ep. 53: Alaina Harkness - Falling in Love with the Problem
Building any organization is hard. Building a nonprofit, community place-based organization in an industry you are new to, and then doing it so well that the government gives you well into nine figures to lead a regional economic engine over the next 10 years, is really hard. But Alaina Harkness is genuinely that impressive. And it's super clear she's only just getting started.
After stints at the MacArthur Foundation, the Brookings Institution, and RW Ventures, she took over Chicago-based Current, where our very own Steve Kloos chairs the board, in 2019. And from the very first time I met her, it was clear they had a very talented leader indeed at the helm. This conversation shows you why I thought that and that I was 1,000% right. She's awesome. Please enjoy my conversation with the wonderful Alaina Harkness.
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Full show notes and links to mentioned content below.
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Alaina Harkness discusses her transition into the water sector to lead Current, emphasizing the value of "interstitial" organizations that connect innovators to complex water problems. She explores the Midwest's shift from taking water abundance for granted to treating it as a vital economic asset amid growing industrial demands. Alaina also breaks down the strategy behind winning a $160M NSF grant for Great Lakes RENEW to build a circular blue economy, the importance of hiring "T-shaped" teams, and the unique realities of leading a nonprofit scale-up like a startup.
00:00 - Introduction
02:33 - Why Alaina Harkness Joined Current
06:02 - How Chicago Became a Water Innovation Hub
12:01 - Why Connectivity & Collaboration Drive Better Innovation
15:12 - Leading Current Through Rapid Growth & Industry Change
17:07 - Why Water Security Is Becoming an Economic Priority
19:52 - How Data Centers Are Reshaping Water Infrastructure
24:14 - The Strategy Behind Current’s $160M NSF Grant Win
29:55 - The Startup Lessons Behind Building a Water Innovation Ecosystem
35:56 - Inside the NSF Regional Innovation Engine Vision
42:41 - Long-Term Thinking, Investment & the Future of Water
48:01 - The Best Advice for Water Entrepreneurs
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