“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.“
This timeless quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, captures the essence of how learning and innovation are fostered through active participation. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the realm of moonshot projects, hackathons, and cross-division collaborations that push the boundaries of what’s possible in organizations. In these environments, the act of involvement is not just beneficial—it’s essential for meaningful innovation.
Why Cross-Division Collaboration is Crucial for Moonshot Projects
Moonshot projects, by definition, aim for breakthrough innovation that can redefine industries or solve seemingly impossible challenges. These projects cannot thrive in silos, where ideas and expertise are limited to a single perspective. Cross-division collaboration brings diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences into one room, creating a fertile ground for innovative solutions.
However, the key to unlocking the full potential of such collaborations is to move beyond simply telling or teaching different teams about each other’s work. It’s not enough for one division to explain their challenges and for another to passively listen or offer advice. The real magic happens when everyone is actively involved in co-creating solutions, learning from each other’s expertise, and adapting their thinking in real-time.
When engineers, product designers, marketers, and business strategists come together, they don’t just exchange ideas—they build on each other’s contributions. The engineers might come up with a prototype, but it’s the marketers who can identify the customer need it will address, and the strategists who can see how to scale it. Every participant’s unique lens is essential, but true innovation emerges when these lenses overlap and create something new.
The Power of Hackathons: Learning Through Active Participation
Hackathons are a perfect manifestation of the “involve me and I learn” philosophy. They are fast-paced, problem-solving events where participants from various backgrounds work intensively to develop new ideas and solutions. Hackathons, by design, are immersive—they are about doing, not just talking or listening. This active involvement fosters deeper learning and collaboration.
During a hackathon, participants don’t just learn from a theoretical standpoint. They experience the challenges and opportunities firsthand. This kind of active involvement forces them to move beyond their comfort zones, learn new skills on the fly, and approach problems from multiple angles. The urgency of the event compels them to test ideas, iterate quickly, and innovate in ways they might never have thought possible in their day-to-day roles.
In cross-division hackathons, the involvement of participants from different areas of the company leads to the exchange of domain-specific knowledge. Engineers might learn about customer-facing challenges from sales teams, while business strategists might learn about the constraints and possibilities of new technologies from developers. The learning is deep, impactful, and—most importantly—actionable.
How Active Involvement Drives Innovation
Innovation is not a passive activity. It requires deep engagement, hands-on experimentation, and continuous iteration. By involving people from different divisions in moonshot projects and hackathons, organizations can foster a culture where everyone is learning from each other and contributing to collective progress.
Cross-division collaboration does more than just pool resources; it enables a deeper understanding of the organization’s broader goals. When individuals are involved in creating solutions, they gain insights into how different parts of the organization function. This level of involvement ensures that the innovation generated is not only technically feasible but also aligned with business objectives, customer needs, and market realities.
Furthermore, active involvement democratizes innovation. When people from all levels and divisions contribute, the ideas generated are not limited to a select few. Instead, innovation becomes a shared responsibility and opportunity across the organization.
Fostering a Culture of Continuous Involvement
For organizations aiming to foster innovation through moonshot projects or hackathons, the goal should be to create a culture of continuous involvement. Rather than seeing collaboration as a one-time event, it should become the default way of working. This means creating ongoing opportunities for cross-division collaboration, embedding hackathons and sprints into the workflow, and encouraging teams to take ownership of the innovations they help create.
Leaders can nurture this culture by actively involving employees in decision-making processes and encouraging them to work across traditional boundaries. By offering platforms for collaboration—whether physical hackathons, digital idea labs, or shared innovation challenges—they ensure that involvement isn’t just a momentary event but a sustained practice.
Conclusion
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” This quote serves as a powerful reminder that true innovation stems from involvement. In moonshot projects and hackathons, cross-division collaboration moves teams from passive knowledge transfer to active, immersive learning. Through involvement, individuals learn, grow, and create. More importantly, organizations that embrace this approach can unlock unprecedented innovation, solving complex challenges and opening new pathways to success.
For companies looking to achieve breakthrough innovation, the lesson is clear: invite more people to the table, get them involved, and watch how their participation leads to transformative results.