Words by Morgan Mercer | Photos by Sarah White

Pollen is celebrating the 14 businesses that have come together in support of Pollen’s mission to build better connected communities. Together, these businesses challenge Pollenites to raise $15,000 by December 31, which they will match dollar for dollar. Donate today and join them in their investment to power human connection. 

There is one moment Heather Saucier waits for when she starts working with a new client at Mindsailing, an innovation agency in Minneapolis. It’s the instant when the fear of change is replaced with the momentum of possibility. As director of innovation, it’s Heather’s job to help companies find that moment so they can clear the hurdles standing between them and transformative growth. “When people are encouraged to think beyond convention, they’re more likely to see the upside of change,” says Heather. “Many times just having a safe place to explore change can help people pursue new ideas.” Mindsailing uses research and innovation workshops to challenge clients to think differently about their work and build new business strategies. By making change manageable, Mindsailing helped a global MedTech start-up launch a life-saving Class III medical device, and supported elite athletes on their way to the Olympics through crowdfunding, branded products, and an award-winning website.

POLLEN: When did you know you wanted to become an entrepreneur?

Heather Saucier:

I’ve always had a creative and entrepreneurial spirit.

When I was about seven years old I started my own neighborhood newspaper (circulation: my best friend’s house). My mother said if I wanted to run my own business that I should learn from other women who did it. She made me write down questions and what I wanted to learn. Then we visited a handful of woman-owned shops and I did some of my first interviews. I remember being afraid, but doing it anyway. No one treated me like a little girl. Instead, they answered my questions with sincerity. Suddenly I could see the path from playing pretend to a dream realized. The experience stuck with me.

POLLEN: What kinds of businesses do you want to see more of in this community?

Heather Saucier: I’d like to see more companies from sectors facing tremendous disruption like energy, agriculture, empathy, health, community, and finance. We’re in an era where many organizations and people are facing increased pressure. For most, innovation is a second job on top of existing responsibilities. It’s critical to connect with each other and share what we’re learning and trying. The more diverse we are, the better. A few years ago I began to ask a question at every meeting or event I attended: “Who’s not here?”

If we’re going to solve these great challenges before us, we need to seek the missing pieces.

POLLEN: How do you intentionally build your community?

Heather Saucier: At its core, a community shares an identity, common values, and behaviors. When we approach the concept of community and how we relate to one another we stop asking, “What do you do?” Instead we ask, “Where are you going?” It helps us align our vision and values with others, and allows diverse perspectives and unscripted opportunities to emerge.

Also, I would say that laughter is an essential ingredient to any thriving community.

POLLEN: What is your greatest source of pride?

Heather Saucier: In life? My children. In business? Joining a movement of people who are dedicated to the idea that great brands are in the business of good.

Our clients face disruptive challenges and come up smiling.

They foster multi-religious peace efforts on a global scale. They help our aging community live at home. They create new methods and markets for agricultural practices that clean our waters. They streamline health data that will influence patient outcomes. They foster new types of communities and education platforms to help people realize their dreams. It’s often unglamorous work with a glamorous impact. I’m proud to know them, proud to learn from them, and proud to support them in every way I can.

POLLEN: What are the core values of your business? What is the story behind how you arrived at those values?

Heather Saucier: We embrace change. We believe insight can revolutionize. We believe empathy is a requirement. We started Mindsailing because we wanted to help people overcome the common hurdles of transformation. That requires balancing intellect and strategic rigor (the mind) with openness, passion, and ingenuity (the sail).

We believe the future is good, because together we can make it so.