Equitable Innovation: What It Is and What It Takes to Achieve It
Illustration of cog and wheels with icons and imagery suggesting innovation with text overlay “equitable innovation'“
When we think of innovation, our minds often go to breakthrough technologies, disruptive products, or new business models. We think: the iPhone, the electric vehicle, AI, GLP-1s, Amazon, etc. But at Tidal Equality, we take a broader view of what innovation means. Innovation isn’t just about the creation of something brand new—it’s also about making meaningful changes to existing work, processes, and decision-making in a way that makes them better, fairer, and more inclusive. This can include improving systems, practices, or policies to ensure they’re reducing bias, barriers, discrimination, and representation gaps.
That’s what we mean by equitable innovation. It’s the pursuit of change—whether big or small—that prioritizes fairness and equal opportunity for all. And at Tidal Equality, we define it as "any change that prioritizes reducing bias, barriers, discrimination, representation gaps, and inequalities, to promote fairness and equal opportunities."
While the concept of equitable innovation is becoming more prevalent, the reality is that very few organizations have a scalable, reliable way to achieve it. Too often, we recognize inequities in our systems and want to make impactful changes, but lack a structured process for turning those ideas into action. That's where the Equity Sequence® comes in—a clear and practical framework designed to help organizations systematically address inequities and create real, measurable impact.
The Principles of Equitable Innovation
Equitable innovation doesn’t just appear out of thin air. It’s grounded in a mindset, a set of guiding principles that shape how decisions are made, how people are engaged, and how solutions are crafted. Here are a few key principles that are essential to understanding and practicing equitable innovation.
1. Perspective-Taking
Equitable innovators actively seek out and empathize with perspectives that differ from their own. This starts by recognizing that no two people experience the world in exactly the same way. Identity, background, and lived experience all shape how individuals view opportunities, barriers, and solutions. By practicing perspective-taking, innovators create space for diverse voices and work to build solutions that are inclusive and equitable.
WATCH THIS VIDEO To better understand dimensions of diversity.
2. Problem-Solving as a Discipline
Equitable innovation is not about finding easy fixes—it’s about the willingness to look deeply at problems, especially those related to inequity, and face them head-on. Too often, we shy away from problems because they are uncomfortable or because we feel guilt or shame. Before rushing to solutions, equitable innovators take time to deeply understand the problem, asking questions about how inequities show up in systems, processes, or decisions. They remain curious and open to uncovering gaps in their own work or the work of their teams, embracing discomfort when it arises. Albert Einstein’s famous quote—"If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions"—reflects the importance of spending time understanding the root causes of inequities before jumping to action. Equitable innovators embrace problem-solving as an opportunity to learn and improve. It’s the key to creating long-lasting, meaningful change.
CASE STUDY: Read how one equitable innovator in higher ed spotted an equity challenge and implemented equitable innovations that made real impact.
3. Continuous Improvement on the Spectrum of Equity
Rather than thinking of equity as a binary state (where something is either “equitable” or “not”), equitable innovation asks us to view equity as a spectrum. Every decision, every process, every policy can be refined to be more equitable. This mindset shift encourages leaders and teams to embrace continuous improvement—always seeking new ways to enhance fairness and equal opportunities.
This is particularly powerful when embedded into organizational workflows, enabling teams to revisit and improve upon their decisions regularly, whether through formal analysis or a simple commitment to equity-consciousness.
Learn how Tidal Equality’s Equity Sequence® can help you refine decisions and innovate more equitably through our online course here.
4. Collaborative Learning
Another crucial principle is collaborative learning. No one person or team can address inequity alone. Effective equitable innovation happens when diverse perspectives come together to share knowledge, experiences, and insights. By creating a culture of shared learning—one that acknowledges both successes and failures—organizations can drive equitable change more effectively. Storytelling, particularly candid and transparent storytelling about the process of change, is a powerful tool for this kind of collaboration. It helps build momentum for equitable innovation across teams, inspiring others to join in the movement.
The Principles of the Equity Sequence®
The Equity Sequence® is a methodology designed to guide individuals and organizations through the process of equitable innovation. The underlying principles give a sense of the framework's power and potential impact, and the method can be learned here.
1. Intentional Design
Equitable innovation requires intentionality from the very start. The Equity Sequence® encourages innovators to ensure that equity isn't an afterthought but a foundational element.
2. Inclusivity and Representation
Innovators must critically examine who is involved in the design, decision-making, and innovation process—and, just as importantly, who is left out. Inclusivity isn’t just about token participation; it’s about ensuring diverse voices are meaningfully engaged and shaping the outcomes.
CASE STUDY: Read how Virgin Media O2 created best-in-class people policies by involving new voices.
3. Assessing Impact
True equitable innovation means evaluating how changes, whether big or small, affect different groups of people and being willing to redesign to reduce harm and increase fairness.
4. Transformation Over Time
Equitable innovators must always be willing to look for ways to transform decisions and systems in ways that reduce bias and barriers. The process of equitable innovation is iterative—learning from the past, making adjustments, and continuing to improve.
BE INSPIRED: See how organizations like JPA Health, Alzheimer’s UK, and Detroit’s TechTown have leveraged the Equity Sequence® to transform their processes and promote equity. Learn more about these stories here.
Why Equitable Innovation Matters
Equitable innovation is not just a moral imperative—it’s a practical one. Organizations that prioritize equity not only contribute to a fairer world but also create better, more sustainable outcomes. When decisions are made with equity in mind, they are more inclusive, more widely accepted, and more likely to succeed.
If you’re looking to lead the charge in equitable innovation within your organization, start by exploring how the Equity Sequence® can support your goals. Let’s build a more just and equitable world, one innovation at a time.