The Shift to an Innovation Ecosystem with Orange Sparkle Ball Founder Meaghan Kennedy
About this episode
Exploring Detroit's advanced mobility ecosystem, Meaghan Kennedy of Orange Sparkleball shares insights on how diverse players—from automakers to startups—connect and innovate. The conversation highlights the shift from traditional automotive supply chains to a more collaborative, tech-driven innovation system. They discuss the importance of inclusivity across the region, the role of social network analysis in mapping ecosystem relationships, and how understanding these connections can drive deliberate growth and pilot projects. Meaghan also explains the origin of her company's unique name and the value of blending research, engagement, and human-centered design to foster a thriving mobility community.
Meaghan Kennedy came to the table to discuss GEM’s social network analysis research – completed alongside Orange Sparkle Ball – and what the results mean for the future of the Detroit region and other mobility hubs.
Meaghan Kennedy is the founder of an innovation and impact-focused company, Orange Sparkle Ball (OSB) – which works to move organizations’ initiatives forward through research, technology, human-centered design and organizational goals. Before founding OSB, she worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an epidemiologist.
future mobility
"If future mobility is going to happen in the Detroit region, we need to start doing things a little bit more like it happens in Silicon Valley..."
Future mobility means how we will get around in the future, using new types of cars and technology like self-driving or electric cars.
Future mobility refers to the evolving ways people and goods will move, often involving new technologies like electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and shared transportation models.
automotive ecosystem
"as you kind of think about how things have shifted between this kind of traditional automotive ecosystem to this new thing..."
The automotive ecosystem is all the people and companies that work together to make and sell cars.
The automotive ecosystem includes all the companies, suppliers, technologies, and processes involved in designing, manufacturing, and selling vehicles.
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