About Dr. Andy Scarpelli:

Dr. Andrew Scarpelli is a Chicago science and art professor whose training is in microbiology and synthetic biology. He is a 2020 Global Community Biosummit fellow and SciArt Resident in “The Bridge” program. He is cofounder and president of the community biolab ChiTownBio. He is greatly interested in expanding the utility of biotechnology into fields such as art and social justice.

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Andy Scarpelli discuss:

• Blending science, art, and imagination in leadership
• Why context matters more than memorization in learning
• Translating complex ideas so people can actually connect with them
• Creativity as a leadership skill, not a personality trait
• The role of curiosity in innovation and problem-solving

Key Takeaways:

• True understanding comes from context, not repetition. Memorizing terms or concepts without meaning creates distance, while learning rooted in a real-world context helps people connect ideas to purpose and application in leadership and education.
• Creativity is not limited to artists or innovators by title. It shows up whenever leaders are willing to listen, translate ideas across disciplines, and make space for curiosity rather than control.
• Great leaders act as bridges. They sit between worlds, learn the language of each side, and help people understand one another without diminishing complexity or oversimplifying meaning.
• Innovation grows when people feel safe to explore ideas they do not fully understand yet. Curiosity, humility, and the willingness to ask better questions open doors that expertise alone often keeps closed.

"If you find everything that you need, you're going to want to share it with the people that you care about, because I don't, I would think the vast majority of people don't want to be alone in things." – Dr. Andy Scarpelli

Connect with Dr. Andy Scarpelli:

Website: https://chitownbio.org/

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: coachkd63@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63