Daria Podmetina, D. Sc.

Daria Podmetina, D. Sc. (in Tech.), is an experienced researcher, university teacher, project manager and education innovation enthusiast. Currently she coordinates research projects as a senior researcher at Taltech university (Tallinn, Estonia) and works as visiting professor at Estonian University of Life Sciences (Tartu). She specializes in the field of innovation management and sustainability. She made an impact on education in integrating arts into STEM and developing STEAM skills for innovation management professionals and entrepreneurs, promoting entrepreneurship, challenge-based education, sustainability and social innovation in education. Daria has been promoting sustainability and open and collaborative innovation principles in research and teaching in international projects, presentations on Academy of Management, ISPIM, WOIC and other international conferences, and in publications in academic journals such as Technovation, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Management Decisions, Journal of Small Business Management and others.

“Future skills for innovation managers and entrepreneurs: insights from art driven innovation and STEAM approach“

Innovation managers and entrepreneurs today face increasing complexity driven by digital transformation, sustainability demands, and societal uncertainty. Traditional competence models, developed decades ago, are no longer sufficient to prepare innovators for these challenges. This presentation introduces an Art-Driven Competence Model, which integrates the STEAM framework with a focus on the role of the arts. The model highlights skill sets grouped into three core competencies: innovative problem-solving, emotional and innovative cognition, and inter- and intrapersonal skills. By emphasizing creativity, emotional intelligence, and reflective thinking, the model equips innovation professionals to navigate uncertainty with greater confidence. It offers practical guidance for education and practice, helping innovators design more responsible and impactful solutions.