Episode 2: What It Means To Innovate (with Jason Lehmbeck)

Welcome to the second episode of the Thrive Dispatches Podcast, from Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities at Georgetown University. Every two weeks, Center Director Dr. Matt Biel hosts child and family health experts and advocates for a personal and illuminating conversation.

For questions, comments or ideas for future episodes, please email us at: thrivecenter@georgetown.edu

About the episode:

In this episode of Thrive Dispatches, Matt Biel welcomes entrepreneur and disability advocate Jason Lehmbeck. Jason shares his personal journey navigating the healthcare and disability systems for his son, Noah, and how that experience inspired him to drive innovation in mental health and disability care.

He discusses the power of peer support, the role of technology in improving access, and the launch of the Thrive Innovation Hub—an initiative designed to connect innovators with Thrive Center experts to scale real-world impact.

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Summary:

In the following excerpt, Matt and Jason discuss how personal experiences in the healthcare system guide Jason’s entrepreneurial endeavors and the importance of breaking free from isolation. The conversation has been condensed for clarity.

Matt: I’m really glad to talk to you and dig into your unique perspective. Can you share how you got involved with kids’ mental health, disability care, and innovation?

Jason: I entered this space through my family’s journey. My background is in startups and technology, but after selling my last company, I decided to focus on disability and mental health care. My oldest son, Noah, was born with FoxG1, a rare genetic condition. When we first discovered it, he was one of only 20 known cases. Over time, we realized how broken the systems were—how they failed to meet him where he was and see him as a person rather than a set of symptoms.

Navigating these challenges from the day he was born has given me a deep, firsthand perspective. As a family, we’ve had to continuously advocate for him and help him navigate these systems, which will be an ongoing journey for the rest of his life. That experience has shaped my approach to this work, showing me the gaps in access and alignment in healthcare, education, and disability services.

At the same time, I recognize that my perspective is just one among many. Noah’s personality, strengths, and interests shape how we see these systems, but other families have different experiences. My goal is to channel what I’ve learned into innovation while staying humble and open to different perspectives.

Matt: You’re highlighting both the power of social support and the importance of bringing together different kinds of expertise to create meaningful change. At Thrive, we focus on four key areas: disability, early childhood, child and family mental health, and equity with cultural and linguistic competence. How will innovators outside of Georgetown and the Thrive Center engage with our experts?

Jason: We’re delivering two key things for both the innovators and the Thrive Center.

First, convenings—bringing together innovators not just to network but to exchange ideas, solutions, and challenges. We’ll host gatherings, including a science fair and other interactive events, to encourage meaningful collaboration.

Second, we’re launching the Thrive Fellowship, our version of an accelerator. Every six months, we’ll select six to eight leading innovators—whether from nonprofits or for-profits—who are developing impactful solutions for kids and families. These fellows will work with the Thrive Center to scale their impact while also challenging and expanding our thinking.

By fostering these connections, we aim to generate fresh ideas, accelerate innovation, and deepen the impact of our work at Thrive.

Listen to the full episode