When Great Minds Collaborate

Reflection on the Challenge

At the inaugural Mensa Foundation Challenge (the “Challenge”) pitch competition, 11 brilliant minds demonstrated that the best ideas arise from diverse perspectives. The Challenge is more than a competition; it is an idea incubator that promotes dialogue, encourages collaboration, and initiates projects that will change the world.

Each presenter was allotted three minutes to answer the same question: how to define human intelligence and recognize human intellectual potential. Esteemed judges Elizabeth Ngonzi (AI ethicist, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of International Social Impact Institute) and Manuj Aggarwal (Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at TetraNoodle Technologies) evaluated the presenters. Then, they guided the audience and competitors through a “think tank”-style group exercise aimed at turning the best ideas into action.

What unfolded was a masterclass in how intellectual diversity can supercharge creative problem-solving.

As participants left the event, they carried new perspectives and a deeper appreciation for the diversity that makes innovation possible. The Mensa Foundation Challenge succeeded in its ultimate goal: to foster an environment where intelligence can flourish and create a meaningful impact.

Ideas

On human intelligence…

• Humans’ unique qualities define the boundaries of human intelligence; curiosity is self-generated fuel for discovery (not just data processing), and empathy is understanding and responding to others’ emotions
• Human intelligence uniquely encompasses high-level awareness, creative capacity, and goal achievement beyond basic survival instincts
• Unlike animals that react to immediate stimuli, humans can envision long-term goals and accomplish extraordinary feats
• Human intelligence is diverse; different cultural backgrounds and experiences shape unique thinking patterns
• We must expand beyond traditional IQ tests to celebrate diverse capabilities, like efficiently packing a UPS truck or playing multiple instruments
• We must see people holistically rather than focusing on isolated traits

On how to Appreciate Intelligence…

• Government-sponsored scholarships
• Social media campaigns
• Adopting a tailored approach to education and the workplace
• Removing masks and authentic self-expression

The thought-provoking nature of each pitch lies in its conclusions and in each person’s different approaches to answering the Challenge question.

Intelligence in Action

The most valuable part of the event was the group discussion that followed the formal presentations. As part of an impromptu think-tank, the audience and the competitors became collaborators, diving into each other’s ideas and exploring practical implementation strategies with input from Ms. Ngonzi and Mr. Aggarwal. This element of the competition transformed individual insights into collective wisdom.

During these discussions, ideas evolved. Initial pitches became launching points for solutions that incorporated multiple perspectives. For example, attendees discussed how one presenter’s proposal, the Blue Force Initiative to mobilize human intelligence to quantify the damage to marine ecosystems, could be operationalized at scale. The Blue Force Initiative involves training recreational divers to collect data on ocean health and debris. Attendees discussed and debated the merits of many aspects of implementation, including whether to incentivize divers through payments versus gamifying the data collection, and shared their insights with the original presenter.

I hope that the Mensa Foundation Challenge and the projects it inspired will enhance the recognition that humanity’s biggest challenges require smart people and cooperation. The Challenge competition isn’t just a day of punchy and stylish presentations; it lays the groundwork for creating a community to maximize the presenters’ success and impact. The event proved that when we create spaces for the intellectually gifted to meet and interact, we unlock possibilities that no single perspective could achieve alone.