The Startup State: What Drives Economies That Innovate

What does entrepreneurship really mean, and why does it matter? America has a unique entrepreneurial edge. Its innovation engine, shaped by culture, markets, and policy has powered some of the world’s most transformative Ideas.  What makes it different, and why does it continue to matter today? Join us for a conversation with Howard Wolk (MC/MPA 2002), a longtime entrepreneur who has experienced America’s startup ecosystem firsthand. We will dive into Wolk’s book, “Launchpad Republic: America’s Entrepreneurial Edge and Why It Matters”, the “secret sauce” of entrepreneurship, and an examination of the past, present, and future of American innovation.

We’ll explore big questions at the heart of innovation:

• Does government fuel entrepreneurship, or get in its way?
• What insights did Joseph Schumpeter offer on creative destruction, and why are they still relevant?
• What can other countries learn from the U.S. model of innovation?

Speaker: Howard Wolk Co-CEO of The Cross Country Group (CCG)

Moderator: Yariv Gabay, Wolk fellow in the Center for Public Leadership and an MC/MPA 2026 candidate at HKS

Whether attending in person or virtually, please register in advance. Room attendance is permitted for the Harvard community. Lunch will be provided. The Zoom session is open to the public.

Bio: Howard L. Wolk is Co-President of The Cross Country Group (CCG). Howard began his career at the New York City law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and then joined the White House as Associate Counsel for the transition team during the Clinton Administration, also serving as a member of Vice President Gore’s Task Force on Reinventing Government. He received B.A. and B.S.Ec. (Wharton School) degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, a J.D. degree from Columbia Law School, and an M.P.A. degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he served as a Senior Fellow. Howard is an active member of non-profit and social entrepreneurship organizations, including the Boston Bridges Initiative. Most recently, Howard is also the co-author of Launchpad Republic: America’s Entrepreneurial Edge and Why It Matters (Aug. 2022, Wiley)

The Growth Lab’s “Development Talks” is a series of conversations with policymakers and academics working on economic growth and development in countries, regions, states, and cities in the US and around the world. The seminar provides a platform for practitioners and researchers to discuss both economic growth and development and analytical work centered on policy.