Patent Attorney and Founder
On this episode of the Bold Inventor Show, J.D. Houvener and Matt Kulseth sit down with inventor, software designer, and entrepreneur Trisha Garrett. Trisha shares her journey from technical writer at IBM to named inventor on multiple patents, revealing how innovation can come from unexpected places, not just engineers and developers.
She also discusses how her passion for leadership development and neuroplasticity coaching led her to launch The Happy Hippocampus, a business that helps individuals and teams develop stronger leadership skills through coaching and experiential learning with horses.
For inventors, entrepreneurs, and professionals working inside large organizations, this conversation offers valuable insights into developing an inventor mindset, collaborating on patents, and pursuing entrepreneurial passions.
Bold Inventor Show Transcript
J.D. Houvener:
Hey everybody, welcome to the Bold Inventor Show. I’m your host, J.D. Houvener, with my co-host Matt Kulseth. Matt, great to have you as always.
Matt Kulseth:
Good day, J.D. How’s it going?
J.D. Houvener:
Doing well. We’re out west for spring break, surrounded by pine trees. It’s been nice family time, although we’re also helping move my mother-in-law, so there have been plenty of dump runs and packing boxes.
Matt Kulseth:
Busy as always over here too. Just grinding and staying productive.
J.D. Houvener:
Today we’re excited to welcome our guest, Trisha Garrett. Trisha has an incredible background in innovation, patenting, software design, and entrepreneurship. Welcome to the show, Trisha.
Trisha Garrett:
Thanks for having me on. I really enjoy the show.
J.D. Houvener:
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started with inventing?
Trisha Garrett:
I started my career at IBM as a technical writer. I considered myself creative because I enjoyed writing, but I never thought of myself as an inventor. I assumed patents were primarily for engineers and software developers.
A mentor changed that perspective. She encouraged me to see that inventing wasn’t limited to technical roles. Technical writers, designers, and others throughout the organization could identify problems and contribute innovative solutions.
That shift in mindset led me to start participating in invention teams, and eventually I became a named inventor on several patents and publications.
J.D. Houvener:
That’s fascinating because technical writers often have a unique perspective. They’re documenting systems and processes every day.
Trisha Garrett:
Exactly. Technical writers are often very good at identifying pain points and understanding how things fit together. We spend a lot of time figuring out what users are actually trying to accomplish.
J.D. Houvener:
Can you share an example of one of the problems you helped solve?
Trisha Garrett:
One example involved enterprise software solutions made up of multiple products working together. Customers had to gather separate documentation from several products and piece everything together themselves.
We developed a solution that could identify a user’s software configuration and automatically gather the relevant documentation into a unified solution guide.
Today that may sound straightforward with AI, but this was years before modern AI tools existed.
J.D. Houvener:
That’s a great example of solving a real-world customer problem.
Looking back, what advice would you give to someone working inside a large company who doesn’t yet see themselves as an inventor?
Trisha Garrett:
The biggest lesson is that becoming an inventor often requires an identity shift.
Before my mentor encouraged me, it never occurred to me that I could be an inventor. Once I saw that possibility, everything changed.
I also learned the value of creating inclusive innovation communities. At IBM, we worked hard to bring in people from non-traditional backgrounds, technical writers, managers, operations staff, and others who didn’t initially think of themselves as inventors.
Innovation becomes much more accessible when people realize there are predictable processes and supportive communities that help them contribute ideas.
J.D. Houvener:
I was looking at one of your patents involving cognitive mapping capabilities for visually impaired users. Tell us about that project.
Trisha Garrett:
That was a collaborative effort. One of my colleagues specialized in accessibility testing, and we started asking how someone who is visually impaired could effectively use geographic maps.
Most existing systems focused on point-to-point navigation. We explored ways to provide a broader spatial understanding of map information using directional cues and orientation concepts.
The goal was to help users better understand where objects and locations existed relative to one another rather than simply providing turn-by-turn instructions.
J.D. Houvener:
Very cool.
Have any of your inventions made their way into commercial products?
Trisha Garrett:
Some have. One of the exciting moments was discovering that one of my patents had been licensed to Motorola. Seeing your work move beyond a patent document and into actual use is incredibly rewarding.
J.D. Houvener:
Let’s switch gears and talk about what you’re doing now.
I see horses in the background. Tell us about The Happy Hippocampus.
Trisha Garrett:
I still work in software design, primarily in healthcare technology, but I’m also building my own business.
Through The Happy Hippocampus, I provide leadership development coaching and neuroplasticity coaching. Some of that work incorporates experiential learning with horses here on my farm.
Matt Kulseth:
That’s fascinating. Equine-based coaching has become increasingly popular.
Trisha Garrett:
Yes. It’s important to clarify that this is coaching, not diagnosis or treatment.
The work focuses on leadership development, self-awareness, and helping people understand how their nervous systems influence behavior and decision-making.
Many people are pursuing important goals but find themselves held back by internal resistance or fear. Rather than fighting those feelings, we explore them and help people create greater alignment between their goals and their responses.
J.D. Houvener:
For those unfamiliar with neuroplasticity, how would you explain it?
Trisha Garrett:
In simple terms, it’s about understanding and reshaping patterns within the brain and nervous system.
It’s recognizing the habits, reactions, and beliefs we’ve developed over time and learning how to build healthier, more effective patterns that support our goals.
J.D. Houvener:
I also have to ask about the name. It’s memorable.
Trisha Garrett:
The name works on multiple levels.
The hippocampus is a part of the brain involved in memory and learning. It’s also connected to the mythological hippocampus, a sea-horse-like creature, which fits my love of horses and adds a little bit of nerdy fun to the brand.
J.D. Houvener:
I love it.
For anyone interested in connecting with you, what’s the best way to reach you?
Trisha Garrett:
You can reach me at:
J.D. Houvener:
Excellent.
Matt, any final thoughts?
Matt Kulseth:
It was great meeting you. Thanks for sharing your story and your perspective on innovation.
Trisha Garrett:
Thank you both. I really appreciate the opportunity.
J.D. Houvener:
Thanks everyone for joining us on the Bold Inventor Show. We’ll see you next time. Go big!