“The Human Is the Factor”: Dr. Lael Alexander inspires creativity at Sapulpa’s Routes to Success Speaker Series
Posted on 10/10/2025
(SPS) -- Innovation isn’t just about technology — it’s about people. That was the message Dr. Lael Alexander, founder and CEO of Noitavonne, brought to Sapulpa on Thursday evening as he kicked off the Routes to Success Speaker Series.
A global technology leader and the mind behind consumer innovations we rely on every day, Dr. Alexander shared his journey with an audience of students, educators, board members, and community guests. His message? Creativity and critical thinking are the true engines of progress.
He reminded students that while technology is powerful, it should always remain a tool — something that enhances our lives, not something that replaces the human spark behind it.
Dr. Alexander’s path to innovation began in an unlikely place: an oil refinery, as an engineer. But his curiosity and drive led him across the world to China, where he built his own technology firm and worked side-by-side with engineers to bring new ideas to life.
"I realized [during my time in China] that I was being nurtured," said Dr. Alexander. He communicated with engineers in code, earning their respect through collaboration and a common language. "Out of the back of the room, someone started speaking to me in English, and I learned that all the PhD.s in China speak English. They just won't let you know until you have something valuable enough for them to ascertain."
Eventually, his path brought him to Oklahoma — a decision rooted in both history and hope.
"Everything started in Oklahoma," he said, pointing to the state’s legacy of innovation, from the oil boom and Tulsa’s Utica Square (America’s first shopping mall) to early Hollywood films and, later, Oklahoma’s pioneering telecom industry.
"Oklahoma felt like the right place," said Alexander. "For the greatness of what was built here."
Throughout his talk, Dr. Alexander encouraged students to embrace their curiosity, read relentlessly, and never stop learning. He shared a perspective he learned in China that reframes how we think about innovation: that people are the “factories” — capable of transforming imagination into reality.
"The human is the factor," he said. "If you can understand who you are and what your value is early on, and be given the right tools, that can build some pretty unique things. You, too, can be a wizard."
Dr. Alexander’s presentation was more than just a talk — it was a call to action for Sapulpa’s next generation of creators, inventors, and dreamers.
A special thank-you goes out to Dr. Lael Alexander, Waypoint Lounge, and SeneGence for launching the Sapulpa Routes to Success Speaker Series.
🎥 Watch Dr. Lael Alexander’s full presentation on YouTube
📅 Sign up to attend future Routes to Success events