Reveal Perspective: Quality of Innovation

At Reveal, we believe our work is most meaningful when it helps people better understand the systems that shape their lives. Reveal Perspectives offers a space for our team to reflect on the experiences and values that inform how we approach that work. In this perspective, Yezzi (Angi) Lee, our Chief Methodologist and Director of Reveal Labs shares her commitment to the importance of quality in innovation, not just speed.

Building Innovation That Works in the Real World
By Yezzi (Angi) Lee

Innovation is often described as speed, adopting the newest tools, experimenting constantly, or staying ahead of the curve. Over time, however, I have come to see innovation differently. The most meaningful advances are not  defined by how quickly they emerge, but by the quality they deliver and the confidence they inspire. They are the solutions that hold up under real conditions, solve actual problems, and make systems work better for the people who depend on them.

That belief is what led to the creation of Reveal Labs. At its core, Labs is a place to pause before accelerating, a space where new ideas can be tested, evaluated, and refined before they are scaled. Instead of treating innovation as a leap into the unknown, we approach it as a deliberate process grounded in research, methodology, and continuous learning. By experimenting in a controlled environment, we can determine not only what works, but why it works, and whether it meets the level of quality required for real-world use.

This approach helps reduce uncertainty for everyone involved. When ideas are tested early and rigorously, organizations can move forward with greater confidence, knowing that solutions have been examined from both technical and practical perspectives. This is especially important in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, where the promise of new capabilities must be balanced with reliability, transparency, and accountability. Innovation is not valuable if it introduces new risks or creates tools that cannot be sustained over time.

For Reveal, Labs also serves another purpose: it strengthens our collective expertise. As teams explore new methods and technologies, they deepen their understanding of what is feasible, scalable, and responsible. That knowledge does not stay within a single project. It accumulates and becomes part of the organization’s foundation, enabling us to deliver higher-quality solutions and build lasting trust with the partners we support. In that sense, Labs is not separate from our core work — it is an investment in our ability to serve effectively and deliver excellence consistently over the long term.

My perspective on innovation was shaped long before Reveal Labs existed. During my time at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, research, evaluation, and process improvement were continuous parts of the work. Innovation was expected to strengthen existing systems, not replace them simply for the sake of change. New approaches were valuable only if they improved accuracy, reliability, or efficiency without compromising methodological integrity. That experience reinforced a lesson that continues to guide me today: progress and discipline are not opposing forces. High-quality innovation depends on both.

Today, that mindset continues to guide how I lead and how I evaluate new ideas. The goal is not novelty for its own sake, but improvement that can withstand scrutiny and deliver real, measurable benefits. When innovation is grounded in strong fundamentals, it becomes a tool for stability and advancement rather than disruption. Quality is what allows new capabilities to move from experimentation to adoption with confidence.

What excites me most about the future of Reveal Labs is the opportunity to apply emerging technologies to tangible challenges that affect communities and organizations every day. For example, exploring how façade imagery might help predict building demolition could support sampling and more proactive decision-making. Similarly, using AI to assist with the testing and evaluation of code has the potential to improve efficiency while maintaining high standards of quality. These possibilities are compelling because they demonstrate that innovation can enhance both performance and quality, not just speed.

Staying connected to that practical reality is essential to maintaining that standard and is very important to me. Outside of formal project work, I make a point of attending conferences and learning from others across the field. Just as valuable are direct conversations with clients, which provide insight into operational constraints, competing priorities, and the complexities of implementation. Those interactions are a reminder that even the most promising ideas must fit within real-world conditions. Innovation succeeds not when it is technically impressive, but when it delivers reliable results in practice.

During Women’s History Month, I reflect on the path that brought me here and the people who helped shape it. Early in my career, a mentor emphasized quality and fundamentals above everything else — advice that became the foundation for how I approach both innovation and leadership today. Working in STEM has not always meant seeing many people who look like you in positions of influence, which makes those moments of guidance and representation especially meaningful. As my career progressed, I began to recognize that leadership carries a responsibility not only to deliver results, but also to uphold standards and create space for others to grow. I am proud of the work I have accomplished and the teams I have helped build, and I am equally motivated by the opportunity to make that path more visible for others. When women see other women leading complex technical work, it expands what feels possible. If the next generation can look at this field and know that rigor, curiosity, and persistence belong here, and that leadership is within reach, then the progress continues.

Ultimately, Reveal Labs exists to create space for thoughtful experimentation where curiosity is balanced with responsibility and new possibilities can be explored without sacrificing quality. When innovation is guided by research, expertise, and disciplined evaluation, it reduces uncertainty, strengthens systems, and produces solutions that endure. For me, that is the kind of progress worth pursuing. Not the fastest path forward, but the one that delivers lasting value.