The Business Record’s “90 Ideas in 90 Minutes” session Oct. 11 in West Des Moines gave a diverse set of panelists a chance to make us all think. To a person, they offered serious, thought-provoking advice. You can see video here: https://bit.ly/2EmkjFf.

But there were plenty of unscripted and at times humorous moments, too. We figured you’d like us to share. And, what luck, we will. Now.

Someone asked what these captains of industry, education, church and nonprofits do when the chips are down. 

Judi Eyles, director of the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University, sang “Just keep swimming …” which Business Record Publisher Chris Conetzkey quickly identified as a song from “Finding Nemo.” 

Jennie Baranczyk, coach of the twice-undefeated Drake Bulldogs women’s basketball team, said, “I swear a lot, mostly under my breath.” 

Someone asked Barancyk how she assesses possible weaknesses in her program when two seasons have ended with no losses.

“We are humbled every day at practice,” she said. “Also, we are parents. We are humbled every day just trying to get out the door.”

At another point in the conversation, Greater Des Moines Partnership CEO Jay Byers noted that his esteemed colleague Susan Strome has a sign at her desk that reads: “Because Nice Matters.” 

Senior Pastor Mike Housholder of Lutheran Church of Hope said he has spent 25 years discovering his weaknesses and yielding to God’s wishes as Hope turned into one of the fastest-growing networks of congregations the area has seen. But rather than turn to the words of Jesus Christ on this day, he invoked Roger Daltrey of the Who to ask, “Who are you? What is your song? It’s not the ‘what’ or the ‘how’ but the ‘why’ and “Who are you?’ Remember who you are; sing your song.”

Grinnell College President Raynard Kington spoke of the importance of failure. He said the math exam he botched at a magnet school as a youth was a turning point in a distinguished education that included a medical degree, an MBA. and a Ph.D. and led to a medical career and a long stint running one of the country’s leading liberal arts colleges. “It’s impossible to innovate without failure,” he added.

Kington also notes success, sending personal emails to students who post big gains in their grade-point averages — to encourage the students’ work toward learning, and toward recovering from failures.

Someone asked the panelists what they know now that they wish they had known earlier.

Joseph Jones, the former Partnership policy guy who now runs the Harkin Institute, quickly said, “You can eat asparagus with your hands. It’s perfectly good etiquette. Also, being comfortable not knowing something.”

Mary Andringa of Vermeer Corp. said that even with the drive to get things done, “Sometimes you have to let the process happen.”

Said Kington: “We’re always going to have to learn. The world is constantly changing.” He added: “Automation will not replace human creativity.”

Housholder said he learned that it’s not about him. “This church would close if it were all about me. It’s important to look into the mirror and say, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ ”