Travis Cournoyer, PhD is an inventor, engineer, chemist, and author whose work connects technical innovation with human resilience. He began his career in academia, earning a doctorate in chemistry before making the difficult pivot into industry. That decision led him into the high-pressure world of electric vehicle startups, where he spent more than a decade designing and testing advanced battery systems for cars, trucks, vans, and airplanes.

     Alongside that work, Travis carried a personal struggle. He carried the shame of staying silent in graduate school, the fear of asking questions that might expose him, and the pressure of navigating environments where silence seemed safer than curiosity. These experiences shaped his first book, Courageous Curiosity, which blends memoir and practical reflection to show how asking the questions we fear most can lead to growth and connection.

     In true "Travis" fashion, Travis is both a staff-level technical lead at Lucid Motors during the day and the founder / owner of Ask Anyway on nights & weekends, a publishing platform built to help people and organizations move through fear and uncertainty by embracing curiosity instead of hiding from it. Originally from New England and now based in California, he lives with his wife, Emily, their two daughters, Lucy and Stella, and their two dogs, Beau and Mellie.