💡 SECOND COHORT. NEW PERSPECTIVES. MORE PROBLEMS WORTH SOLVING!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DevHlxqyaK4/?rpxt=N3dmZWV6cWt6YXhl
Grateful to be back as a Masterclass Mentor for REP4 Virtual Learner Design Summit, in collaboration with Grand Valley State University and Excelerate ! 🙏🌍
As an Design Thinking Expert, I spend a lot of time thinking about systems, risks, security, and solutions.
But this second cohort reminded me of something important.
Before we solve a problem, we must make sure we understand it correctly.
🎯 FROM “WHAT CAN WE BUILD?” TO “WHAT PROBLEM SHOULD WE SOLVE?”
During our discussions, we explored five important questions:
🔍 What does it feel like to work in this industry?
🛠️ What real-world problems do professionals solve, and how?
🧠 What approaches help us identify the root cause?
📚 How can research turn assumptions into evidence?
💡 And how do we define a problem statement worth solving?
My biggest advice to the students was simple.
Don't fall in love with your solution before you understand the problem.
You can build an impressive application, develop an advanced AI tool, or introduce sophisticated cybersecurity technology. But if you solve the wrong problem, congratulations. You have successfully created a solution looking for a problem! 😂
The goal is to understand the users, validate the challenge, research the evidence, and measure the outcome.
Because innovation starts with the right questions.
❤️ GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE LEARNING
A big thank you to the REP4 team, our partners at Grand Valley State University and Excelerate, and my fellow mentors for creating an environment where ideas, questions, and different perspectives could grow together.
To the students in this second cohort, thank you for your curiosity, participation, and willingness to challenge your own assumptions.
Keep asking questions. Keep testing your ideas. Keep learning from feedback.
You don't need to have all the answers today. You need to learn how to ask better questions and find answers supported by evidence.
That is a skill worth carrying into every industry.
🚀 UNTIL THE NEXT COHORT!
Two cohorts in, and I'm reminded that mentoring is a two-way learning experience.
I share my industry perspectives. Students challenge me to look at problems from fresh angles. We exchange ideas, test assumptions, and discover new possibilities.
That's what makes this journey meaningful.
And remember, when it comes to problem-solving, there are three things you should never skip:
Understand the problem. Validate the evidence. Test the solution.
Your future users will thank you. Your IT team will thank you. And your Cybersecurity team might finally get some sleep! 😂🔐
See you in the next cohort!
#REP4 #DesignThinking #CyberSecurity #Mentorship #Innovation
https://www.instagram.com/p/DevHlxqyaK4/?rpxt=N3dmZWV6cWt6YXhl
Grateful to be back as a Masterclass Mentor for REP4 Virtual Learner Design Summit, in collaboration with Grand Valley State University and Excelerate ! 🙏🌍
As an Design Thinking Expert, I spend a lot of time thinking about systems, risks, security, and solutions.
But this second cohort reminded me of something important.
Before we solve a problem, we must make sure we understand it correctly.
🎯 FROM “WHAT CAN WE BUILD?” TO “WHAT PROBLEM SHOULD WE SOLVE?”
During our discussions, we explored five important questions:
🔍 What does it feel like to work in this industry?
🛠️ What real-world problems do professionals solve, and how?
🧠 What approaches help us identify the root cause?
📚 How can research turn assumptions into evidence?
💡 And how do we define a problem statement worth solving?
My biggest advice to the students was simple.
Don't fall in love with your solution before you understand the problem.
You can build an impressive application, develop an advanced AI tool, or introduce sophisticated cybersecurity technology. But if you solve the wrong problem, congratulations. You have successfully created a solution looking for a problem! 😂
The goal is to understand the users, validate the challenge, research the evidence, and measure the outcome.
Because innovation starts with the right questions.
❤️ GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE LEARNING
A big thank you to the REP4 team, our partners at Grand Valley State University and Excelerate, and my fellow mentors for creating an environment where ideas, questions, and different perspectives could grow together.
To the students in this second cohort, thank you for your curiosity, participation, and willingness to challenge your own assumptions.
Keep asking questions. Keep testing your ideas. Keep learning from feedback.
You don't need to have all the answers today. You need to learn how to ask better questions and find answers supported by evidence.
That is a skill worth carrying into every industry.
🚀 UNTIL THE NEXT COHORT!
Two cohorts in, and I'm reminded that mentoring is a two-way learning experience.
I share my industry perspectives. Students challenge me to look at problems from fresh angles. We exchange ideas, test assumptions, and discover new possibilities.
That's what makes this journey meaningful.
And remember, when it comes to problem-solving, there are three things you should never skip:
Understand the problem. Validate the evidence. Test the solution.
Your future users will thank you. Your IT team will thank you. And your Cybersecurity team might finally get some sleep! 😂🔐
See you in the next cohort!
#REP4 #DesignThinking #CyberSecurity #Mentorship #Innovation
The Best Reward of Being a Mentor? Hearing That You Made a Difference. ❤️
https://www.instagram.com/p/DfM9yt5IzLX/?dlrf=MW9hdWdpNHBuamRmdw==
Sometimes, the most meaningful feedback comes when you least expect it.
Recently, after one of my sessions as a Business Mentor for Design Thinking, I received a lovely message from someone who shared something that genuinely made my day.
They told me that one of my students had spoken very highly of me and was genuinely happy to have me as a mentor.
Honestly, that meant a lot.
Because mentoring is never just about sharing knowledge, explaining frameworks, or teaching people how to approach business challenges.
It's about helping people see problems from different perspectives, asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and discovering solutions they might not have considered before.
That's what I love about Design Thinking.
It's a process that reminds us to:
- Start with empathy. Understand people before jumping to solutions.
- Challenge assumptions. Sometimes, the problem we think we have isn't the real problem.
- Think creatively. Explore possibilities beyond the obvious answers.
- Experiment and learn. Progress comes from testing ideas, receiving feedback, and improving.
- Put people at the center. Great solutions begin with understanding human needs.
As a mentor, I don't expect every student to remember every slide, framework, or exercise I share.
But I hope they remember the questions that made them think differently, the conversations that challenged their perspectives, and the confidence to approach problems with a fresh mindset.
And if they walk away feeling more confident about their ideas and their ability to create something meaningful, then I believe the session has achieved something worthwhile.
A big thank you to everyone who has trusted me with the opportunity to share, guide, and learn alongside them.
I'm also grateful to the fellow mentors, organizers, and everyone involved in making these learning experiences possible.
And here's another reminder I keep learning myself:
A good mentor doesn't need to have all the answers. Sometimes, the best thing a mentor can do is ask the right question.
P.S. From mentoring business ideas to joining a potluck with wonderful people, I guess my learning philosophy is consistent. Good things happen when people bring something to the table. Sometimes, literally. 😂❤️
Keep learning. Keep sharing. Keep creating impact.
#DesignThinking #BusinessMentorship #MentorshipMatters #Leadership #ContinuousLearning
https://www.instagram.com/p/DfM9yt5IzLX/?dlrf=MW9hdWdpNHBuamRmdw==
Sometimes, the most meaningful feedback comes when you least expect it.
Recently, after one of my sessions as a Business Mentor for Design Thinking, I received a lovely message from someone who shared something that genuinely made my day.
They told me that one of my students had spoken very highly of me and was genuinely happy to have me as a mentor.
Honestly, that meant a lot.
Because mentoring is never just about sharing knowledge, explaining frameworks, or teaching people how to approach business challenges.
It's about helping people see problems from different perspectives, asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and discovering solutions they might not have considered before.
That's what I love about Design Thinking.
It's a process that reminds us to:
- Start with empathy. Understand people before jumping to solutions.
- Challenge assumptions. Sometimes, the problem we think we have isn't the real problem.
- Think creatively. Explore possibilities beyond the obvious answers.
- Experiment and learn. Progress comes from testing ideas, receiving feedback, and improving.
- Put people at the center. Great solutions begin with understanding human needs.
As a mentor, I don't expect every student to remember every slide, framework, or exercise I share.
But I hope they remember the questions that made them think differently, the conversations that challenged their perspectives, and the confidence to approach problems with a fresh mindset.
And if they walk away feeling more confident about their ideas and their ability to create something meaningful, then I believe the session has achieved something worthwhile.
A big thank you to everyone who has trusted me with the opportunity to share, guide, and learn alongside them.
I'm also grateful to the fellow mentors, organizers, and everyone involved in making these learning experiences possible.
And here's another reminder I keep learning myself:
A good mentor doesn't need to have all the answers. Sometimes, the best thing a mentor can do is ask the right question.
P.S. From mentoring business ideas to joining a potluck with wonderful people, I guess my learning philosophy is consistent. Good things happen when people bring something to the table. Sometimes, literally. 😂❤️
Keep learning. Keep sharing. Keep creating impact.
#DesignThinking #BusinessMentorship #MentorshipMatters #Leadership #ContinuousLearning