During the summer of 2014 I volunteered to assist the college staff with the C-Tech2 Program.
The C-Tech2 program is Computers and Technology at Virginia Tech run out of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) within the College of Engineering.
Working with Susan Arnold-Christian of CEED we came up with a project based assignment that would create excitement by the students and also understanding of the basic principles of Customer Discovery and Value Propositions as taught by Steve Blank from Stanford and coined by Alexander Osterwalder. I openly discussed innovation and entrepreneurship emphasizing the success that many women have had in these fields. I then put them on the task of:
Working with Susan Arnold-Christian of CEED we came up with a project based assignment that would create excitement by the students and also understanding of the basic principles of Customer Discovery and Value Propositions as taught by Steve Blank from Stanford and coined by Alexander Osterwalder. I openly discussed innovation and entrepreneurship emphasizing the success that many women have had in these fields. I then put them on the task of:
Create a product that you vet through customer discovery that can help
aging adults live easier, safer or happier.
aging adults live easier, safer or happier.
The girls were divided up into teams to "spitball" ideas about possible products. They were then to get out of the building and interview possible customer segments asking them about problems they may have as they get older. Some of the teams had good ideas and the interviews reinforced their work, others changed their MVP (minimum viable product) after interviewing and some used the interviews to find out what product a customer segment might be interested in.
At the end of the first week I spent 20 minutes with each team and we discussed what they learned in their interviews and if they had any AHA! moments. We also talked about their MVP and how they might pitch the idea on the final day.
The final day was the pitch to invited university and engineering staff. The girls had some really super ideas and it was great to hear them talk about solving customers gains and pivoting.
At the end of the first week I spent 20 minutes with each team and we discussed what they learned in their interviews and if they had any AHA! moments. We also talked about their MVP and how they might pitch the idea on the final day.
The final day was the pitch to invited university and engineering staff. The girls had some really super ideas and it was great to hear them talk about solving customers gains and pivoting.
