Interning at Innovate Carolina provided me with a valuable opportunity to participate in business outreach. This part of my experience harmonized very well with the principles of the design thinking process. A highlight involved establishing partnerships with notable establishments such as Brandwein’s Bagels, Base Camp, and Epilogue.
Engaging in business outreach aligns with the “Empathize” stage of design thinking, where understanding the needs and perspectives of stakeholders is crucial. In reaching out to various companies, I took over a mindset centered around empathy, seeking to identify areas of mutual benefit. This approach ensured that the partnerships created were aligned with the needs of both the Innovate Carolina Junction and each partner establishment.
My role also extended into the “Define” and “Ideate” stages of design thinking. After identifying potential partners, the next steps involved scheduling meetings and collaboratively creating partnership agreements that everyone agreed on. This process reflects the iterative nature of design thinking, as it requires adaptation based on feedback and insights gathered during those interactions.
In essence, my involvement in business outreach during my internship not only contributed to the growth of partnerships but also demonstrated how the design thinking process can be applied to real-world scenarios. Working with different companies to create agreements showed me how being flexible and solving problems are key in design thinking. This part of my internship was very satisfying and aligned with my interest in building creative and mutually beneficial connections.
