I grieve, but I am not grief

Death is a funny thing, and it does a real number on your heart…

Sometimes you see it as a blip on the horizon,
Sometimes you see it as an iceberg charging for your ship…

Sometimes you see it as the elephant in the room that everyone’s trying to avoid,
Sometimes you see it as overwhelming the space so strongly that even the skies feel claustrophobic…

Sometimes you see it as reminding you to look for the joy in everything,
Sometimes you see it as plunging you into the bottomless depths of immeasurable grief…

Sometimes you see grief as just an everyday element like breathing,
Sometimes you look for the days (anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc.) as a reminder to grieve and that you haven’t forgotten them…

Sometimes you pretend to be okay, because people aren’t comfortable with death,
Sometimes all you want to do is remember them, talk about them, cry about losing them, and maybe smile at a happy memory…

Sometimes I want to remind people that making space for grief and loss does not mean wanting to live in eternal hurt and pain,
Sometimes I want to remind people that I grieve for my Father (verb), but I am not grief itself (noun).

The Roots of my Love of Learning

I love learning. I’ve always loved learning, from when I was a little kid learning about shapes and letters, to literature and programming languages in school, to consumer behavior and human-centered design in university. It didn’t stop when I graduated, but that desire to learn more got even stronger. I wanted to learn about things I didn’t discover in the academic setting, and bonus points if it was on the creative side. What made me happiest was when I could apply what I learned to solve a problem or just make things a little bit better.

When my desire for learning made me a target for the playground bullies, I just stopped going to the playground, and immersed myself further in books, classes, and courses. While I tried to escape from the bullies, their words left an impression, and I wondered if my love of learning was weird. But the joy I got from learning was louder than the taunts, so I continued. And I am so glad that I did, because encountering something new, struggling with understanding it, eventually making sense of it, and then hopefully using it — that challenged my mind, tempered my assumptions, broadened my horizons, and helped me grow. More importantly, it made me realize that while I may now know a lot more than when I first began, I still had a way to go and continue my learning journey. 

I did feel a sense of relief and a bit of validation when I learned that my nerdy tendencies were a source of strength. I took the CliftonStrengths Assessment for a leadership course (what else did you expect?), and discovered that Learner was among my top 5 skills, and somewhere in my report was the line that I was “quite naturally a lifelong student.” While I don’t disagree with the assessment, I wondered if Knowledge Geek or Knowledge Enthusiast might be a funner term! 

This result made me wonder about the roots of my love of learning. Whenever I asked what or why, my Mom was always there to listen and work with me to help answer my endless questions. I recall being a kid, and my Mom making as many books available to me as possible; experimenting with new things just because it caught my eye; encouraging me to explore other sources if she didn’t have the answer; and always saying yes for play and laughter. My Mom is awesome :) It wasn’t just how she was with me, but also how she was with herself. She loved to immerse herself in new things and push the boundaries of her knowledge. She’s an amazing human I am lucky to call my mother, and her tenacious creativity is incredibly inspiring. I’ve lost track of the number of times she’s recreated a recipe after just a few bites, or done needlework and sewing without a pattern, or created a new thingamabob to solve a problem. Yes, thingamabob — used interchangeably with whatchamacallit and doohickey, because my Mom was more intent on designing creative solutions to annoyances rather than coming up with cool names. So our home was filled with a lot of thingamabobs and whatchamacallits that addressed different issues, but we needed to describe its use so we didn’t get stuck with the wrong whatchamacallit! :P

But every time we thought she’d mastered something, she’d go off and discover some new thing that she needed to challenge herself with and learn and master. It’s safe to say I inherited my Mom’s desire to learn, solve problems, and make things a little bit better. Perhaps my designer tendencies were inspired and shaped by my Mom’s artisan and creative spirit, and for that (and a whole lot more), I am eternally grateful — Thank you, Mom :) ❤

Design Experiments: Cultivating a Virtual Community on Purpose

When the world retreated into their homes at the start of the pandemic, some people thought it might be for a couple of weeks, and then things would be back to “normal.” While we certainly miss things from pre-covid times, I don’t know if things were ever normal… the time spent in our homes has redefined what normal is, and made us more intentional about how and with whom do we spend our time.

While parts of the world are opening up, and in-person interactions are becoming more common, I started reflecting on the start of the pandemic, when the sensible ones were quarantining and social distancing, while the deluded ones were stockpiling on toilet paper while ignoring soap and sanitizer! While people’s pandemic shopping habits and civil courtesy (or lack thereof) will likely be pored over by anthropologists decades from now, it also marked the evolution of digital communication and its impact on our lives. With in-person interactions largely eliminated, platforms like Zoom, Meet, and Teams became a lifesaver of sorts, allowing us to still be connected in different ways. We began to live on Zoom, with work, schools, universities, hangouts, meals, games, and deep conversations all taking place with a series of boxes on our screen, and the perennial battle cry of “You’re on mute!”

This also led to a shift in how we interact with each other, not just for the duration of that call, but also in terms of relationships and communities. While some struggled with it in the beginning, most embraced the digital aspect, and cultivated a different sort of community. One community that has been really great at this is CreativeMornings, a monthly breakfast lecture series designed for creative communities. Your participation was generally limited to your geographical proximity to a chapter, but with the power of Zoom, you could attend any CreativeMornings or FieldTrip event anywhere in the world, as long as you were awake and came with some snacks! :) 

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When the good folks at CreativeMornings invited me to speak on Purpose, I politely said yes, ended the call, and then promptly did a happy dance! :D Since this was the early days of the pandemic, I was still trying to get familiar with the whole online talk thing, but I thoroughly loved this experience, especially when we had people from around the world join us. We had people on their lunch break in East Asia, on their morning coffee break in South Asia, on their morning wakeup attempt in Dubai and surrounding Arabian regions, on their 5am club in Europe, and on their midnight snack in North America. If you wanted to reach the world, CreativeMornings is certainly the place to be! This was certainly one of the happier moments of the pandemic for me, and I hope you take a little time to hear my take on Purpose and let me know what do you think… Also, there’s a line in my talk where I say, “when in doubt, do it anyway,” so go see my talk! ;) 

Until next time, take care, and be well, people :)

My talk on Purpose at CreativeMornings #CMPurpose

Teaching Design within Constraints: Lessons Learned

A couple of months ago (which now seems like eons ago), we retreated into our homes, in response to the pandemic. This was in addition to the many other protective measures, such as wearing masks, physical distancing, and regularly washing hands - the last should have been happening, regardless of prevailing health conditions!

The coronavirus has changed how we live, work, and learn, and I don't know if we'll ever go back to the way things were. That said, I don't think everything in "the way things were" is worth going back to - there are elements in our current adaptation of life that are worth holding on to, even when the world hopefully heals from the pandemic.

We are all currently designing in tension. And will be, for a long time.

— rufflemuffin (@rufflemuffin) September 21, 2020

One of the biggest impacts for me has been the shift to distance learning (here are my earlier insights from teaching design within constraints). This hasn't been an easy transition for anybody, and there are things that are frustrating for both, students and educators. This has required massive adjustments from both sides of the learning experience, and for me, it's meant being even more attentive to differing perspectives. While I'm doing the best I can for my students, it sometimes feels like there's a ton of learning on my side too, and thought I would share some more of the nuggets I've come across along the way.

• It's not business as usual. This pandemic is hard on everyone, but acting as if it's business as usual is the wrong way to go about it. We need to constantly adapt in response to changing circumstances, covidiots, rising cases (often due to the covidiots), burnout, etc. - it's a lot more than we can humanly manage. It's okay to adapt our approach, assessments, readings, reviews, etc. while we try to deal with all the uncertainty and chaos.

• Be imperfect lightning! Racing at breakneck speed is not something that I'd generally advise, especially if you get shin splints like me! However, the world was already moving at a fast pace, and the pandemic just kicked it into high gear. While we had to learn to slow down and be still with ourselves, information about the coronavirus, and what we had to do to survive it was coming at an incredible speed. It felt (and continues to feel) like being in the middle of a lightning storm, with no idea of how long it's going to last. If ever there was a time for MVPs, it's now. If you've got a minimum viable product or learning experience, don't wait to perfect it - just roll it out, learn from it, and continue experimenting.

• Try, try, and try again. Since it's not business as usual, we can't just run our classes the same as pre-pandemic classes. We have to try new ways of sharing knowledge and engaging students. It's quite possible that some or all of these experiments may not go according to plan. That doesn't mean that we stop experimenting, but rather that we continue trying new things until we find something that works for us and/or the students. My class plans have gone through so many iterations, they look very different from the first version, but they have also gotten better in the process, and my students have definitely benefited from it.

• Empathy is not optional. One of the first rules of design is being human-centered, and ignoring that role in the design of a product, service, or experience can have disastrous consequences. I got news for you - that rule isn't just for design; it works well for human interactions too! Take a moment to step back and see things from other people's perspective. I'm not saying we should ourselves last, but exercising empathy helps makes us a little more patient with each other

• Be honest. I take my role as an educator very seriously, and I see it as my responsibility to not just share knowledge with and inspire my students, but also give them a sense of normalcy amidst all the chaos. I strive to make my class a safe and happy space for my students, one where they can learn, laugh, and for a few hours, escape from the crazy world out there. However, just because I present a happy face to my students, doesn't mean that it's all rosy on my end. This is not easy, and it's important to acknowledge that, not just for ourselves, but also for our students. It's okay to be honest with our students, and let them know that we're all struggling at different levels in different ways. Not so much that we scare them, but enough that they realize we're human too.

The pandemic is a serious challenge, and acting like it's just a minor paper cut undermines the work and adaptation required from both sides of the classroom. So while these insights were initially a reflection of my experience with distance learning with my students, when I put pen to paper (or in this case, fingers to keyboard), it made wonder if they could work both ways. Being adaptable, speedy, experimental, empathetic, and honest... I think they go beyond just educators or students, they are a reflection of the tenets of design. When I think about it, it feels like my experience of teaching design within constraints echoes my experiences of designing within constraints... have I come full circle, or am I creating a whole new circle? 🙂

Heckin’ Pandemic!

Courtesy of COVID-19, we are in a constant state of learning and adapting to new information. It’s safe to say that not much is going according to plan at the moment. Given how the days just mesh into each other, if somebody asks me what day it is, I tend to respond with “Blursday…” 🤷🏻‍♀️

In this constant state of flux, most of us are attempting to prioritize needs over wants. Complete the work project, over binge-watching a television series. Pay rent, over buying a giant flat screen television. Shop for necessary grocery items, over traipsing all over town for some exotic ingredients. Not everyone has the same scale for needs and wants, but everyone is hopefully aware of an ongoing pandemic.

However, it appears that awareness of a global pandemic seems to have missed those who are still ranting about the “hustle,” and how we need to capitalize on the pandemic. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’ve tried to be patient with people, and treat them with kindness, but it’s hard to do that sometimes. Especially when it’s for a non-essential item, and they decide to unleash a torrent of complaining and mansplaining, because you’re not doing it the way they would, or to their exacting standards.

The work will get done, but don’t lay into someone because they decided to get their ducks in a row in order of quack-quack jokes rather than size! We need to cut each other some slack, because we’re all not only dealing with a heckin’ pandemic, but also its painful aftermath and the accompanying mental weariness. Treat each other with kindness and patience — you never know what kind of battles people are fighting right now.

Almost everybody is dealing with some degree of stress, whether it’s related to physical health, mental health, emotional wellbeing, financial impact, family issues, or all of the above. Many of these people are putting on, or having to put on a brave front, for their loved ones or themselves, all while their whole worlds are collapsing around them. So, if somebody greets you with a smile, that doesn’t mean they’re okay. It doesn’t give you permission to double down on their already existing mountain of stress. People’s time and emotional bandwidth are limited and precious, and especially if it’s a non-essential item, just back off instead of adding to their to-do list. Because they may very well not be okay.

If somebody seems okay, ask them how are they doing, and then listen. That may be the kindest thing you could do.

Image by Caleb Gregory

Teaching Design within Constraints

When I was first introduced to design, I recall being excited by all the endless possibilities that design offered. There was that undercurrent of opportunity, that with the boundless power of design, we could change the world. However, with work on client projects, you learn that design doesn’t necessarily have free reign  —  it has to work within real conditions, and operate around real constraints (people, resources, technology).

I’ve endeavored to take what I’ve learned and experienced as a Strategic Design Consultant, and bring that knowledge and insight to the classroom as an Adjunct Professor of Strategic Design Management. Most of the time, that includes how design concepts are applied in the real world, and maybe some amusing anecdotes about drowning in artifacts, dueling with sharpies, and decorating with post-its. In the last few weeks, however, I’ve dug into the challenge of designing within constraints, and applied it to teaching design within constraints. 

Why constraints? Well, with the Coronavirus making its way across the globe, it is necessitating a lot of changes to protect people and their health. While absolutely necessary, these changes and preventive measures are coming at lightning speed, impacting our personal and professional lives. While these changes may well become our new normal, at this current time, these changes are akin to constraints — in that we are still trying to figure out how do we go about our daily lives, and in the context of academia, how do we continue to engage our students within this changing environment. 

Educational institutions around the world have already made or are going to be making the shift to online-based distance learning, in an effort to continue students’ learning journey, while maintaining social distancing. These are new challenges for all of us, and we’re all trying to figure this out as we go along, so I thought I’d share my insights from teaching design within constraints. Hopefully, some of it will help your interactions with your students, and maybe help them find some sense of normalcy amidst the upheaval.

• Be empathetic. These are challenging times for all of us, and while faculty and staff members may have had some hurdles to overcome during their professional lives, this is especially new for students. We’re all trying to make sense of this, so if somebody is struggling and snaps, or is tired and terse, cut them some slack. We need to kick our empathy up a notch, and interact with respect and professionalism, but also be more understanding with each other.

• Observe and Listen. Many students may be away from their families and loved ones, and may need someone to talk to, or just express their confusion about the current conditions. It’s tricky with the move to online learning, but where possible, be observant about your students’ behavior and comments, and if they share their thoughts with you, listen. If students open up to you, let them know that you respect their confidence, and that your class is a safe zone.

• Adapt, Learn, and Share Knowledge. Moving from in-class interactions to a virtual classroom requires changing our methods of content delivery and student engagement, as well as the tools that we use. While we continue to teach, it is also important to learn new ways of delivering content to our students. Different institutions are using different tools, and some of them may be quite intuitive, while others may have a steep learning curve. If you’re unfamiliar or having trouble, ask for help. If you’re familiar with some of the preferred software your institution is using, share that knowledge with your peers. Our goal right now should not be about being better than the other, but rather about helping each other, so the students benefit and have the best learning experience.

• Don’t forget to laugh! One of the main reasons why I believe educational institutions are making the shift to online learning is to not only continue classes, but also offer some sense of normalcy amidst everything that’s going on. I believe that laughter is the best medicine — it can help break the tension, make it feel a little more familiar while we’re away from each other, and make us feel just a little bit better. So, amp up the corny jokes and puns, let your students roll their eyes in resigned humor, and have a good laugh about all this. :D

• Take time to decompress. This is new for all of us — faculty, staff, students — and we’re all in this together. We may put up a strong (and funny) face for our students, and some of us may be alright, but a lot of us are still trying to make sense of this. You can’t take care of your students or your loved ones if you don’t take care of yourself. Maybe read that book you’ve been putting off, maybe watch that show or movie you’ve been meaning to see, maybe raise those endorphins with a workout, or maybe just be — do what works for you, but take some time for yourself, and decompress.

While these are just some of the things I’ve learned, I want to take a moment to acknowledge some of the people who have shared their own insights as we all try to navigate this new normal. Varkki Pallathucheril (plan ahead, but adapt your plan to your students), Anijo Mathew (first, be human, and then, look at the syllabus!), Zinka Bejtic (adapt your approach to better engage students), Phil Sheil (have a good laugh about it), and Zlatan Filipovic and Becky Beamer (share knowledge, don’t hoard it!).

Part of me still holds on to that naive belief that with the power of design, we could change the world. I think in today’s challenging times, we might all want to hold on to that belief, come together with our collective knowledge and creativity, and use design to solve pressing problems… We all need to be kind to each other, rise above this with our innate humanity, and maybe change the world a little bit in the process :)

Discovering Jamtastic Insights at the Dubai Service Jam

48 hours to change the world. Given the state of the world, that seems like an impossible task! :P However, Global Service Jam believes that with the problem inspired by a secret theme, the possibilities of collaboration, and the power of design, people can make a difference, in as little as 48 hours! 

While Global Jams initiated and oversees the Global Service Jam, Global Sustainability Jam, and Global GovJam, the local Jams themselves are run by design aficionados, united by “a common passion for growing the field of service design, innovation, and human experience.” So, when this year’s Global Service Jam was announced, as a design aficionado, I naturally put my hand up to help with the Dubai Service Jam.

As one of 124 locations around the world, this year’s Dubai Service Jam took place in the Dubai Design District, attracting almost 30 Jammers, including students, as well as professionals from medicine, technology, academia, startups, and design. As a member of the organizing team for #JamHotDXB, I didn’t partake in the challenge myself, but as facilitator and doodler, I did observe the teams in action, and took away some Jamtastic Insights! 

• Embrace the Mystery. This is probably one of the key mindsets required for design. As soon as the secret theme was revealed (the word ‘BLUE’ in black text on a yellow background #KeepTheSecret), we saw a room full of confused faces, looking for more information and clarity about what the theme meant. We had to remind the Jammers that it was okay not to have full clarity before you set out on the service design journey — one that requires you to get comfortable with ambiguity, in order to unravel the mystery that is your users’ mind.

• Become Curious. You remember when you were a kid, and wouldn’t stop asking your parent why the sky was blue or how the clouds managed to just stay up there? We have an innate curiosity in us as kids, one that gets whittled away as we grow up into ‘mind-your-own-business’ adults. It’s good to stay focused on your own lane, but when you’re designing something for someone else in a different lane, you need to adopt a curious mindset that wonders and asks why do people do the things that they do. 

• Listen and Observe. It’s not enough to just ask questions of your users — you have to listen to their responses too. Remember that you’re not looking for the answer, but rather to listen to their answer, in terms of what they do say, don’t say, and how they say it. It’s also about observation, in terms of what are your users doing and their body language, which can sometimes reveal unsaid hidden nuggets of insight.

• Encourage Diversity of Thought. Just as no two people are alike, neither are their thoughts. Jammers differed on their interpretations of the secret theme, which directions to go from the theme, which users to target, what questions to ask, what service to design, what to prototype, how to prototype, and even which flavor of jam (or jelly) goes best with peanut butter! It’s okay to be different, but rather than stoking the fire of diversity, you have to harness that diversity of thought as your source of inspiration for more cohesively designed solutions.

• Raise your anchors and look out for icebergs. Creating is fun — it taps into our inner child that loved to write, draw, and build our own little world of imagination. Investing in your ideas is good, to build them into something viable. However, sometimes we get so anchored to our ideas, that it’s hard to see anything beyond it or the potential problems with it. It helps to take a larger view of our ideas, look out for potential icebergs, and if necessary, raise our anchors, and chart a new course. Remember, it’s not about your idea, but rather about solving the problem.

• There is no one right answer, but service design is about the journey of discovering the many possible right answers. It’s alright to have multiple good ideas — some may combine into one big idea, while some may function better as independent ideas. Think individually, think together, have many ideas, build them, and test them out.

• Prototype — #DoingNotTalking. It’s not enough to just have good ideas — you have to go beyond just words, and turn them into prototypes to see what they will look like, what they will feel like, and how will your users interact with it. Prototyping also enables you to test them out to see if they’re desirable, feasible, and viable. If the prototype hits that sweet spot of the design trifecta, that might be the idea to pursue and turn into something more tangible for your target audience.

• Inspiration is all around you. The 2019 edition of the Dubai Service Jam took place in d3 — the Dubai Design District, the hub for the region’s growing community of creative thinkers. Being in that space for two days, strolling through the grounds, interacting with the various works of art, sparked both questions and ideas for our Jammers, prompting them to think differently. One of the biggest sources of inspiration was our trio of the youngest Jammers — aged 5, 7, and 10, they may not have been the target participant group for the Jam, but they certainly embraced the challenge with curiosity, thinking outside the Blue, prototyped with gusto, and impressed all the grown-up Jammers with their creative ideas.

• Adopt a Playful Mindset for a serious goal. The Global Service Jam is not just about using design to solve problems, expanding your breadth of design skills and knowledge, and learning from your fellow Jammers — it’s reminding us of the first time we likely encountered a design process and fell in love with its people-first approach and its playfulness. It’s about reigniting that spark of playfulness that helps us think more creatively, and design better solutions. For me, having fun meant conceptualizing and creating visual representations or doodles of the Jammers’ activities over the two days, to play upon the Jam’s playful mindset.

I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank Tribal Scale (Jam Venue & Title Sponsor), MCG&CO (Creative Toolbox Sponsor), and Service Design Network & SDN GCC Chapter (Community Sponsor), for all their support with the Dubai Service Jam 2019. Thank you also to all our Dubai Jammers for spending their weekend with us to connect, collaborate, and create some magic! The highlight of the weekend was working with some fantastic people — Hammad Khan, Aquila Khan, and Anthony Harrison — all focused on delivering an amazing experience, THANK YOU! :)

The High Heels of Empathy

I recently found myself in a conversation with someone who was adamant about the need to find new solutions to existing problems, but was far from empathetic about the people around him.  For every issue, he expressed his view on the problem, but was not concerned about how other people in his team felt.  He kept harping on about his proposed solution, but was dismissive about how his solution would negatively impact the other team members, and add to their already overwhelming workload.  He also expressed disdain for team members who were putting in extra hours trying to solve the current challenges, but were struggling; his view was if it didn’t solve the problem, it was because they weren’t showing enough initiative.  Given that scenario, it was no surprise that there was disengagement from work, burnout within the team, and the team’s problems just kept getting worse.

That led me to wonder whether there is room for innovation in an environment that silences the dissenting voices without listening to them; that does not value the extra efforts of its team members; and that does not display empathy for its own people, let alone its users.

Empathy is not only an essential component of business (and being a good human being), it is also one of the fundamental building blocks of the Design Thinking process, because you need to understand the people for whom you are designing.  You need to put yourself in their shoes, and truly understand their experiences, their situations, and their emotions. 

While they may share the same root of the Greek word pathos (which means feelings, emotions, or passion), it is important to differentiate between Sympathy and Empathy, as you embrace the Design Thinking process.  Sympathy is more reactive, in that it shows concern for another person, which may involve projecting feelings of detached pity and sorrow.  Empathy is more proactive, in that it seeks to understand what other people are experiencing and feel what they are feeling, with a view to do something to help them. 

While some may be naturally empathetic, Empathy is not a secret skill but an inclination, and we can take certain steps to improve it and turn it into a natural disposition. 

1. Slip on the high heels:  While the “stepping into the other person’s shoes” analogy may have run its course, humor me for a moment, and imagine that, for your entire life, you’ve only worn flip-flops.  Now, pick up a pair of high heels, slip them on, and try to stand up.  All of a sudden, you feel taller, but you also feel like you’re teetering on those stilettos.  Your jeans suddenly got dressier, but your toes feel a little squashed.  This may just be a literal change of footwear, but figuratively “stepping into another person’s shoes” gives you an idea of What other people see, say, and do.
2. Dig a little deeper:  Once you’re in the other pair of shoes, dig a little deeper to learn about that other person’s experience.  What is it like to walk in those pair of high heels?  Does the precarious balancing on skinny stilettos make it hard to walk even a few meters?  Try to learn about the other person, not just by observation, but by subtle, open-ended questions to encourage them to open up.  Digging involves trying to better understand how people feel, get context for the factors that affect their behavior, and learning more about the How of what other people see, say, and do.
3. Be Objective:  For many people, it’s not easy opening up about themselves, and they may not be completely honest – not as a conscious effort to deceive someone else, but rather as an unconscious effort to protect themselves.  They say they really love those high heels, but do they kick them off at the first opportunity?  You need to be cognizant of people’s actions and behaviors, and whether they align with their words.  Being objective involves being attentive to the differences in people’s behaviors, and thinking about the underlying authenticity and Why of what other people see, say, and do.
4. Acknowledge:  Empathy is a proactive state, which means that not only do you need to be proactive about understanding people and their feelings, you also need to be proactive about acknowledging that to the other person.  That doesn’t mean going up to the person and saying, “I empathize with you” (that would be creepy!).  It means acknowledging to the person that you understand them, their feelings, or their experiences.  For instance, if the other person has been walking in high heels for 20 minutes straight, ask them if they’d like to stop for a few minutes and rest their feet.  Or if they kick off their high heels and grumble about a shoe bite or blister, offer them a cushioned Band-Aid.  These are fairly simplistic examples, but the underlying principle of empathy is applicable across the board.  Be proactive about seeking to understand what other people are experiencing, and feeling what they are feeling, with a proactive view to acknowledge their experiences, and if applicable, do something to help them.

While slipping on the high heels, digging a little deeper, being objective, and acknowledging might help you become a little more empathetic, it is important to be aware of people’s receptiveness to external engagement.  While Empathy is a critical skill, it is not charging in with a bulldozer, but rather a diplomatic approach with a delicate touch.  Trying to understand other people and their experiences also involves trying to understand whether they would be receptive to an empathetic response.  Sometimes, the most empathetic response could be not engaging with the other person, and instead giving them their space.  People are different, and cultivating the essential skill of Empathy helps you become more perceptive about other people and how to best respond to them.

To Kill a Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch may have captured the essence of Empathy best when he said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”  

Author’s Note:  I am not anti-high heels, and I think they are rather pretty.  I just hope you demonstrate some empathy for me as I kick off those high heels, and slip into some comfy sneakers instead!

Tales from the Golf Course - Third Time's the Charm

The sound of silence is so strong, that I feel I can hear the leaves rustling at the end of the hole.  I walk towards the tee box with determination, channeling the winner’s mindset of all the golfing greats.  I look at the flag, and place my golf ball and tee between the tee markers.  I look at the flag again, imagining a smooth, straight line from the tee to the hole.  I approach the ball, stare it down, take a deep breath, and swing with optimism. 

Swoosh.  Clink.  Soar.  Smile.  Thump.  Groan.

I could’ve done without the last two, as I realize my ball seemed to have landed in a particularly evil bunker next to the green.  I look towards the heavens, and slump down my shoulders in defeat.  I wonder when will my golf ball learn that the hole is the tiny hole with the fluttering flag, not the giant bunker with the frustrating sand?

The dejection with which I trudge towards the bunker, is a far cry from the confidence I was channeling just a few minutes earlier.  I gingerly step into the bunker, with all the elegance of trying to roller-blade on ice.  I approach my ball, and look up at the wall of sand staring me down, making me feel smaller than my little tee.  I hop up a little to get a perspective of the flag, dig my feet in a little, stare down the ball, take a deep breath, and swing.

Swoosh.  Clink.  Sand.  Thump.  Mumble.  Groan.

My ball barely rose in a cloud of sand, before hitting the wall of sand, and landing back in the bunker with a frustrating thump.  Which evil genius designed a six-foot-deep bunker?!  I shuffle towards the ball, dig my feet in the sand, stare down the ball, take a deep breath, and swing.

Swoosh.  Clink.  Sand.  Thump.  Mumble.  Grumble.  Groan.

My ball rose higher than the previous stroke, but it fell just short of the wall, and came rolling down to rest in the annoying sand.  I was so irritated with the ball and the bunker that I decide I would just pick up the ball.

“What’re you doing?”  asks my golf partner, peering down from the edge of the bunker (now looking considerably taller, as I look up from the six-foot-deep bunker).

“Picking up the ball.”

“Why?”

“To avoid holding up play?” I reply with a puzzled look on my face.

“Take another swing at it.”

“I’ve already tried twice, and it seems to be particularly stubborn.”

“Third time’s the charm.”

“I think I’m having better luck at creating a sandstorm, than I am at charming the ball out of this vindictive bunker!”

“You can get it out,” says my golf partner, with an encouraging smile.

“Oh, alright, I’ll give it another shot.”

I approach the cheeky ball with a smile, dig my feet in again, stare down the ball, chuckle, take a deep breath, and swing.

Swoosh.  Clink.  Sand.  Soar.  Roll.  Slow Roll.  Tip. 

“It’s in the hole!  You got it in the hole!  Alright!”

I climb out of the bunker with a huge grin, and dart towards the hole to confirm that it was indeed my ball that landed in the hole!  I high-five my golf partner, “You were right!  Third time was the charm!  Thanks so much!”

“I knew you could do it – you just needed to be reminded you could do it!” replied my very sage golf partner.

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While I may not have hit any noteworthy shots for the rest of the round, and I did lose two golf balls to the water, the highlight for me was that third shot out of the bunker.  As I replayed that shot in my head, a couple of interesting lessons came to life.  Given that I uncovered lessons on Design Thinking from ‘The Godfather’ series, you can’t be entirely surprised that I found insights burrowed in the sands of that bunker!

Be Persistent
You could imagine the best plan possible, one where you are taking off like a bullet, soaring through the air, and charging straight towards your goal, without any hiccups or obstacles.  But things don’t always go as planned – sometimes you have a minor hiccup, and sometimes you have a six-foot-deep bunker that you think you’ll never be able to get out of!  But you can’t give up just because you hit a wall (of sand).  Try, and try again, and if that doesn’t work, try again – you never know, third time may just be the charm!

Focus on your Mental Game
Bobby Jones said, ”Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears.”  While my friend and I were just playing a fun round, rather than competitive golf, Bobby Jones’ words are no less important.  Golf is as much a mental game of strategy and confidence, as it is a physical game of strength and dexterity.  That bunker incident reminded me of the need for mental agility, not just on the course, but off the course too.  Believe that you can do it, and when things don’t go according to plan, believe that you can overcome the obstacles to succeed anyway. 

This part is easier said than done, especially when life gets you down.  But if you find yourself in a particularly stubborn spot, with seemingly no way of getting out, if you pay attention, you may have someone peering over the edge of the bunker, looking out for you, and believing that you can do it even when you doubt yourself.  If you’re blessed to have these supportive angels cheering you on, believe in their words, lift your own confidence, and swing.  And don’t forget to high-five those angels when you finally get out of that damn bunker!

Smile
I'm not sure who said, "Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn," but I've come to believe in its truth.  A positive mindset has the power to turn things around, or at the very least, the power to believe that things will turn around for the better.  Just as the course is filled with bunkers, water hazards, and thorny bushes, the world is also filled with obstacles that will frustrate you.  But turning the corners of your mouth upwards, and having a little chuckle can help to put you in the right mood to tackle those obstacles.

While I could certainly spend more time practicing my shots, this bunker story just reinforces the need for patient persistence, mental agility, and a positive attitude topped off with a smile :)

Author’s Note:  Yes, I did rake the bunker after celebrating that third shot!

Design Thinking Lessons from ‘The Godfather’

Until a few days ago, I had never seen this trilogy of the trials and triumphs of the Corleone family.  The mobster genre of film isn’t really my cup of tea, but after much prodding, I decided to bite the bullet (pun unintended!), and watch ‘The Godfather’ series.  I was intrigued by the first part, fascinated by the second part, befuddled by the third part, and while I wish I could have gotten my last three hours back, I realized there were a couple of interesting lessons hiding in the shadows of “The Godfather.” 

While I wouldn’t advocate the violent approach taken in the series, some elements are strangely applicable to Design Thinking.  Now before you smother me with Post-Its (which might be preferable to sleeping with the fishes!), I’m of the opinion that you can learn from pretty much any situation (including movie trilogies), so, have a chuckle with these tongue-in-cheek insights :)

Focus on the cannoli
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli.”
Linus Pauling said, “The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.”  While that approach does work with idea generation, you can get bogged down with more information than you need, or have more ideas than are currently viable.  It’s essential to discern the really important insights, discard the nonessential pieces, and then charge ahead with what’s really critical to your project.

Be open to compromise
“I hoped we could come here and reason together.  And, as a reasonable man, I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary to find a peaceful solution to these problems.”
However much you try, it’s going to be very hard to make everyone happy, particularly in situations where multiple stakeholders are involved.  But if you go in with an open mind, and are amenable to different approaches and seeing things from other people’s perspectives, you might arrive at a solution that meets everyone’s requirements.

Be empathetic, but not too emotional
“Never hate your enemies – it affects your judgement.”
This could be a point of contention.  Empathy – the ability to put yourself in other people’s shoes, and see things from their perspective – is one of the cornerstones of Design Thinking, and its user-centered approach to problem solving.  While you have to maintain a sense of empathy for your users, it’s important not to get too emotional, at the risk of drowning out reason.  Don’t abandon emotion and feeling, but ensure that your ideas and insights are based on rational judgement, particularly for those folks who may not be as passionate as you.

Be comfortable with chaos
“Papa’s all alone. I won’t panic.”
There’s a quote that always makes me chuckle in the midst of chaos, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”  It’s important to plan and anticipate problems before they happen, but even the best laid plans can fall by the wayside.  You have to be comfortable with chaos, otherwise the smallest spanner in the works is going to send you off course.  Take a deep breath, have a chuckle, embrace the chaos, and you’ll be in a better frame of mind to get back on track.

Good enough can be perfect
“Put your hand in your pocket, like you have a gun. You’ll be alright.”
In an ideal world, everything would go according to plan, and you would have all the time you need.  However, things can quite often go off course, and it becomes necessary to adapt to sometimes manic circumstances.  And while it’s important to strive for perfection, be willing to make do with what’s available, to meet the need at hand.  It echoes one of the key elements of prototyping – it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be good enough to meet the need at hand, and help you move ahead.

When I sat down to watch ‘The Godfather’ series, I thought I would finally understand what all those iconic quotes meant – although I still think “Take the cannoli” is focused on the joys of dessert!  My mind just couldn’t help drawing parallels with Design Thinking – I guess you’re always looking for what you’re most passionate about :)

Inside the Creative Toolbox - Brainstorming

As a little girl, I was unfamiliar with the concept of idea generation – to me, if you had an imagination, you had an idea!  In fact, as a little kid, your ideas were probably more remarkable, what with brave dragons fighting your cold, trees growing pizza instead of fruit, and cars driving themselves to your destination!  Now that I think about it, I strongly suspect the inventor of self-driving cars picked up that idea from a curious child!

As an adult, however, having a wild imagination can get you a couple of funny looks from the people around you, “Who’s this kook, and what kind of crazy idea is she spouting?!”  Imagination is important, because it allows you to have ideas, and it’s alright if a couple of them run a little on the wild side, because even Albert Einstein said, “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” 

Even though Mr. Einstein endorsed the notion of an absurd idea, some people are still resistant, because somewhere between dreaming of pizza trees and our first day at work, a lot of us shunted aside our imagination in favor of pragmatism.  It’s okay though, with a little practice, you can get that ol’ imagination working again!  One way is through engaging in idea generation, with tools such as brainstorming. 

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Developed by Alex Faickney Osborn (co-founder of BBDO), brainstorming refers to a group’s “attempts to solve specific problems or develop new ideas by amassing spontaneous, unrestrained contributions by members.”  Brainstorming can sometimes be a contentious issue, because some people believe that only the loudest voices get heard, only the charming presentation gets ahead, and you don’t need all those other voices in the room with the consultant.  I respectfully disagree, because when done right, brainstorming can be one of the strongest tools in your arsenal to begin solving those befuddling problems.

I like incorporating a guided brainstorming exercise, with timed individual and group phases, and strongly advocate visualizing their thoughts.  Once the buzzer beeps, each individual shares their ideas with the other members, putting up their post-its on a large sheet, setting the stage for a possible solution.  While there are other effective idea generation tools, I find that this approach to brainstorming works for a few reasons.  Firstly, it allows the team to work on their own, with each person's ideas being heard, without being squashed by other stronger/louder members, encouraging diversity of thought.  Secondly, it helps to break down possible walls of opposition when they realize that other people may have the same or similar ideas, building a sense of team spirit.  Thirdly, it helps keep my biases in check too - just because I'm the innovation strategy consultant does not automatically mean I'll be the only one to generate the best idea or have an eureka moment, and there's a lot to be learned from other people in the group, who may even become your champions as you take forward the eventual idea or solution into the implementation phase.

Brainstorming will not give you a neatly packaged solution; it is merely one step in the problem-solving process.  However, it is an effective idea generation tool, and when used in conjunction with other tools and exercises, brainstorming can help you think, imagine, ideate, create, iterate, and put you on the path for solving your problem.  

Value of Design Thinking

I was recently asked, what is the value of design thinking.  That's a tricky question to answer, because anyone who knows me can attest, I am passionate about design thinking and innovation.  

I've been a proponent of it ever since my alma mater (that phrase certainly has a ring of nostalgic pride!), the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, introduced me to it.  I grew to love it during all the time I spent learning about it and practicing it with the Business Design Club and Rotman DesignWorks.  I missed it even more when I wasn't practicing it, because you'd often find me muttering under my breath, "This would work so much better if we'd apply a user-centered approach to it!"

My time at Rotman may have come to pass, although I am still enthused about design thinking and innovation, soaking every bit of knowledge I can, about the space.  I'm often asked why design thinking, and simply put, it's a user-centric approach to solving problems, ergo, it makes sense.  I loved Tim Brown's view of design thinking in his book, 'Change by Design,' where he described it as "integrating what is desirable from a human point of view with what is technologically feasible and economically viable."

The part about design thinking that resonates most strongly with me is that it puts people first, not just in thinking about and solving problems, but also in everyday experiences and how might we make things better.  Design thinking prioritizes people to solve problems and delight users.  And what makes it even better is that it is iterative, with a constant cycle of curiosity, creativity and improvement.

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This may explain my passion for design thinking and innovation, although I decided to doodle it all out, and leave you with a visual of my view of the value of design thinking.  I'd love to hear what you think, about the post, the doodle, and design thinking... So, drop me a line, and let's talk! :)

Back to the (blog)board!

I love to write.  I've always loved to write.  I've loved writing even before I knew what letters and words meant; ask my Mom, and she'll hold up my scribbles in her notebooks as proof!  I've loved writing when I would read works of literary genius, and dreamt of one day holding my own published work in my hands.  I've loved writing even more after I discovered a passion for poetry at age 8, and fell in love with the art of creative, poetic expression.

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The only times I didn't like writing was for tests & examinations.  Why waste the beautiful act of putting pen to paper on proving that you memorized a textbook?!  Perhaps that's why I loved writing this blog during my time at Rotman...  It provided a welcome release from the exhausting intensity of business school, and allowed me to reflect on how I felt.  I viewed Rotman as an adventure even before it started (hence the title of this blog - MBA: Must Bring Adventure!), and what an exhilarating adventure it was!  I got to go to Canada's top business school, learn from some of the finest professors, associate with a fantastic group of peers, and meet some of the most amazing people that I am now blessed to call my friends. :)

Writing became an intrinsic part of my being, and I naturally assumed it would continue even after Rotman... After all, isn't life the biggest adventure of them all? ;)  However, transitioning from business school to business world made me realize that continuing my writing might be tricky with all the confidentiality clauses and non-disclosure agreements.  Whether for an organization or a client, more often than not, you are working on sensitive information, and you owe it to them to protect the privacy of their intellectual property (look at all that alliteration - I must have really missed writing!).  Hence, this blog's been quiet for a little while.  

However, my friends & readers have been encouraging me to get back to writing, and I have been itching to get typing my thoughts!  So, as long as I steer clear of work specifics, I think I'm okay to write about lessons learnt, tidbits discovered, and reflections on really cool stuff (or maybe just stuff I find cool!).  Caveat: just like a car takes a little while to warm up after being out in the cold, my writing may take a little time to stop sputtering and begin purring, but I'm an eager beaver!  So, I endeavor to write about all the awesomeness I come across along this continuing adventure, and I hope you'll join me for the ride! :)

P.S.  Yes, I realize that the title is extremely cheesy, so if you've got any good ideas, comment, email or tweet them across, and I'll credit a title change to you!

Bye-bye Rail Container, Hello FlexBox!

While my journey with human-centered business design may have begun at Rotman, I was determined to not let it end at Rotman. I was determined to continue my pursuit of designing better solutions, and jumped at any and every opportunity to be able to practice my design chops (is that even a term? :P)! Fortunately, I'm not alone in that boat, and when three amazingly talented classmates and I happened to chance upon an interesting challenge to redesign rail freight, we jumped pretty high! The innovation competition challenged us to explore how might we extend network capability and improve the user experience for the UK rail freight industry.

We (Team Novus Capsa) were pretty stoked about the challenge, but we had no idea about rail freight whatsoever! Also, it was kind of tricky to figure out the freight space in the UK while we were sitting in Toronto, Canada! So, what do you do when you don't know something? You research! We reached out to brilliant academics researching urban planning, real estate economics, operational efficiencies, and marketing strategies. We spoke with seasoned professionals who shared their insights from sectors such as shipping, logistics, postal services and industry analysts. We chatted with enterprises, business owners and individuals who had previously, are currently, or may use freight or freight forwarding services at some point in the future. We are incredibly grateful for the knowledge, experiences and insights that these generous individuals shared with us, and they helped us deep-dive into the world of freight.

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With the FlexBox Prototype - who says Lego is just for kids? :P

Then, last, but not the least, we looked at the freight container itself, and that's when we realized the box had changed the space of shipping and trade. While the humble box had changed a lot, it remained relatively unchanged since its invention. Well, if we wanted to change the current state of rail freight, we had to change the box. So, that's what we did! We brainstormed, ideated, prototyped and repeated until we were out of Lego blocks!

Eventually we conceptualized a redesign of the box – "FlexBox" – where the box comes to you! It would be a unique freight solution for small and medium enterprises, with door-to-door service. Our concept was to change the box, which would change rail freight, and redefine the rail user experience. Curious? Take a peek at our concept solution, and tell me what you think!  :)

When Life Gives You Roller-Coasters...

I sat down to write a post on a design project, but before I knew it, my fingers had taken over and were typing something completely different... So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here is my post of gratitude for those cheering me on to ride roller-coasters :) *

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Life is a crazy roller-coaster, with plenty of twists, turns & double loops to leave your head perpetually spinning.  But even as you ride this crazy roller-coaster, there's an element of excitement and exhilaration, with a shot of adrenaline to keep you shooting in the direction of your dreams.  It also leaves you a little hyper and loopy, with your family and friends telling you to simmer down and be realistic!  Within this cacophony of emotions, it falls upon you to center yourself with the right combination of idealism and realism, and find your peace amidst all the madness.

This may sound a little odd, especially given my frequent references to roller-coasters, but I am afraid of roller-coasters.  I rode one when I was about eleven, and it terrified the living daylights out of me with its double loop; I couldn't wait to get off, and haven't gotten on one since then.  Why is that important?  Because I think my fears run deeper than I fear, and trying new things, experiences and emotions has always terrified me.  I have been hesitant about doing or saying something I feel, and I have held back quite frequently, with the result that I have a running inner monologue about how I should have done this or said that, and perhaps things would have turned out differently.

A little over two years ago, on a miserably cold evening, a dear friend told me that it's okay to be afraid, as long as I don't live my life in fear.  I made up my mind then to at least try to face my fears instead of cowering behind them.  When faced with the prospect of trying something new, I at least attempted it once, and when thinking about saying something, I at least attempted speaking my mind instead of relegating myself to days of recurring inner monologues.  Even when you try to change something for the better, you do slip into old habits without realizing it, and so it happened to me.  Recently, another dear friend wondered out loud how life could be different if we weren't so afraid, and didn't overthink everything.  It reminded me to keep charging ahead, and face my fears instead of running away from them and hiding.

This Thanksgiving, I am immensely grateful for these Angels appearing in my life, in the form of family, friends and complete strangers, reminding me to do what's right for me, and keep charging ahead towards my dreams.  They often think what they said or did was completely insignificant, but their words and actions are immensely powerful.  While I'm unlikely to get on one of the terrifying roller-coasters at Cedar Point or Six Flags, these Angels remind me to get back in line for the roller-coaster of life, and ride it with my face in the wind, smiling through all the twists, turns and double-loops :)

Take a Moment for Joy!

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Sometimes, all it takes is a little moment to remind you of what you need to do, in order to materialize the life you have envisioned for yourself.  I’ve been told that I was a happy burst of sunshine as a kid, brimming with optimism, and beaming with a big smile.  I think, nay, I believe that every kid comes into this world in a state of joy; that’s why they are most likely to smile in their sleep. However, the increasing pressures of the world erase most of these innocent smiles, leaving them with sullen mumbles in their teenage years, and confused drudgery as they transition into adulthood.  At least that’s what it was for me; I turned into a cranky, pessimistic grump, dragging through my days, and for a while, I didn’t think it could be any different.  Until one day when somebody tried guessing my age, and came up with a number that was about ten years older than my chronological age… If you want to give a twenty-something a panic attack, tell them they’re old!  After many hours spent peering at myself in magnifying mirrors looking for fine lines, it hit me.  It wasn’t my face itself that was making me look old, but my internal self, reflected on my face, that was aging me beyond my years.  I took a good, hard look at myself, and realized that no amount of potions and lotions would help me look younger, unless I returned my mental state to a state of joy.  Easier said than done!

Being happy is expected of kids, and hoped of teenagers, but generally elicits confused stares of bewilderment in adults.  I encountered those stares fairly often as I began my conscious commitment towards being happy, and quite often, it was easier to be cranky than happy, but I had to try to be happy, especially if I wanted to be guessed as a twenty-something again!  The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and for me, my journey towards joy started with baby steps – simple things like taking a moment to smile after waking up and being grateful for this new day, rather than just slamming the alarm clock and stumbling out of bed; taking a moment to look up at the sky and breathe in the dawn before getting behind the wheel, rather than succumbing to road rage and honking at errant drivers; taking a moment to ask my colleagues how they’re doing and listening to their response, rather than just getting straight into the task; taking a moment to look at my plate and savor all the aromas and colors, rather than just shoveling food down my throat; taking a moment to do a fist-pump at scoring a great parking spot in a crowded lot, rather than just jumping out and rushing off; taking a moment at the end of the day, to reflect on and being grateful for all the wonderful things that I’ve been blessed with, rather than just grumpily falling into bed, and complaining about everything that went wrong that day.  All it takes is a moment to savor the experience and be genuinely grateful, to change from being apprehensive about all the craziness that awaits, to being anticipative about all the joy that’s waiting to embrace you.

Even though I have become more optimistic and joyous, that doesn’t mean I’m in a continuous state of helium-induced excitement – life has its fair share of problems and disappointments, and it’s natural to feel sad or upset when things don’t turn out as you had hoped.  However, I’ve learned feeling defeated doesn’t mean that I’ve been permanently defeated.  I get angry, sad and frustrated, and I recognize that those are my natural responses; accepting that it’s okay to be unhappy, for just a little while, allows me to take a moment and take a step towards happiness.  Sometimes it’s taking a walk (fresh air amidst nature works wonders), watching a funny movie (laughter is the best medicine), baking a decadent delight while listening to peppy music (cookies solve most problems), talking with a friend (I’m infinitely grateful for my patient, nonjudgmental family and friends), all of the above (What? You’ve never walked to a friend’s house to chat as you two baked, and then watched a comedy while eating cookie dough?), or something completely different (maybe you’re the anomaly in the human species that doesn’t like cookies).  Happiness comes in ebbs and flows, and not everything in life will go your way, but how you respond to the lows, by getting back on your feet, and taking a moment to find that little thing that makes you smile, even if for just a moment, before charging on, full-steam ahead, towards joy.

Why have I been talking about being in a state of joy?  It’s because being joyous allows you to be more proactive towards, and receptive of the even greater joy that awaits you.  I believe that to be true, and have experienced that to be true.  But even when you know something, you forget – we’re only human, after all.  And sometimes, all it takes is a little moment to remind you of what you need to do, in order to materialize the life you have envisioned for yourself.  I was lucky to be a guest at a Rotary meeting earlier this week, where they wrapped up the meeting by passing around their Happy Box, and every member expressed gratitude for something good that they had experienced during the past week.  It didn’t matter if the happiness was big or small, it was the mere act of expressing gratitude, and sharing that joy with others.  The past few weeks have been a bit of a roller-coaster  where I barely appreciated the highs, and tended to dwell in the lows longer than necessary.  The little moment of sharing joys with the Happy Box, reminded me to take a little moment to be truly grateful for all that I have been blessed with.  It may take me longer than a little moment (especially if I’m trying to write about it), but I think gratitude is worth the effort.  So, here goes my top three for today… I am very happy and grateful for my academic and professional mentors who continue to guide me with their experiences and insights; I am very happy and grateful for my family and friends who continue to tolerate my quirkiness, encourage my creativity, and support my dreams and aspirations; and I am very happy and grateful for the invention of chai – it’s the perfect beverage to keep me warm and cozy for when it’s cold and rainy outside, and great for dunking cookies too!  Hey, I already told you I was quirky!  And being in a state of joy isn’t always about the big happiness moments, it’s about being happy to recognize (and appreciate) those little moments that make you smile and happy.  So, thank you, dear reader, for patiently reading this post, sticking with this blog, and sharing your comments and words of appreciation :)

P.S.  I am guessing there might be some wondering on how taking a moment to be grateful and joyous has to do with creativity, design or adventure…  I believe a joyous state of mind not only helps you look happier and younger, but it also helps spark more creative ideas, and this adventure of life needs ideas and solutions that are better designed, with a dash of quirkiness to make you smile :)

P.P.S.  While I will persist in my efforts to be joyous, I promise to have my next post focused more on design and/or an adventurous spirit!  Thank you for your patience and support!  :)

The Adventure Continues...

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I started writing this blog - "MBA: Must Bring Adventure!" - as a way to chronicle my experiences during my MBA at the Rotman School of Management, and share my journey with family and friends.  My MBA culminated this summer, with a glorious graduation ceremony that had me grinning from ear to ear, surrounded by wonderful family and awesome friends, some watching and cheering for me from the other side of the world, as I finally achieved this long-held dream of mine.  While my MBA was nothing short of a terrific, high-adrenaline roller-coaster, I feel like the adventure has only just begun. Life's too short to be just ho-hum; it deserves our best effort to bring an adventurous spirit as we charge ahead to leave our own mark on the world.  So, I intend to continue approaching each day as a new adventure, knowing not where it may lead me, but just that it deserves a creative, optimistic and determined spirit.  I intend to continue chronicling my adventures, and I hope you continue to join me on the road ahead...  :)

To Sir, With Love

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Edward Ricardo Braithwaite wrote him, Sidney Poitier played him, Lulu sang him... But are inspirational teachers like Mark Thackeray just confined to our books, our screens, and our stereos?  I'm very fortunate to say that I've come across some inspiring teachers and mentors, each one of them playing a role in spurring me on to greater heights.  Some of them appeared in the classroom, some in the boardroom, and some of them offered silent wisdom as they went along their way.  For me, most of them appeared in the hallways and classrooms of the Rotman School of Management, each one of them inspiring me to do better than I thought I could do, and one day hopefully, emulate their insight, foresight and wisdom.  But I wouldn't have found myself at Rotman, learning from these amazing professors, had it not been for one particularly inspirational professor, Roger Martin.

A few years ago, while searching for the future home of my MBA, I perused catalogs, websites, emails, blogs and videos, trying to find something that clicked with me, something that I could identify with, something that would spark my curiosity, and fuel my fire for learning and knowledge.  While Rotman was always in my top choices, it wasn't until I saw a video of Dean Roger Martin at the Business Innovation Factory (BIF-5) Collaborative Innovation Summit in 2009, that Rotman became the only choice for me.  Professor Martin spoke of Rotman redefining business education from "narrow, shallow and static" to "broad, deep and dynamic," and producing business professionals capable of handling today's business problems, but also proactively tackling the wicked problems of tomorrow.  After watching that video, Rotman became my only choice, and suffice to say, I was deliriously happy when they sent me their acceptance letter about two and a half years ago.

Over the past two years at Rotman, I have not only acquired a strong foundation in business knowledge, but I have also been very fortunate to learn from some truly stellar professors, many of whom became mentors, as I navigated my way through this roller-coaster, each one of them providing unique insight that helped me along my way.  But I do owe Professor Martin a special nod of thanks.  Thanks to him, I found myself at Canada's top business school; I understand the incredible value of Integrative Thinking; I discovered my passion and delight for Business Design; I find myself applying Human-Centered Design Thinking principles everywhere I go; I am yearning to tie up Strategy and Innovation in the challenges ahead; I am inspired by the academic pursuit of excellence; and I can't wait to pay it back to my school.

After 15 impressive years as Dean of the Rotman School of Management, Roger Martin stepped down as Dean this summer, and took a leadership position at the Martin Prosperity Institute researching democratic capitalism.  Professor Martin, during your years as Dean, you have had innumerable incredible accomplishments that have elevated Rotman through the ranks.  However, I think your biggest accomplishments would be the impact you've left on your students; we're better today than when we first walked through Rotman's doors, discovering new skills and passions, and raring to tackle the world's little and wicked problems.  And so, it is with utmost gratitude that we say, "To Sir, With Love."

11,111 and counting... Thank You!

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So many readers from so many places around the world!  Could this be my new travel bucket list? ;)

I started writing "MBA: Must Bring Adventure!" about 22 months ago, as a way for me to chronicle my MBA journey at the Rotman School of Management.  I've loved writing ever since I was a little girl, so this blog naturally became a happy place for me to share my thoughts... happy & sad, frustrated & excited, freezing & melting, bittersweet & joyous.  What I didn't expect was so many people sharing my Rotman journey, through every reading, paper, report, project, presentation, along with endless cups of coffee.

Today, mustbringadventure.wordpress.com crossed 11,111 views!  That's eleven thousand, one hundred, eleven views, and counting!  And for that, I thank you, each and every one of you! :D

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." - G.K. Chesterton

Rotman Design Challenge 2013

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The Business Design Club's Executive Team with Dean Roger Martin at the Rotman Design Challenge 2013

After experiencing what was undoubtedly one of the highlights of first year, with the Rotman Design Challenge 2012 (RDC 2012), I was determined to pay it forward when the 2013 edition came along.  While the competition itself only took place in March of this year, fervent preparations for RDC 2013 began in earnest shortly after our first year came to a close.  From pitching to prospective clients, to liaising with our competition sponsor, to liaising with generous partners, to scouting locations, to inviting judges, to inviting speakers, to developing learning program, to managing internal and external teams, to managing multiple communication channels, to finally putting together "one of the most awesome case competitions ever" (testimonial by an enthusiastic participant!), and I was very fortunate to be a part of the awesome team behind the magic.

As the RDC Sponsor, Target challenged teams to find an innovative solution to, "How can Target leverage it’s 'Expect More. Pay Less®' brand promise and it’s mantra of 'Design for All' to become and be recognized as a leading company in sustainability?"  Our eager participants came from schools across Canada, United States and Europe (we went international in just our third year!), from Aalto University, California College of the Arts, Darden School of Business, IIT Institute of Design, Ivey School of Business, McCombs School of Business, Ontario College of Art & Design, Sauder School of Business, Sloan School of Management, and of course, the Rotman School of Management.  125 eager business designers fully immersed themselves in the challenge, using business and design techniques and frameworks, to create amazingly creative concepts inspired by unique user insights.  And their presentations resonated the words of our keynote speaker, Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management, offering a creative and "productive combination of analytical & intuitive thinking" to move the business world forward.  Innovation was the theme of the day, with Daniel Duty from Target saying how, "engaging with their guests and building brand love, requires constant innovation."  Kate Heiny also offered words of wisdom for our eager participants, "Dream big, make it simple, make it look good, and you should be set!"

The Judges did not have an easy task as they deliberated extensively (timing one of the rooms was highly enlightening - so much wisdom & insight from our Judges!) to select the final 5 teams from IIT Design, OCAD, MIT Sloan and Rotman (It was a proud day for Rotmanites when two of their teams went into the final round!).  The final round judges had an even trickier task as they reviewed, questioned and debated, before awarding first place to 'Team Meta' from IIT Design, second place to 'We Almost Forgot Our Passports' from MIT Sloan, and third place to 'P-Type' from Rotman!  Yay!  :D  

The RDC wasan incredibly exhausting, yet amazingly exciting experience, and I particularly enjoyed meeting with eager business designers from different schools.  In short, the RDC was like a design melting pot, where like-minded individuals came together, to share their curiosity, creativity, and commitment to innovation, and I can't wait to see what the next year's team has in store for Rotman and business design!