Gateway Reflection Social Innovation – Fall 2014

Creativity and Entrepreneurial Competencies Analyzed real-world social innovation such as Grameen Bank Engaged with many innovator and entrepreneur guest speakers Implemented I&E projects e.g. Duke Gumball Challenge Participated in small-group discussions and activities on social innovation topics

Technical Competencies Got to practice and implement social innovation process through two group projects Key skills gained: Problem identification, idea generation, design thinking, project design, implementation, reiteration, marketing/advertising

Collaboration Worked on two big group projects Gained collaboration skills within team and with external stakeholders Key skills exercised: Taking Initiative Leading Meetings/Discussions Critiquing Teamwork Coordinating/Organizing Implementation Process Pitching to Stakeholders

Courage and Resilience Example Learned a lot about challenges in social innovation and solutions to improve innovation strategy from the Duke Gumball Challenge During the Gumball Challenge, my team tried to raise money for Kiva by selling fruit to Duke students Encountered challenge factors in marketing and sales such as target location, target customers, advertising pitch, and payment methods Had to revise and reiterate strategy throughout the implementation of our project

Biggest Takeaways Social Innovation is a process! Human-centered design is very important, especially as we saw through marketing/advertising challenges in the Gumball Project Gained key skills through dynamic group activities/projects Frequent small-group activities/discussions helped me improve significantly in idea generation and project design Team projects helped me improve in collaboration and implementation in SI