About the Series
Innovation starts with empathy.
The Design Thinking Workshop Series is a three-part, hands-on experience that helps founders and teams approach challenges with creativity, collaboration, and customer insight. Led by Leari Jenee-Jones, this series will guide participants through the full design thinking process — from understanding user needs to prototyping and testing solutions that drive real impact.
Session Overview
Wed. 12/3 - Session 1: Empathize
Discover how to deeply understand your customers and stakeholders. Learn to conduct empathy interviews, identify motivations and pain points, and uncover insights that inform meaningful innovation.
Wed. 12/10 - Session 2: Define & Ideate
Use real feedback to define the root of your challenge and brainstorm creative solutions. You’ll walk away with clear problem statements, practical ideas, and a low-stakes prototype plan to bring your concepts to life.
Wed. 12/17 - Session 3: Prototype & Test
Build, test, and refine your ideas through peer feedback. Learn to create low-fidelity prototypes, gather input, and develop a roadmap for improving your solution through rapid iteration.
What You’ll Gain
✅ A framework for creative problem-solving
✅ Tools to empathize with users and define root challenges
✅ Techniques to brainstorm, prototype, and test ideas effectively
✅ Practical exercises you can apply to your own venture immediately
About the Facilitator
Leari Jenee-Jones (she/her) is an entrepreneurship program leader and DEI advocate dedicated to fostering innovation and inclusion. With experience designing entrepreneurship curricula, leading design-thinking workshops, and supporting founders and students, Leari empowers diverse communities to transform bold ideas into ventures. At the core of her work is a commitment to equity, collaboration, and cultivating the next generation of changemakers.
Join us for this engaging, high-energy workshop series and learn how to turn ideas into impact through the power of design thinking.
