This assignment involves developing empathy for someone going through the school-to-work transition and defining a problem they face. The interviewee, referred to as "Mystery", is passionate about marketing, communication, and connecting with people to understand their needs. Mystery believes education needs to be more diverse, flexible, and continuous to develop talent and empower people. The problem statement is that the business world is changing faster than universities can adapt, and companies and educational institutions need to collaborate more closely to define and create jobs of the future.

1. @OmarEAvila
Venture lab plaform, Stanford University
Assignment 2: Empathize & Define
Design Thinking Action Lab

2. This week’s assignment is about developing empathy for someone
who has a stake in the school-to-work transition, and defining a
problem or need (*) he/she has related to the challenge.
The work for this week’s assignment is divided in four sequential
steps:
1. Prepare for the empathy work.
2. Go out and talk to people.
3. Process the data gathered via interviews using an Empathy Map.
4. Craft a problem statement.

3. “For me, having postgraduate studies and speak languages, are key to get a qualified work and
become a middle class (cover my expenses & keep some money for saving)”
“I ended up studying my degree because of the continuous decisions made in my life based on my
own interests and passions but also influenced by other people (teachers, friends & family)”
“My passion is marketing & communication, connect with people & empathize with them to identify
their needs & social behavior”
“Learning has to be diverse to develop the talent of people, explore & empower the people´s talent”
“Companies do not propose education while working”
“When you start working, it´s not easy to go back to study. Neither the companies nor university are
ready or thought about it”
“Companies are not flexible to give daily hours, or weeks off for studying to their employees”
“We need to open the schools & universities to continuous learning”
EMPATHY MAP
SAY

4. I made the interview through audio call, so it´s difficult to see the behavior (the use of the hands,
face reactions, and so on) of the interviewee (Mystery)
Nevertheless, I identified “Mystery´s” passion about studies & work / job experience
“Mystery” was a bite little lost, not sure what to say to answer the questions, but through our
conversation, she realized the problem, the gap between the “educational world” & “business
world” and also the kind of job she is passionate about. Thanks to this “discovery” she made clearer
& deeper thoughts, she was calmer and secure in her answers
I also found her optimistic about finding solutions for her professional career, through improving
some of her skills & look for a job that fit her passion, and if doesn´t find it, creating her own job
EMPATHY MAP
DO

5. “The business world is changing faster than what universities / education system does”
“We cannot anticipate the future”
“We have to connect the business with the educational institutions”
“All of us are interested in keep learning”
“Our life is not lineal, it´s organic, both in its personal and professional perspective”
“Education has to be flexible to adapt to the market demand”
“Education has to be continuous”
“Companies have to invest in their employees, giving them the tools for continuous learning”
“Companies have to consider employees as people with talent, not robots that execute orders”
“Companies have to be “people centric” (employee, customer, society) to be sustainable (long term)
“Companies have to work & collaborate with universities, to define the jobs of the future”
“The goal of education (school) & parents is to empower the students, showing their strength and
teach them to accept the uncertainty & continuous learning by doing”
EMPATHY MAP
THINK & FEEL

6. “Mystery” is a high educated person with postgraduate studies on Marketing and Communication.
Speaks 3 languages & worked in different countries in Europe
PROBLEM STATEMENT
STAKEHOLDER
PROBLEM/NEED
The business world is changing faster than what universities does. Companies have to work closer &
collaborate with universities (educational institutions) to define & create the jobs of the future
INSIGHTS
Our life is not lineal, it´s organic, both in its personal and professional perspective
Education has to be continuous, flexible & personalized to adapt and evolve to cover the business
demand, but also to empower the talent of the people

7. @OmarEAvila
Venture lab plaform, Stanford University
Assignment 2: Empathize & Define
Design Thinking Action Lab