​Great ideas don’t start with solutions, they start with understanding people.

​Design thinking is about creating human-centered solutions to complex challenges. At the heart of innovation is creative problem-solving, and practicing design thinking can help any entrepreneur build better products for their customers. This approach begins by empathizing with human needs: focusing first on the problems we’re solving for potential customers, then designing a product or service that truly meets those needs. In this workshop, we’ll introduce the core concepts and techniques of design thinking and guide participants through a hands-on activity that brings these ideas to life. Whether you’re just starting to develop an idea or already building your business, this session will provide practical tools to strengthen your entrepreneurial journey.

​Led by Brooke Foti Gemmell 
 
Brooke (she/her) is the Associate Director for Strategy and Innovation at UConn's Internal Insights & Innovation, enjoys big-picture thinking, and dreaming up creative solutions to big problems. Though she is trained as a creative generalist, Brooke believes that her greater calling is in the development of the people around her, and is wholly energized by the successes of her mentees and peers alike. When she isn't at UConn, she is riding horses, chasing her kid around, and asking if she can pet your dog. 

​About Traction Workshops

​Twelve workshops will be offered each academic year to support entrepreneurs at various stages of building a business idea. These workshops are open to all UConn students, and are led by experienced entrepreneurs, CCEI instructors, and UConn faculty. Learn more about the program at ccei.uconn.edu/traction.