Guest Lecture Building Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Design Thinking as a Catalyst for Growth

On 05.03.2025 Guest Lecture on "Building Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Design Thinking as a Catalyst for Growth" was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and IIC through offline mode in association with Department of Management Studies. The session was handled by Dr.R.Prem Ananth ,IIC Convener , Assistant Professor, Department of ECE, Francis Xavier Engineering College, Vannarpettai from 01:30 PM to 04:30 PM on 05.03.2025. 40 students and one faculty participated.

The program started with the welcome address and chief guest introduction by Dr.V.M.Sangeetha, EDC coordinator of Management Studies, Francis Xavier Engineering College. The session aimed to introduce the students about the concept of design thinking, its importance, and its practical applications. The lecture began with an introduction to the Design thinking process, explaining its five key stages: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. The speaker said that the design thinking is a human-centered iterative approach to problem-solving which fosters creativity and innovation.

He elaborated on why design thinking is essential, emphasizing how it enables businesses to develop user-centric solutions, enhance customer experience, and drive business success. He stressed its relevance in decision-making, strategy formulation, and problem-solving across various industries. He explained that design thinking equips future business leaders with the ability to identify market gaps, create innovative products, and improve customer engagement. To illustrate the practical application of design thinking, the resource person presented a case study of Airbnb. He explained how Airbnb, initially struggling to gain traction, used design thinking to deeply understand customer pain points. By empathizing with users, redefining their business model, and improving the visual appeal of listings, Airbnb transformed itself into a global success. This example demonstrated how design thinking can be a game-changer for startups and established businesses alike.

The session was highly interactive, with students engaging in discussions and brainstorming activities. The resource person encouraged students to apply design thinking process to solve the problems which exists in the social domine to develop innovative ideas. The guest speaker provided valuable insights into how innovation and creativity can drive business success, making it a significant learning experience for all the participants.