Here's how you can master the essential skills for successful social innovation and design thinking.

Empathy is the engine of social innovation. It's the force that drives us to delve deeper into the lives of those we wish to aid, transcending beyond mere statistics to touch the human heart of the issue. When we step into the shoes of the community, we uncover the nuanced realities that numbers can't capture. This journey of shared experiences and emotions is what fuels the creation of solutions that resonate on a personal level, ensuring that our innovations are not just effective, but also compassionate and human-centric. In the realm of social change, empathy is our most valuable ally, guiding us to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Empathy is part of us as human beings. But when it's time to act as a design thinker, it becomes a golden rule. In our social context, we have full access to an unlimited number of ideas, but the difference is made by innovators who can find meaning for their society, and above all, for people. When you analyze your user personas and connect with their inner needs or issues, empathy can help you understand why people choose things (the cause) rather than how they might react to them (the effect).

I can not emphasise empathy enough. For too long have users of products been treated like pawns on the chess board analysed for the best way to treat them to get the best out of them, in this case, money. Companies and so-called innovators would overemphasise the efficiency and efficacy of a product without equally emphasising the potential consequences of using it. Sometimes the products are truly designed based on the users' wants; however, they are not what they need or what is beneficial to them. The day creators, designers, developers and the likes internalise empathy in all their operations then perhaps, they will have begun their journey towards true innovation in the best interest of society.

The ideation phase is crucial for generating innovative solutions, so allowing the time and space for any idea to be shared is key. By embracing diverse perspectives, the likelihood of uncovering unique and imaginative approaches is enhanced. It's important to remember that in brainstorming, no idea is too outlandish; unconventional ideas may pave the way for revolutionary outcomes, such as jewelry that monitors health or drones that farm.

Once we have identified the problem, moving forward to generating a large quantity of ideas becomes the next step. During a session of idea generation, there are no right or wrong solutions. In a team brainstorming setting, it is important not to judge or overthink ideas prematurely. Allowing the mind to flow freely towards all possibilities, while keeping the target in mind, fosters creativity. Additionally, setting a time limit for the session helps maintain focus and productivity.

Probar rápidamente es clave para identificar qué ideas tienen potencial y cuáles no. Requiere implementar prototipos mínimos viables para recibir feedback temprano y ajustar en consecuencia. En mi experiencia con el PMI, hemos implementado enfoques ágiles que nos permiten validar hipótesis rápidamente, ajustando y mejorando nuestras estrategias con base en la retroalimentación recibida de los interesados. Esto no solo ahorra tiempo y recursos, sino que también incrementa las probabilidades de éxito al centrarse en soluciones validadas.

La iteración frecuente permite mejorar y perfeccionar ideas basadas en la retroalimentación continua. Este ciclo constante de prueba y ajuste es esencial para lograr resultados óptimos. A lo largo de mi carrera con la Comunidad de Mujeres Líderes Latinoamericana, he aprendido a valorar la iteración continua. En cada proyecto, aplicamos métodos de mejora continua que nos permiten adaptarnos rápidamente a los cambios y necesidades emergentes, asegurando que nuestras soluciones siempre estén alineadas con las expectativas de los beneficiarios.

La colaboración efectiva implica trabajar en equipo de manera cohesiva, aprovechando la diversidad de perspectivas y habilidades. En mi rol en la organización del evento 'Emprender La Rioja 2024', he trabajado estrechamente con diversos equipos de marketing, logística y relaciones públicas. Esta colaboración multidisciplinaria nos ha permitido crear una propuesta integral y bien coordinada, demostrando que el trabajo en conjunto produce soluciones más innovadoras y completas.

Think of scale from day 1. One needs to draw out the value chain to solve the problem and try to identify if there is an innovative high leverage intervention somewhere which can lead to huge gains in solving the problem, without touching other parts of the value chain. Designing such interventions, proper pilots and gtms is the way to create scalable social impact.