Join this action-packed, week-long summer program for high school students interested in women-focused opportunities who want to explore business, leadership, and innovation through a human-centered lens. You’ll discover how creativity and strategy come together to solve real-world problems and shape the future of business.
Throughout the week, you’ll examine top companies, work in teams to tackle a real business challenge, and learn from entrepreneurs and industry leaders who are driving change through human-centered innovation. At the end of the week, you’ll pitch your own business idea and leave with new skills, new connections, and the confidence to the confidence to lead and innovate wherever your future takes you.
Take the Next Steps
Who
High school students interested in women-focused opportunities who aspire to be future innovative business leaders.
When
This course is offered the following week:
July 13 to 17
Where
Bentley’s beautiful campus located just outside Boston with access to cutting-edge tech labs and a vibrant college environment
Innovation and Design for Women Entrepreneurs Schedule
Monday
Morning
You as a Future Innovator and Business Leader: Explore your innovation style and leadership potential
Early Afternoon Session
The Importance of Innovation in Today’s World: Why innovation drives progress & an innovation framework
Late Afternoon Session
Human-Centered Design & Our Design Challenge: An empathy-driven framework to prepare for our site visit
Tuesday
Morning
Site Visit: See the world through the eyes of others
Early Afternoon Session
Inclusive Design Principles: Methods for designing for everyone
Late Afternoon Session
Creating User Personas & Defining Problem Statements: Identify user needs and define clear opportunity areas
Wednesday
Morning
Prototyping Workshop: Turn ideas into tangible concepts through convergent & divergent thinking
Early Afternoon Session
Rapid Feedback & Iteration: Apply user feedback & iterative prototyping techniques to refine your concept
Late Afternoon Session
Building Your Pitch: A pitch framework to bring your solution to market
Thursday
Morning
Feasibility, Viability and Desirability: Connecting your solution to the innovation framework
Early Afternoon Session
Building Your Startup: Further define your business idea with The Lean Canvas Framework
Late Afternoon Session
Creating Marketing Assets Using AI Tools: Use generative tools to design visuals, copy, and brand materials
Friday
Morning
Storytelling & Pitch Workshop: Craft a compelling narrative to communicate your idea
Early Afternoon Session
As an Innovator & Career Pathways, revisited: Reflect on personal growth and potential next steps
Late Afternoon Session
Final Pitch Presentations Present your startup concept, get feedback from industry experts and celebrate your accomplishments
Faculty
Sarah Pagliaccio
Teaching Interests:
Sarah believes interdisciplinary design education creates socially-aware citizens who can design a better world for us all.
Janelle Estes
Teaching Interests:
User Experience, Product Design, Business Strategy, Human-Centered Design
Veronica Pierni
Teaching Interests:
Entrepreneurial Studies, Data Analytics, Women in Business, Business Strategy, International Operations Management