The Dell Scholars Program supports first generation college students across hundreds of colleges and universities, helping students navigate the challenges of earning a college degree.
The Challenge
The Dell Scholars team wanted to strengthen connections with scholars while better understanding the challenges they faced.
Rather than simply solving those challenges for students, the team saw an opportunity to build its own problem solving capability and learn how to use design thinking to create more relevant solutions.
What We Uncovered
The most powerful way to learn design thinking was not through theory. It was by using it on a real challenge.
That meant bringing Dell Scholars directly into the learning experience so the team could practice listening, asking better questions, building empathy, and turning what they learned into ideas.
How We Worked
We designed and facilitated an experiential workshop where the team learned design thinking by doing it.
Participants worked directly with scholars to gather insights, develop personas, map experiences, and identify opportunities for improvement. Each activity taught a problem solving skill while simultaneously advancing real work.
What Changed
The team left with more than an introduction to design thinking. They had practiced a repeatable approach they could use on future challenges.
By embedding real stakeholders and real work into the training, learning became immediately actionable while strengthening empathy and connection between staff and the students they serve.
Capabilities
Problem Solving Training • Design Thinking • Facilitation • Experiential Learning
