21 Jul INNOVATING IN THE REAL WORLD: DESIGN THINKING, LEAN STARTUP, AGILE AND WORKING BACKWARDS
Innovation is no longer a luxury. It is a skillset, a mindset, and a superpower for anyone who wants to thrive in a world shaped by rapid change. This seminar is designed to ignite that superpower.We begin by exploring the major global forces and emerging technologies that are reshaping how we live, work, and build businesses. Students will understand the opportunities that come with AI, automation, digital platforms, and new customer behaviors, and how these shifts open doors for bold, creative problem-solving.From there, we move into the heart of the course: the methodologies that drive real innovation in the real world. Students will learn and apply the principles behind Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Agile — three complementary approaches that help teams empathize with users, test ideas fast, learn from evidence, and execute with speed and clarity.The seminar concludes with one of the most powerful innovation frameworks in modern business: Working Backwards, the mechanism Amazon uses to create customer-obsessed products and services. Students will work in teams to craft their own Press Release and FAQ for a new initiative, translating insights into a compelling vision and an actionable plan.This is a hands-on, high-energy, optimistic course designed to empower students to think big, act boldly, and build solutions that matter.
ALEJANDRO BRICEÑO
Alejandro Briceño is an Innovation & Transformation Specialist at Amazon Web Services, where he guides executive teams across Europe in designing, testing, and scaling high-impact innovation. He has trained more than 500 professionals in creativity, leadership, and digital transformation, bringing together strategic foresight and hands-on experimentation. Alejandro has collaborated with leading companies and universities, always delivering energetic, inspiring, and deeply practical sessions. His passion for innovation lies in turning ideas into real solutions that create measurable value for customers.

Skills
By the end of the seminar, students will:
1. Decode at least five global trends and emerging technologies to anticipate opportunities for innovation.
2. Apply Design Thinking to uncover real user needs and prototype creative solutions.
3. Use Lean Startup principles to design experiments, validate assumptions, and make data-driven decisions.
4. Understand Agile as a mindset and workflow that accelerates execution and continuous improvement.
5. Create a complete Working Backwards proposal (Press Release + FAQ) that demonstrates customer obsession and clear business value.
Schedule
Which dates?
22-jan
29-jan
05-feb
12-feb
19-feb
26-feb
What day?
FRIDAYS
What time?
12.30-14.00