YUFE WP 7: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
YUFE CHALLENGE TEAMS:
Participant’s Self-report for YUFE
Professional Star
YUFE WP 7: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
YUFE Challenge Teams: Guide to the administrative and
technical process
Participant’s Self-report for YUFE Professional Star
It will be a report of no more than 3 pages highlighting the next main aspects:
Full name Berenice Freiin von der Goltz
Challenge name Eco-social challenge
Academic Mentor Antonio Alonso Puelles, Adrian
Non-academic Mentor David Hernandez Cela
Start date March 2023
End date 23.06.23
Define the working model/methodology followed in the Challenge
In the first weeks we were introduced to different innovative thinking methods, challenging our
normative perception of the world. We then commenced independent group work, developing
solution ideas for the challenge, and received feedback and inspiration from our mentors during
the weekly meetings. They also helped provide structure throughout the process by showing us
methods such as the insight map to help understand our target audience, and introducing us to
softwares like the miro board, which helped facilitate more efficient group work. In the group’s
meetings without the mentors, we each conducted individual research prior to the meetings,
then discussed our findings and mapped new ideas and conclusions on the miro board. After
many discussions and research into various fields of eco-social issues, we settled on an event
app as our solution, and followingly used the software uizard to create a digital mockup of the
mobile application design.
Personal opinion of the working model/methodology
I appreciated the flexibility and autonomy in the working model, being able to schedule and
move meetings to when they fit best within the decision process and having a balance of
meetings with and without the mentors. I equally liked the diverse use of methods in the
student group meetings, mixing new software with traditional forms of research and group
discussions. It ensured that the project development process remained engaging and allowed
individual autonomy in continuing to work online separately.
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YUFE WP 7: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
YUFE Challenge Teams: Guide to the administrative and
technical process
How were the tasks performed in the Challenge? What went right and wrong?
All tasks were generally speaking accomplished collaboratively and timely, and the group was
able to show equal commitment to the success of the project. The main issues during the
challenge were communication and scheduling, with the project starting 3 weeks later than
intended and meetings not taking place last minute or having a high absence rate. Due to
different university and work schedules, as well as major time differences, weekly meetings
were usually held at very inopportune times for some participants, resulting in higher
absenteeism. Despite these organizational issues, the group was able to meet regularly enough
to develop a vision and plan of action, and gain many useful insights from the mentors. Having
worked in many different group settings and also experiencing dysfunctional ones, I was
relieved and inspired by the work ethic and dynamic of the group. It is commendable how each
individual was able to plan their time and workload in advance and inform the group of their
availabilities and limitations, without ghosting or freeriding, which has unfortunately become all
too common. This resulted in a well-functioning and supportive work environment, where
everyone pulled their own weight but were flexible in changing work allocations and times
depending on who was available or had exams, trips etc.
Main lessons learned
Firstly, I realized that my position as a student in a mixed project group with professors did not
necessarily lift responsibility off me, and that I should have shown more initiative regarding the
planning and direction of the challenge, especially in times when communication was not
effective or sufficient. Secondly, I learned how to adapt to a different and more spontaneous
work environment, where uncertainty regarding the meeting times, content and participants
led me to adjust my mindset and be able to handle any sudden changes rather than be thrown
off by them. And lastly, I was introduced to a completely different sector with mobile
application development, not having any experience in the tech industry but utterly fascinated
by the abundance of creative opportunities and inspired by the accessibility for beginners.
