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Ronnie Shahed

Sibanda

Design Thinking for Innovation

8 May 2020

Giving My Two Cents

Almost one year ago, I was tasked with giving a research-based presentation to my local

Toastmasters is an international organization dedicated to promoting public speaking and

lifelong communication skills.  Almost anyone could join, and my chapter was filled with 3M employees.  I looked up to them and even wanted to one day work for a bank.  I chose

personal finance tips as my topic. Money was considered an uncomfortable topic, but I was still

allowed to present my topic.  Aside from researching credible sources, I needed to think of a way

to make personal finance relatable and entertaining.

Back then, I picked the go-to route, storytelling.  Storytelling gave a face to ideas.  It

enabled audience members to connect boring or abstract concepts together (“Storytelling Tool”).

People loved a good story, and I figured the much older Toastmasters could relate to a young

woman’s issue with money burning a hole in her pocket.

When called upon to speak, my heart started to race.  I was shaking a little but

nonetheless accepted the invitation, got my presentation materials together, and stepped out in

front of the podium.  I was an impressionable young explorer living on my own in a new big

city.  I wanted to enjoy my summer vacation and as a result, had not worked for 3 months.  I dug

myself a hole of $3,000 in credit cards.  It started with moving expenses and grew even larger

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from shopping, eating out, and going to bars and parties with acquaintances.  Some of the

audience members nodded in understanding.  They all kept watching intently as I moved back

and forth, telling my story and making eye contact.

I told them that I was sick of acquiring so much debt and researched ways to cut back

spending.  I started first with talking to everyone about how I found places to cut back

unnecessary spending and then referred to a website for more general tips. Some of the audience

members were taking notes on my presentation. I then walked through the importance of paying

down the high interest rates and principals of credit card debt. Lastly, I walked through the

importance of having an emergency fund.  I ended the presentation with my “two cents” and

purposefully dropping one of my credit cards.  My fellow Toastmasters laughed and gave me a

wonderful round of applause.

After taking a class on design thinking and reflecting on this experience, I understand

how design thinking is a useful tool. Human-centered design allows creators to develop

connections with their audiences and their clients.  Storytelling allowed me to connect with my

fellow Toastmasters and give them a good laugh about a normally uncomfortable topic.

Toastmasters meetings incorporate time for feedback. Joyce, my evaluator, told me that she was

able to relate to being a shopaholic and enjoyed how funny my presentation was.  She said I

needed to work on making more eye contact and moving more purposefully.  Her constructive

feedback was instrumental for me to keep coming back to Toastmasters.  Presenting to an

audience was scary, but it’s enough fun to do it again.

If I were to present the same topic again, I would try my hand at visualization.

Visualization is using imagery to make ideas more understandable and concrete (“Visualization

Tool”).  I could make up a situation where I was reliant on just one jug of water and use the

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water as an analogy for money.  Coming up with reliable metaphors is challenging and

creatively-stimulating.  Another perk of design thinking is exercising creative muscles.

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Works Cited

Pamela Sibanda “Storytelling Tool.” Coursera, uploaded by University of Virginia Darden

School  of  Business,  2013,  https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking-

innovation/lecture/PAXCd/storytelling-tool.

Pamela Sibanda “Visualization.” Coursera, uploaded by University of Virginia Darden School

of  Business,  2013,  https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking-

innovation/lecture/xju53/visualization-tool.


Coyle 1 Ronnie Shahed Sibanda Design Thinking for Innovation 8 May 2020 Giving My Two Cents Almost one year ago , I was tasked with giving a research - based presentation to my local Toastmasters is an international organization dedicated to promoting public speaking and lifelong communication skills . Almost anyone could join , and my chapter was filled with 3 M employees . I looked up to them and even wanted to one day work for a bank . I chose personal finance tips as my topic . Money was considered an uncomfortable topic , but I was still allowed to present my topic . Aside from researching credible sources , I needed to think of a way to make personal finance relatable and entertaining . Back then , I picked the go - to route , storytelling . Storytelling gave a face to ideas . It enabled audience members to connect boring or abstract concepts together ( “ Storytelling Tool ” ) . People loved a good story , and I figured the much older Toastmasters could relate to a young woman ’s issue with money burning a hole in her pocket . When called upon to speak , my heart started to race . I was shaking a little but nonetheless accepted the invitation , got my presentation materials together , and stepped out in front of the podium . I was an impressionable young explorer living on my own in a new big city . I wanted to enjoy my summer vacation and as a result , had not worked for 3 months . I dug myself a hole of $ 3,000 in credit cards . It started with moving expenses and grew even larger Coyle 2 from shopping , eating out , and going to bars and parties with acquaintances . Some of the audience members nodded in understanding . They all kept watching intently as I moved back and forth , telling my story and making eye contact . I told them that I was sick of acquiring so much debt and researched ways to cut back spending . I started first with talking to everyone about how I found places to cut back unnecessary spending and then referred to a website for more general tips . Some of the audience members were taking notes on my presentation . I then walked through the importance of paying down the high interest rates and principals of credit card debt . Lastly , I walked through the importance of having an emergency fund . I ended the presentation with my “ two cents ” and purposefully dropping one of my credit cards . My fellow Toastmasters laughed and gave me a wonderful round of applause . After taking a class on design thinking and reflecting on this experience , I understand how design thinking is a useful tool . Human - centered design allows creators to develop connections with their audiences and their clients . Storytelling allowed me to connect with my fellow Toastmasters and give them a good laugh about a normally uncomfortable topic . Toastmasters meetings incorporate time for feedback . Joyce , my evaluator , told me that she was able to relate to being a shopaholic and enjoyed how funny my presentation was . She said I needed to work on making more eye contact and moving more purposefully . Her constructive feedback was instrumental for me to keep coming back to Toastmasters . Presenting to an audience was scary , but it ’s enough fun to do it again . If I were to present the same topic again , I would try my hand at visualization . Visualization is using imagery to make ideas more understandable and concrete ( “ Visualization Tool ” ) . I could make up a situation where I was reliant on just one jug of water and use the Coyle 3 water as an analogy for money . Coming up with reliable metaphors is challenging and creatively - stimulating . Another perk of design thinking is exercising creative muscles . Coyle 4 Works Cited Pamela Sibanda “ Storytelling Tool . ” Coursera , uploaded by University of Virginia Darden School of Business , 2013 , https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking- innovation / lecture / PAXCd / storytelling - tool . Pamela Sibanda “ Visualization . ” Coursera , uploaded by University of Virginia Darden School of Business , 2013 , https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking- innovation / lecture / xju53 / visualization - tool .