The Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Certificate has been a transformative experience, equipping me with technical, strategic, and entrepreneurial skills. Each course provided unique perspectives that, when combined, fostered my growth as a well-rounded innovator, capable of addressing challenges from ideation to execution.
📱I&E 290: Product Management (Elective)
Why I selected this course:
I chose this course because of my deep interest in product development and management. I wanted to understand how successful products are built and iterated, while also gaining insights into user-focused design and problem-solving strategies. Additionally, the opportunity to learn from guest speakers, including PMs from Microsoft and startups, was a big draw.
Biggest Takeaways:
Product Assessments: Weekly product reviews honed my analytical skills and pushed me to evaluate usability, functionality, and design critically. Guest Insights: Hearing firsthand experiences from industry professionals expanded my understanding of the PM role, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration, user empathy, and data-driven decision-making. Iterative Mindset: The course reinforced the importance of constant iteration and feedback loops in creating impactful products.
💻 216: Everything is Data (Elective)
Why I selected this course:
I selected this course to strengthen my technical proficiency in data handling, especially in Python. As someone deeply interested in entrepreneurship, I recognized the importance of extracting insights from data to make informed decisions.
Biggest Takeaways:
Technical Mastery: I learned how to clean, organize, and analyze large datasets using Python libraries such as Pandas and NumPy, skills that are critical for any tech-driven venture. Data-Driven Storytelling: Beyond just processing data, the course taught me how to present insights effectively to support decision-making. Efficiency and Scalability: I developed scripts that not only worked but were efficient and scalable, preparing me for handling real-world datasets. Learning how to do some filtering in SQL for data cleaning
⚖️ I&E 352: Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Keystone)
Biggest Takeaways:
Case-Based Learning: Analyzing real-world cases provided invaluable insights into challenges faced by entrepreneurs, such as market entry strategies, resource allocation, and team dynamics. Team Collaboration: Weekly team assignments taught me how to navigate diverse perspectives, resolve conflicts, and achieve shared goals—a vital skill in entrepreneurship. Resilience and Iteration: The course emphasized the importance of embracing failure and iterating on ideas to create meaningful solutions. Course-pack with all the cases and readings
Zoom meeting with me team solving the Soup & Sandwiches case
🚀 I&E 499: Capstone
Biggest Takeaways:
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: By exploring MBA-style cases, I learned to tackle complex founder dilemmas, from finding product-market fit to scaling operations and eventual exits. End-to-End Perspective: This course tied together the various stages of entrepreneurship, showing me how early decisions cascade into later challenges. Ethics and Leadership: Discussions around co-founder dynamics, equity splits, and ethical challenges prepared me for the nuanced realities of running a venture. Course-pack with all the cases
💭 Final thoughts
The four courses I completed for the I&E Certificate complemented one another, forming a cohesive narrative of growth:
I&E 290 and CS 216 gave me the technical and analytical foundation to assess products and process data effectively. I&E 352 emphasized the importance of strategic thinking, collaboration, and resilience in entrepreneurship. I&E 499 tied it all together, showcasing how each skill fits into the lifecycle of a venture. Together, these courses not only deepened my entrepreneurial mindset but also equipped me with practical tools to tackle challenges in any professional context.
Coursework
