Centre for Transformational Leadership conducted the Workshop on Design Thinking – Session 2 on 7th November 2023. The workshop on Design Thinking: Ideation and Brainstorming was a valuable opportunity to learn about the different techniques and approaches to generating creative ideas. Dr. Anita Manuel, a renowned expert in the field of design thinking, provided a comprehensive overview of the ideation and brainstorming process, highlighting the importance of empathy, collaboration, and experimentation in developing innovative solutions.
Key Takeaways:
Essential Components of Design Thinking:
Ideation and brainstorming serve as vital components of the design thinking process, enabling teams to explore a broad spectrum of potential solutions to a given problem.
Significance of Empathy:
Empathy is identified as a critical factor in generating ideas that are genuinely user-centered, addressing the needs of the targeted audience effectively.
The Power of Collaboration:
Collaboration emerges as an essential element in fostering creativity, encouraging diverse perspectives, and enriching the ideation process.
Role of Experimentation:
Experimentation and prototyping are highlighted as crucial steps, allowing participants to test ideas, gather feedback, and iterate for continuous refinement and improvement.
Workshop Activities:
Participants actively participated in a series of exercises designed to enhance their ideation and brainstorming skills, including:
Empathy Mapping:
Participants developed empathy maps to gain a deeper understanding of the needs, motivations, and pain points of their target users.
Brainstorming Techniques:
Exploration of various brainstorming techniques, such as mind mapping, brainwriting, and round-robin brainstorming, to facilitate the generation of diverse ideas.
Idea Sketching:
Participants visualized their concepts through quick sketches, promoting effective communication of ideas and fostering collaborative discussion.
Design Thinking Challenge:
Dr. Anita Manuel introduced the upcoming Design Thinking Challenge, an exciting opportunity for participants to apply design thinking principles to a real-world problem. The challenge encourages collaborative work, empathy with users, and the development of innovative solutions.
Overall Impression:
The workshop left a lasting impression as a highly engaging and informative experience. Participants not only gained valuable insights into the creative process but also developed practical skills for generating innovative ideas. The session provided a solid foundation for the upcoming Design Thinking Challenge, equipping participants to approach complex problems with a user-centered methodology.
The Centre for Transformational Leadership conducted a workshop on November 18, 2023, specifically for first-year CTL members. The workshop featured Mr. Sengu Paal, the Director of Ezone Learning, a distinguished figure in leadership coaching, as the chief guest. After extending a warm welcome, Mr. Sengu Paal shared his perspectives on leadership.
During the session, he shed light on the nuanced differences between chance and choice, underscoring how CTL serves as an avenue for refining leadership skills and metamorphosing individuals into outstanding leaders. The students received instruction on the importance of possessing the willingness and interest to confront challenges, fostering a determined commitment to completing tasks regardless of the obstacles. An interactive activity was employed to elucidate the disparity between reacting and responding, using hypothetical challenges to drive home the point that leaders respond thoughtfully to problems.
The workshop included a tangible challenge wherein the chief guest constructed a ramp made of broken glass pieces. Students were asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ and subsequently justify their choices. A student, bravely setting a precedent, traversed the broken glass, inspiring others to follow suit. In acknowledgment of their courage, each participant was presented with a pen by the chief guest. The rationale behind the challenge was elucidated, emphasizing the role of leaders in setting examples for their peers and cultivating extraordinary leadership by conquering fears and building confidence.
The students left the workshop deeply impressed, having gained inspiration and influence from the valuable insights imparted by our esteemed chief guest.
It is important to teach a man to FISH, than to feed a FISH. A workshop was organised by the KCG Women Empowerment Cell &KCG Prevention of Sexual Harassment Cell on the topic – “LakshmanRekha” – Healthy Boundaries on 2nd December, 2023 at KMC Auditorium, the resource person being Ms Revathy Dhushyanthan, Student Counsellor, KCG College of Technology for the I year KCG Girl students. The workshop ensured to equip and empower our KCG girl students and prepare them to face the world with courage and safeguard themselves in any situation to lead a happy and peaceful life.
The session facilitated to promote overall mental health and wellbeing as women are vulnerable in certain situations which in turn affects their mental health, physical health, academics, career, happiness, peace and wellbeing. The session helped to understand what is ACCEPTABLE / NOT ACCEPTABLE and what is OK / NOT OKAY behaviour in any person. Healthy boundaries in any relationship are necessary, without which a person can become more resentful and exhausted. The session equipped to improve emotional health, self-care capabilities, self-respect, relationship, ward off burnout, setting clear expectations for others, decrease stress, respect from others and improved autonomy. Overall the session empowered the participants to maintain a healthy relationship at work place, with family members, friends and strangers related to physical, psychological, financial and emotional boundaries.
The session was interactive and helped the students to understand the invisible line, which helps them and others to understand/know the limits in any relationship for the sake of happiness and wellbeing. The Q & A session clarified the doubts of the audience and ensured thorough understanding of the “Healthy Boundaries”.
Fireside Chat with Mr. Mathisharma S., Co-founder of Vayuratha Private Limited
The Centre for Transformational Leadership (CTL) organized an enriching session on December 2nd featuring Mr. Mathisharma S., the Chief Technical Officer and Co-founder of Vayuratha Private Limited. The focus of the session revolved around the innovative development of drones for agriculturists. Mr. Mathisharma S., an alumnus of KCG College of Technology, shared his entrepreneurial journey, shedding light on the motivation behind initiating Vayuratha Private Limited and addressing the myriad challenges encountered since its inception.
During the session, Mr. Mathisharma S. underscored the pivotal role of a dedicated team in the success of a venture. He elaborated on the challenges faced and how strategic planning and teamwork were instrumental in overcoming obstacles. Financial considerations were also emphasized as crucial factors for sustaining and growing a business concern, imparting valuable insights to the audience.
The speaker’s educational background at KCG College of Technology showcased the practical application of acquired skills in the real-world business scenario. Additionally, Mr. Mathisharma S. highlighted his affiliation with the Tamil Nadu startup ecosystem, having received a substantial amount of 1.6 crore in recognition of his innovative endeavors. As an incubatee of KCG Colleges’ incubation cell, he exemplifies the collaborative support between educational institutions and startups.
The session, attended by 48 CTL members, provided an interactive platform for participants to clarify doubts and gain comprehensive insights into the multifaceted aspects of running a business. The engagement between the audience and Mr. Mathisharma S. fostered a valuable exchange of ideas and experiences.
In conclusion, the CTL session with Mr. Mathisharma S. offered a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship, team dynamics, financial management, and the symbiotic relationship between educational institutions and the startup ecosystem. The success story of Vayuratha Private Limited serves as an inspirational narrative for aspiring entrepreneurs within the CTL community.
In a country like India, the prevalence of diabetes among adults in urban areas is as high as 12 to 14 percent. Considering the population of India, the numbers are huge and increasing at a tremendous rate. The fact that most of people do not experience any symptoms and present only after complications is worrying and therefore it is importance to diagnose and treat it early. There are not much visible primary indicators as it silently affects us and many of us wake up only after complications.
KCG Tech cares for its employee’s health and wellness. To create an awareness to prevent, than to treat diabetes is more important to live a healthy and happy life. The Staff Wellness Program –“Diabetes Awareness & Management” was conducted on 19th January, 2024 between 2.00 – 3.30 pm @ F 14 for Teaching & Non-teaching staff.
Dr K Baraneedharan, MD., Senior Consultant Diabetologist, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, provided information on the signs and symptoms of identifying diabetes, tests to be done, sensors on the body to monitor/find the sugar levels. He spoke about prevent/manage/reversal of diabetes through life style modifications and yoga. He spoke about diaphragmatic breathing and meditation which helps to prevent/manage/bring down the stress levels, as stress is also a major cause of diabetes. The Q & A session addressed several doubts of the audience regarding diabetes and created an awareness.
“Malala Yousafzai Woman’s Club” inaugurated successfully by the Department of Information Technology. Mrs. Bhanumathy Manoharan, Principal, Bharath Dass Matriculation School, Perungudi and Ms Mirtha S Menon Communication & Branding Specialists, Indium Software Pvt. Ltd invited as a chief guest.
