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Business Design & Innovation

General Requirements

  • Passion and curiosity for innovation, identifying and creating new growth opportunities, experimentation, business strategy and human-centred design.
  • Portfolio of work that demonstrates your business acumen combined with your strengths in Innovation & Business Design.
  • Education and practice of Business Design through courses, projects and co-curricular activities at Rotman.
  • Diverse professional and personal experiences that highlight your passions and connect to your career aspirations.

Skills required

  • Ability to work in ambiguous environments, projects and roles.
  • Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Outstanding interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
  • Understanding and experience in user research and prototyping.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
  • Ability to leverage trends and insights into innovation opportunities.
  • Ability to visually communicate information.
  • Innovation firms are looking for strong business thinkers (they can hire designers for their expertise in ethnographic research, prototyping, etc.)
  • Organizations are looking for your ability to do the entire process. They want to know that you can do ethnographic research, ideation, prototyping and connect it to business.
  • Translating insights into new products or services
  • Project management
  • Facilitation of user research and ideation sessions

Type of Jobs

  • Roles where you do innovation everyday – Design Thinker, Business Designer, Innovation Catalyst, Foresight Specialist, Customer Experience Manager
  • Roles where it is a natural fit – Consumer Insights Specialist, Entrepreneur, Product Manager, Marketing Manager
  • Traditional roles where it can make you better – Operations, Sales, Finance, Strategy

Technical Preparation/Knowledge Building

  • Build confidence and gain experience by taking relevant courses and participating in the various Design Events offered at Rotman. Companies want to see that you have done it and not only read about it.
  • Consider building your personal work portfolio to demonstrate your unique body of work and skills – differentiating you from others.
  • Reach out to Rotman alumni, research companies that live the principles (empathy, prototyping and business strategy) and contacting the innovation-oriented people in companies that you’re curious about.
  • Prepare a pitch or story that describes you and the unique value you bring. Practice it with everyone and be ready to deliver it at any time.
  • LinkedIn is a great resource for reaching out to create connections and starting a conversation. Be sure to state your reason for reaching out.
  • Above all else, be yourself. People in this field want to get to know you, not who you think they want you to be.

Internal Resources

External Resources