1. Design Thinking Action Lab
Mike Rios’ empathize and define
homework

2. Stakeholder
Sarah is hard working, driven, optimistic, caring, 20-something who is
finishing her masters degree in education.

3. Say
1. “When I first finished my bachelors. It was really hard to get a job because
everyone wanted at least a Masters degree.”
2. “75% of my friends don’t have jobs.”
3. “Loans are crazy and scary.”
4. “Any money I make with my part-time job goes to my student loans.”
5. A lot of my friends need to live with their parents because loans are so high.”
6. “30-40% of my friends are getting a Masters degree because they can’t find a
job.”
7. “Masters is the new high school diploma.”
8. “All my friends and I feel like we are living in poverty.”
9. “A lot of people face depression because we want to be financially stable, but
we simply can’t do it.”
10. “I just always feel tired. I feel like I never have energy.”

4. Think
1. Sarah thinks that school is not worth the money and time.
2. Sarah thinks that school does not deliver it’s promise of helping her get a job.
3. Sarah thinks that the system is unfair.
4. Sarah thinks that a bachelors degree does not prepare her or her friends for a
job.
5. Sarah thinks that a masters degree may be the same for many of her friends.
6. Sarah thinks her parents had it easier than she does.
7. Sarah thinks school is too intense. She never has time to reflect or travel.
8. Sarah thinks loans are like handcuffs.
9. Sarah thinks hands on learning is better than academic learning.
10. Sarah thinks connections matter more than a degree.

5. Feel
1. Sarah is scared she won’t ever be able to pay off her debt.
2. Sarah is scared she can’t move out from her parents house.
3. Sarah is scared she won’t find a job.
4. Sarah is scared her friends won’t be able to find a job either.
5. Sarah feels like finding a job is demoralizing.
6. Sarah feels frustrated that the system is not working for her.
7. Sarah feels stressed when she thinks about the future.
8. Sarah is embarrassed that she may never be financially stable.

6. Problem statement
Sarah needs a better, cheaper way to find a meaningful job.
Her and her friends see bachelor degrees as useless and suspect Masters
degrees will be the same.