Delfina SitarStrategist, West
Alumni Interview
"From scoping research to pitching to investors, I am playing on different courses and lessons learned in EDI."
When you started EDI, did you know what industry you wanted to work in or were you still exploring?
I thought I wanted to work in healthcare for developing nations, that slowly evolved into a passion for tech solutions and those implications on the world. By leveraging technology, I am driven to interrupt the status quo and create new businesses.
Tell us about an EDI course that made an impact on you.
Design Strategy with Greg Holderfield taught me how to frame a problem and solve it while considering the desirability, feasibility, and viability. From scoping research to pitching to investors, I am playing on different courses and lessons learned in EDI.
Is there anyone you worked with during EDI that you consider a mentor?
Walter Herbst and Greg Holderfield. I would not be where I am without these two professors. They not only pushed me to grow as a student but supported me in career decisions and development. I still keep in touch with both of them and am so thankful for their mentorship.
How did you decide on your EDI thesis project?
Health/wellness and children are my passions. It was on a phone call with my mom where she asked why I was even questioning it! Those are the areas that I am driven to design solutions for and that’s all it took to find a space to solve problems in for my thesis.
What advice do you have for an EDI student interested in working in your industry?
Go in with a loose plan for what you want to get out of EDI, but in this program (and in life) unique and unexpected opportunities appear in front of you. Be open to throwing that plan out the window to embrace serendipity. Use this time of stability to take the risk and explore new areas. You may stumble upon your true calling.
