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MIT SUD Ventures Bootcamp: Day 2

Updated: Jan 20

As I wind down from another whirlwind of information, ideas, and insights, I find myself reflecting on two powerful lessons that drove my growth today. These aren’t just concepts—they’re guiding principles for anyone seeking to innovate, lead, or create lasting impact.


1️⃣ Stay Close to the Customer

Building on yesterday’s focus of identifying the true problem—or need—of the person you’re trying to help, this message hit home even harder today. A huge shoutout to Vanessa Gurie, one of our phenomenal team coaches, for tirelessly reinforcing this vital point: stay close to the customer.


Why is this so important? When we stray from the customer, we risk making dangerous assumptions:

  • Thinking we know what’s “right.”

  • Interpreting their needs as “what they mean is...”


The hard truth is this: we don’t know. Even if we’ve faced the same challenges, our experiences aren’t universal. Assuming we have all the answers disconnects us from the people we’re trying to serve.


To truly innovate, we must consistently circle back to the customer. Ask. Listen. Learn. Their perspective is our compass. By staying close to them, we ensure we’re solving their problem—not the one we think they have or the one we believe they “should” be focusing on.


This emphasis on customer connection feels more like a partnership than a one-way transaction. It’s about honoring their voice, their journey, and their needs. And in doing so, we stay anchored to what matters most.


2️⃣ PIVOT!

Anyone who knows me knows my favorite TV show is FRIENDS. One of its most iconic scenes? Ross, Rachel, and Chandler trying (and failing) to maneuver a couch up a narrow New York staircase, with Ross hilariously shouting, “PIVOT!!”


Fun fact: I have the word “P-I-V-O-T” tattooed on me. At first, it was a playful nod to a show that never fails to make me laugh. Little did I know, that moment of humor would transform into a guiding principle for both my personal and professional life.


Over the past two days, the importance of pivoting has come up time and time again. And every time it did, it felt like a personal anthem playing in the background. Pivoting isn’t just about reacting to obstacles—it’s about deliberately choosing to adapt, rethink, and move forward when the path ahead changes.


A meme featuring a scene from the TV show Friends, where Ross, Chandler, and Rachel are attempting to carry a couch up a staircase. Speech bubbles have been added: Chandler says, "Could that BE any more different than what we were thinking!?" Rachel says, "No, what I really need is..." and Ross shouts "PIVOT!!" in bold text. Below the image is a caption reading, "The One With All The Customer Discovery/Primary Market Research." This humorous image highlights the importance of listening to customer needs and adapting strategies.

The MIT SUD Ventures Bootcamp experience has reminded me that pivoting is central to innovation and growth. Stubbornly sticking to a plan, even when it’s no longer viable, serves no one. The ability to pivot—gracefully and purposefully—is what allows us to turn obstacles into opportunities and failures into stepping stones.


Final Thoughts

Today’s lessons—staying close to the customer and embracing the pivot—feel deeply connected. Both require humility, curiosity, and a willingness to adapt. Both require us to let go of ego and lean into the process of discovery. And both remind me why I’m here: to learn, to grow, and to create meaningful solutions that make a difference.

 

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