On March 11, the College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education course invited Zhang Tiantian, Partner at Elpo Business Management Co., Ltd., as the keynote speaker. She delivered an engaging presentation titled From Design Thinking to Business Ecosystem to the students in Classroom 302 of the Industry-Education Building on the Changning Campus.
Ms. Zhang Tiantian previously completed internships and worked at multinational corporations such as L'Oréal, gaining deep insights into the operational models and management philosophies of international enterprises. Subsequently, she served as a Senior Project Manager at COFCO Group and Sunac China Holdings Limited, where she was responsible for the planning and implementation of several major projects, demonstrating exceptional project management and team collaboration skills. In recent years, she co-founded Elpo Business Management Co., Ltd., adhering to the philosophy of Holistic Perspective・Airport Practice, focusing on optimizing airport consumption and services to enhance passenger travel experiences, thereby accumulating extensive practical experience.
During the lecture, Ms. Zhang first shared her professional and life journey—from academic studies to corporate work, and eventually to entrepreneurship—using her personal experiences to illustrate the importance of design thinking in business practices. She then elaborated on the insights she gained during her internships and career selection process, encouraging students to be courageous in trying new challenges and continuously broaden their horizons and knowledge.
Ms. Zhang also emphasized the role of design thinking in building business ecosystems. She believes that design thinking is not merely a methodology but a mindset that helps better understand user needs, identify market trends, and innovate business models. Through the analysis of specific cases, she demonstrated how to apply design thinking in practical projects to create more competitive products and services.
After the lecture, students expressed that they had gained significant insights. They noted that Ms. Zhang's sharing deepened their understanding of design thinking and filled them with anticipation and confidence for their future careers. They pledged to continue studying diligently, constantly improving their comprehensive skills and innovative capabilities to lay a solid foundation for their future career choices and entrepreneurial endeavors. This lecture not only broadened the students' perspectives but also ignited their innovative spirit and entrepreneurial enthusiasm.
