HDSE Leadership Intensive - University of the Philippines Diliman

The HDSE Leadership Intensive is designed to immerse students in the full lifecycle of social innovation, from insight to action, while cultivating the leadership skills required to create lasting, systemic impact. The program balances experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic mentorship with clear goals that prepare participants to emerge as purpose-driven global leaders.

1. Immersive Learning
   Participants engage in workshops, design sprints, and experiential exercises that deepen their understanding of creative inquiry, humanitarian design, and social entrepreneurship. Real-world case studies, interactive discussions, and rapid prototyping push students to translate insights into actionable solutions.

2. Interdisciplinary Collaboration
   Students form diverse, interdisciplinary teams and work closely with mentors, faculty, and Sustainable Futures Fellows. They learn to integrate multiple perspectives, foster innovation, and lead collaboratively in tackling complex societal challenges.

3. Project Development
   Teams advance from problem framing to venture design, creating actionable blueprints for transformative social ventures. Projects focus on pressing issues such as education, health, food-water-energy systems, and climate change. The most promising ventures earn seed funding and ongoing mentorship to accelerate real-world implementation.

4. Leadership Practice and Reflection
   Participants engage in structured reflection, coaching, and leadership exercises, examining their values, decision-making styles, and interpersonal impact. This practice cultivates self-awareness, ethical leadership, and the ability to mobilize others effectively.

5. Expert Sparring and Mentorship
   Throughout the week, participants engage with social entrepreneurs, CEOs, academics, and nonprofit leaders from India, the U.S., Australia, and beyond. Constructive challenges and rigorous feedback sharpen strategic thinking, refine solutions, and build confidence in navigating uncertainty.

6. Pitch and Showcase
   The Intensive culminates in a high-stakes pitch session, where teams present their ventures to a panel of experts and potential partners, gaining recognition, feedback, and resources to advance their initiatives.

1. Understanding of Global Grand Challenges
   Participants will gain a deep understanding of global grand challenges, including social, economic, and environmental issues, and their interconnectedness. They will explore ways in which the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) influence the day-to-day lives of people across the Indian subcontinent.
2. Understanding of Creative Inquiry and Humanitarian Design
   Participants will gain a deep understanding of the principles of creative inquiry and humanitarian design, learning how to apply these methodologies to address social, economic, and environmental challenges effectively.
3. Understanding of Social Entrepreneurship
   Participants will develop a deeper understanding of social entrepreneurship, learning how to identify actionable opportunities, design innovative solutions, and develop sustainable business models that create positive social impact.
4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration Skills
   Through interdisciplinary teamwork, participants will learn to leverage diverse perspectives and expertise to tackle complex challenges collaboratively. They will develop communication, teamwork, and leadership skills essential for effective collaboration.
5. Practical Project Development Skills
   Participants will gain practical skills in project development, including problem-solving, ideation, prototyping, and implementation. They will learn how to translate ideas into actionable projects with tangible outcomes.
6. Storytelling and Communication Skills
   Participants will refine their storytelling and communication skills, learning how to effectively convey the stories behind their projects to various stakeholders, including social investors, partners, and the broader community.
7. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Abilities
   Participants will enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities by engaging with real-world case studies and practical exercises. They will learn to analyze complex issues, identify root causes, and develop innovative solutions.
8. Resilience and Adaptability
   Participants will cultivate resilience and adaptability, learning how to navigate uncertainty, overcome challenges, and iterate on their ideas and projects based on feedback and changing circumstances.
9. Ethical and Sustainable Practices
   Participants will develop an understanding of ethical and sustainable practices in social entrepreneurship, considering the social, economic, and environmental impacts of their projects and striving to create positive change responsibly.
10. Network Building
    The workshop will enable participants to build a network of like- minded students, faculty, and nonprofit leaders that are       passionate about transformative education and social impact.
11. Commitment to Social Impact
     Participants will leave the workshop with a commitment to fostering a new generation of socially conscious        engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

• Welcome & Program Overview: Introduction to the Intensive, its purpose, and expectations.
• Framing the Challenge: Humanitarian design, sustainability, and student leadership for global impact.
• Global & Local Impact Panel: Insights from social entrepreneurs, academics, and industry leaders.
• Team Formation & Project Conceptualization: Interdisciplinary teams identify actionable opportunities.
• Workshop: Causation vs. Effectuation: Leveraging resources, networks, and platforms to create impact.
• Systems & Markets Exploration: Understanding stakeholders and validating high-impact opportunities.
• Team Presentations & Reflection: Share initial concepts and receive peer and mentor feedback.

• Humanitarian Design Workshop: Define design approaches and key questions for social innovation projects.
• Design Thinking in Action: Engage stakeholders, validate assumptions, and build partnerships.
• Question Formulation & Goal Setting: Prioritize strategic questions and define ambitious project goals.
• Team Project Work: Receive guidance from Sustainable Futures Fellows and expert mentors.
• Interim Presentations: Communicate project vision, target challenge, and innovation strategy.
• Daily Reflection: Synthesize learnings and prepare for next steps.

• Theory of Change Workshop: Map pathways to impact, key stakeholders, and success metrics.
• Leadership in Teams: Explore approaches, team dynamics, and individual strengths.
• Customer & Value Proposition Development: Identify beneficiaries, refine value creation, and communicate impact.
• Business Model Canvas & Expert Sparring: Build sustainable operational and financial models with mentor feedback.
• Team Presentations: Demonstrate how ideas translate into viable ventures.

• Panel: From Projects to Sustainable Ventures: Strategies for scaling initiatives into enduring organizations.
• Project Work & Strategic Mentorship: Refine go-to-market strategies, operations, and final pitches.
• Model Presentations & Peer Learning: Exemplary projects provide benchmarks and inspiration.
• Sparring & Feedback Sessions: Intensive coaching to polish ventures and presentations.
• Synthesis & Reflection: Cross-team insights and leadership lessons from expert coaches.

• Final Project Presentations: Teams deliver actionable blueprints and sustainable venture strategies to a panel of external experts.
• Reflection & Leadership Takeaways: Summative discussions on learnings, leadership growth, and next steps.
• Awards & Recognition: Certificates, project awards, and seed funding announcements.
• Closing & Launch: Participants leave empowered to implement ventures and continue their journey as global leaders in social innovation.