Beyond Textbooks: Tackling Real World Challenges with #H4MoD
Guest blog from former KCL student Devon A. Johnson
Steve Blank's "The Startup Owner's Manual" likens the entrepreneurial experience to the "hero's journey", a path filled with uncertainties and challenges. The H4MoD course embodies this journey, pushing students to navigate the unpredictable world of start-ups. By the end of the course, the rewards of practical experience and skill development become evident.
My team, Polarising Claims, began with a task to enhance allied collaboration in the Arctic. However, our final presentation took a different direction, focusing on the defence of the UK's critical national infrastructure. This shift showcased our adaptability and alignment with Blank's concept of the "hero with a thousand faces".
Below are 5 'lessons learned' that I believe will help future participants:
Ex nihilo nihil fit––nothing comes from nothing. The H4 modules are exactly what you make of them. The more you put into the course, the more benefits you will reap. Students with the most drive, initiative and professionalism were often the ones who developed and nurtured the most professional relationships both during and after the course. Industry mentors are often well-connected, and, in my experience, are amenable to discussing career aspirations and job/internship opportunities in addition to making introductions to other people in their network. The key is to engage yourself with the course––its methodology, the interviews, and your problem sponsor and mentor––as much as possible.
Treat it like a real start-up, because it is. As someone who worked for a start-up for five years, I can absolutely say that this course emulates a veritable entrepreneurial endeavour, from the workload to the team dynamics. You will also hear stories of other teams who went on to found companies based on the research and work they undertook during the module. That being said, though your team may not find an MVP or start a company at the end of the course, the experience itself is something you can speak to in interviews, and the perspective you glean can undoubtedly be applied to future projects, entrepreneurial or not.
Semper Paratus––Always Ready. As the U.S. Coast Guard's motto implores, always be ready. Do the prep work to understand the context of your problem. Ask your problem sponsor and interviewees to recommend reading material, podcasts, and other resources. Research your interviewees prior to conducting an interview as every interview is a chance for you to impress and grow your network. It's a small circle, and chances are word about your performance in interviews will travel back to your problem sponsor.
Seek help when necessary. Though the course encourages autonomy, our team greatly benefited from workshopping our ideas with our industry mentor. Even when you encounter internal obstacles as a team, if you are not able to make headway as a group, looking back, I would like to have made the most of the counsel and guidance offered us by our problem sponsor and mentor.
Embrace the pivots. Easier said than done, I know. However, I found that going into the course with the mindset that our team would likely undergo more than the standard 1-2 pivots helped me not get too attached to a certain perspective/solution too early on. Navigating pivots can certainly be frustrating, but when you're "out of the classroom" and taking a customer-centric approach, you're bound to encounter turning points in your understanding. Stay mentally flexible and be resilient as a group.
Innovation is gruelling, and so is the hero's journey. But making a meaningful contribution is a reward worth the effort.
Devon's journey encapsulates the essence of what CMP stands for. Through our H4MoD programme, we aim to provide students with real-world challenges, fostering an environment where they can innovate, adapt, and grow. Our commitment to mission-driven entrepreneurship goes beyond traditional education, bridging the gap between academia, government, and industry. We're proud to be a part of the journeys of many such heroes, and we remain dedicated to our mission of equipping and inspiring the next generation.