Founders of startups face many decisions because success depends upon making the right choices. Questions about making the right decisions or finding the right solutions constantly arise.

Linda presented Design Thinking as a suitable framework to develop reliable insights and creative solutions in the start-up process. The presentation showed the challenges that come up when starting a business and the role of design thinking in this process.

Dr. Linda J. Hickman is an entrepreneur, educator, mentor, author, London School of Economics Associate, and founder of Hickman & Associates, a consultancy based in London.

She combines global business development experience at Oracle and Royal Dutch Shell in 37 countries, including a successful launch of a software company, with her practical approach to mentoring organisations and startup teams in strategic skills. Linda teaches entrepreneurship using design thinking to students at LSE and is a Mentor in the European startup community with strong links in London and Berlin. She actively supports the Universität Potsdam, HPI d.school initiative to create an international association of Design Thinking, GDTA – the Global Design Thinking Alliance and in her role at LSE is a founding member of the GDTA. Her research focus is Design Thinking for startups, business models, value chain strategies and was awarded a grant for accelerator research from NESTA, a UK innovation organisation. Research and business publishers include Wiley, Cambridge Press and Pearson, with a forthcoming book for startup founders in progress.