NEXT Innovation Scholar Spotlight: Sharvari Girish Patil

From immersing students in innovative projects to creating a space for creativity to flourish, the NEXT Innovation Scholars (NIS) program at the University of Cincinnati provides students with interdisciplinary experiences across various industries and cultures of innovation. The program was spearheaded by UC President Neville G. Pinto.

Among the current cohort of scholars is Sharvari Girish Patil, Bus ’27, whose time as a NEXT Innovation Scholar has provided her with a unique community and access to new frameworks of thought. Recently, Patil shared her experiences and insights from the program. 

Sharvari Girish Patil: I went to an introduction session for NIS during my freshman year. When I arrived, I was struck by the group of students running the session, all from different majors and so excited to be there. I wondered, ‘What is it about this program that brings all these people together?’ It wasn’t your typical presentation; it felt more like a workshop where we actively participated in real innovation exercises. The people I met that night and the energy they shared, mixed with the chance to do something exciting, made me want to apply.

Patil: I’ve learned to see challenges from multiple angles and to think creatively about solutions. This approach has enhanced my academic work by giving me new frameworks to tackle challenges I come across in my work both within and outside of NIS. The program has allowed me to work on real-world projects for actual clients, some are major global brands. As a student with a business background, these projects have been immensely helpful in exposing me to the ins and outs of various challenges within the business world.

Patil: More than skills, the program has helped me develop a mindset. This includes academic and professional, and it has also given me insight into innovation and how it functions in different worlds. Transitioning into a profession in a country where things are done differently than your own is not only difficult but also time-consuming. The culture, the interactions and even verbiage need to be learnt to a certain extent. But because I had constant exposure to these environments through NIS, I have been able to grow in my pursuit of adapting to life here.

Patil: Getting a ‘preview’ into the business world has been very helpful in understanding where I would like to place myself with the work I will do in the future. The ability to think creatively and solve problems using design thinking will be invaluable in any field I pursue, whether in market research, consulting, or another industry. In our program, we encounter a lot of ambiguity. One of our core values is that we're ‘gray area enthusiasts, meaning that we’re comfortable with being uncomfortable. I have learned to embrace that every day is different, and it helps keep me grounded in the present while still being able to ‘strategically foresight’ my way through life. 

Patil: Embrace the full experiences and take advantage of all the opportunities NIS offers. The program is one place in college where your major does not define you, so I would take that opportunity to open yourself up to possibilities and see where that takes you. The range of thought and different perspectives makes the program so valuable. Be proactive: seek out the projects that excite you, and don’t hesitate to take initiative when it comes to leading or contributing to those projects.

Featured image at top: Sharvari Girish Patil, Bus ’27. Photo/Provided.