1819 Innovation Hub's Learning Lab space.

A year of impact at UC’s 1819 Learning Lab

Where learning becomes leverage

By Diana Lara Email Diana M

6 minute read March 9, 2026

At the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub, the Learning Lab serves as a hands-on innovation and workforce development resource for business partners, helping teams learn faster, work smarter and deliver results sooner.

Participants engage in activities led by the Learning Lab staff. Photo/Greg Glevicky

Led by director Nicholas Partridge along with team members Rebecca Rudolph and Kurt Myers, the Learning Lab partners with companies to embed learning directly into real business challenges, strengthening efficiency, alignment and execution.

“We design everything around accelerating our partners’ highest priorities,” Partridge says. “If teams leave with clarity, ownership and momentum, we’ve done our job.”

Innovation, applied

Nick Partridge leads a corporate Learning Lab session. Photo/Greg Glevicky

Unlike traditional training programs, the Learning Lab is built for action. Corporate teams don’t just consider hypothetical case studies; they tackle their own challenges using organizational data, constraints and priorities.

Examples of immersive workshops include:

Systematic inventive thinking (SIT): Explore and apply SIT, a structured method for generating novel ideas
Strategic thinking: Master the habits and skills that foster strategic thinking and decision-making
Scenario planning: Understand how to see around corners and anticipate your industry’s future
Innovation 101: An introduction to the creative process and innovation methods

Interested parties can watch the Learning Lab’s proactive approach in action as facilitators help teams strengthen core innovation capabilities, including strategic thinking, experimentation and collaboration.

That approach has made the Learning Lab a trusted partner for organizations across the region.

“The Learning Lab at 1819 has been an invaluable partner for our team,” says Shannon Lewandowski of Great American Insurance Group. She noted that the Lab’s ability to deliver creative, customized experiences, whether for interns or departmentwide sessions, has driven real impact. “It’s a resource we’re fortunate to have access to.”

Actionable solutions

The Learning Lab's applied model delivers measurable results across industries.

A three-day “Reconciliation Innovation Sprint” with U.S. Bank aligned a cross-functional team around user needs and produced a focused MVP and pilot road map to reduce errors and simplify reconciliation. Global project managers at Kao used a Learning Lab sprint to cut through complexity, align across regions and leave with clear owners, quick wins and a more transparent way of working.

Teams from Great American Insurance Group, Fifth Third Bank and Western & Southern have all used Learning Lab sessions to untangle complex processes, challenge assumptions and move from discussion to action, often within days.

They design experiences that feel effortless, fun and deeply engaging while still advancing leadership development in meaningful ways

Katie Oehler, Western & Southern Financial Group

1819 Innovation Hub corporate partners partake in a team building activity with the Learning Lab team. Photo Rebecca Rudolph

Katie Oehler of Western & Southern Financial Group sees extraordinary value in partnering with the 1819 Learning Lab. “They design experiences that feel effortless, fun and deeply engaging while still advancing leadership development in meaningful ways,” she says.

Every Learning Lab session is intentionally designed to be engaging, practical and fast-paced. Teams work in rapid cycles of doing, reflecting and deciding, guided by expert facilitation.

For many participants, the experience stands out not just for what’s accomplished but also for how it feels. Oehler credits the entire Learning Lab team with bringing exceptional creativity and energy to each session.

“We always end with decisions, owners and next steps,” Partridge says. “That’s how momentum carries forward.”

Adapting to a shifting workforce

Over the past year, Partridge has seen companies shift their focus. Innovation is no longer just about new products; it’s about improving processes, increasing efficiency and helping teams do more with less.

There’s also growing demand for alignment, trust and experimentation as teams navigate uncertainty. In response, the Learning Lab has expanded its two- and three-day working sprints, partnered more closely with corporate learning and development teams and integrated AI-enabled tools to accelerate session design and customization.

More than a workshop

UC 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Greg Glevicky

For Learning Lab partners, value extends far beyond individual sessions. Companies gain access to UC’s broader innovation ecosystem, connecting them with faculty, researchers, students and resources such as the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace. There are daily opportunities to gain cross-industry perspectives from corporate partners at the 1819 Innovation Hub, which can help spark new ideas and accelerate problem-solving.

Impact shows up in clear priorities, pilot programs, implementation efforts and, in many cases, new offerings that began inside a Learning Lab workshop.

A hub for the Cincinnati Innovation District

What excites Partridge most is the momentum stimulated by the Learning Lab. As part of the broader Cincinnati Innovation District, 1819 operates as a catalyst launching startups while helping long-standing companies rethink how they work, innovate and grow. The Learning Lab plays an essential role in that process.

“With more than 100 workshops a year, the Learning Lab is becoming a place where learning turns into action,” Partridge says. “It’s where people come to solve problems, not just talk about them.”

Throughout 2025, the Learning Lab held 129 sessions with more than 2,500 learners.

In a rapidly changing world, the Learning Lab helps teams build innovation skills, strengthen trust and resilience and deliver breakthrough solutions. Companies interested in developing their teams through the Learning Lab can email Partridge to learn more at nicholas.partridge@uc.edu.

Cover image: Inside the 1819 Learning Lab. Photo/Greg Glevicky

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A year of impact at UC’s 1819 Learning Lab