This is the empathy map & problem statement clearly explaining the challenges faced by the subject in his school to work transition. Technique used is Facebook interview. Presentation contains graphical description of what the subject says, thinks and feels that indicate towards the problem statement.

1. Empathy Map & Problem statement
Topic : School to Work Transition
Subject : Manoj Varghese Mathew, Age 24, Young media
entrepreneur
Technique used : Facebook interview
Course: Design Thinking Action Lab, Stanford
Submited by: Sivaprasad.P
Date: August 6th
, 2013

2. SayThink
Feel
Problem Statement Insights
Creative, articulative, confident,
a little regretful, young media
entrepreneur who found out
what he really wants to become
in career at a very young age
needs a way at school so that he
needs to study only those areas
that would come in useful in his
career because he has not
figured it out why he needs to
study certain courses like
chemistry and languages other
than English like Malayalam at
school which have no use later
in his career
Chose courses to avoid what he
dislikes
Yet to figure out why he had to
learn certain subjects like
chemistry and languages other
than English.
Ended up taking up MBA after
finding out the call of his heart to
be an entrepreneur
Believes there is no teacher
better than experience even
after taking an MBA
EMPATHY MAP
Mr. Manoj Varghese Mathew
Male ( 24 years )
"Subjects like Chemistry have never helped
me until now for my career.. still figuring out
when it may be handy..And yeah rest all
subjects gives an outline"
"I remember saying to a faculty back in 8th grade.. that i
wanted to be a CEO, it was steve jobs that inspired me to
say.. back then"
"i searched for a course where i could ignore
second language (be it Hindi or Malayalam)
i never wanted to learn unwanted subjects"
Read more
Thinks its a waste of time learning things
that do not interest the student in school
Chose a career to avoid learning what he
dislikes like languages, math etc
He thinks MBA would help him in his
entreprenerial journey, yet he also believes
there is nothing better teaches than
experience
Read more
Feels that parents never influenced him in
selecting a career
Feels that he needs to learn a lot
more to be successful as an
entrepreneur

3. Say
• "Subjects like Chemistry have never helped me until now for my career.. still figuring out when it
may be handy..And yeah rest all subjects gives an outline“ …. "Chemistry never helped me until
now"
• "i searched for a course where i could ignore second language (be it Hindi or Malayalam) i never
wanted to learn unwanted subjects"
• "After 10th i was 100% sure.. i never wanted language in my future studies..so i searched for
schools.. which has this option and then i was successful in getting what i see...PG - MBA in Media
& Entertainment (Marketing, Advertising and Communication). I chose this course.. bcoz during
2nd yr of my UG i started showing entrepreneurial skills.. and my 1st venture got birth"
• "I remember saying to a faculty back in 8th grade.. that i wanted to be a CEO, it was steve jobs that
inspired me to say.. back then“ …"the way he (Steve Jobs) built the company.. work culture and
people worked with him and respect he had"
• "still to learn more.."
• "i had it all set from my second year of my UG..all i need to do it physically put an office and hire a
bunch of talents"
Back to Empathy Map

4. Say
• "MBA was just a basic need experience is what makes one perfect"
• "i have planned everything wisely.. opting the least possible risk"
• "i keep following my genre and people in industry and their experience. I keep a good contact
with start ups ceo, cto, cfo etc.."
• "My niche choices helped me for whatever i am now. Avoid language - in 11th and 12th, avoid
math in UG, to take MBA - help in knowing management side etc.."
• "They (parents) not happy.. they fear.. they don't want me to risk (being an entrepreneur)"
• "i never searched for job. tough i have my resume set up"
Back to Empathy Map

5. Think & Feel
• Some courses, he does not know why did he learn like languages other than English &
Chemistry. He has found no use of the same.
• Thinks its a waste of time learning things that do not interest the student in school
• He has been choosing subjects and courses in such a way as to avoid the Math and few
languages
• Parents have been encouraging the student to chose the subjects and career that interests him
• However, his parents think, being an entrepreneur is something risky for their son.
Back to Empathy Map

6. Think & Feel
• Chose a career to avoid learning what he dislikes like languages, math etc
• He thinks there should be an option for students to take the courses that interest him
• He thinks MBA would help him in his entrepreneurial journey
• He got all the skills necessary in school that will come handy in his entrepreneurial journey.
However he thinks experience is what really matters and he hopes to get it from his peer
entrepreneurs and role models and through trying out different things
Back to Empathy Map

7. Insights
• Chose courses to avoid what he dislikes to learn
• Yet to figure out why he had to learn certain subjects like chemistry and languages other than
English.
• Ended up taking up MBA after finding out the call of his heart to be an entrepreneur
• Believes there is no teacher better than experience even after taking an MBA
Back to Empathy Map

8. Problem Statement
“Creative, articulate, confident, a little regretful, young media entrepreneur who found out what he
really wants to become in career at a very young age needs a way at school so that he needs to
study only those areas that would come in useful in his career because he has not figured it out
why he needs to study certain courses like chemistry and languages other than English like
Malayalam at school which have no use later in his career.”
Back to Empathy Map