Stories > Embracing the Circular Economy: My Sprint Innovation Festival Experience

Embracing the Circular Economy: My Sprint Innovation Festival Experience

12.9.2024 | Sprint Innovation Festival, Student experience

Ibtehaz found the Sprint Innovation Festival to be an eye-opening experience. He now shares his experience of exploring the circular economy and stepping beyond his comfort zone, offering his best tips for future participants.

The Journey Begins

What an exhilarating week it was at the Sprint Innovation Festival! Hosted at Tampere University of Applied Sciences and brilliantly organized by HUBS, this event was a vibrant exploration of the circular economy, a concept that’s gaining momentum in our quest for sustainability. As part of my mission to broaden my horizons beyond my Information Security and Software Engineering background, I dove headfirst into this challenge, eager to learn (and innovate!).

The Power of Teamwork

Our team formation might have been random, but our commitment was anything but. The first day’s session on selecting our roles was pivotal, setting the stage for a harmonious and efficient collaboration. This initial step ensured that each of us knew our responsibilities, contributions, and the value we brought to the team.

I was fortunate to join forces with an incredible team—Antto, Emma, Johanna, and Lauri. Our mission? To make the circular economy trendier than ever. The collaboration was not just about clinching a win; it was about learning and innovating together. And learn we did, especially the fascinating fact that glass can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality. This realization underscored the impact of every small effort towards a sustainable future.

Our mission? To make the circular economy trendier than ever. The collaboration was not just about clinching a win; it was about learning and innovating together.

Embracing the New

Diving headfirst into the world of the circular economy felt like a giant leap away from the familiar shores of Information Security and Software Engineering. This was more than just stepping out of my comfort zone; it was a leap of faith into uncharted territories.

The Sprint Innovation Festival, with its heart set on these very principles, was a revelation. It showed me that no matter our field, we all have something to contribute to the larger picture of sustainability.

This wasn’t just about professional growth; it was a deeply personal journey that broadened my horizons and showed me how our individual paths are intertwined with the world’s pressing environmental needs. It was an adventure that brought new insights, challenged my perspectives, and filled me with a sense of purpose. This leap into the unknown was invigorating, proving that sometimes, the most significant growth comes from embracing what we don’t know and finding our place in the pursuit of a better, sustainable future for all.

A Festival Like No Other

The Sprint Innovation Festival is aptly named—it’s more than just a challenge; it’s a celebration of innovation, learning, and community. The atmosphere was far from the stern competition one might expect; it was inviting, engaging, and incredibly enriching.

The on-site days at the HUBS premises transformed my expectations of what an innovation festival could be. Far from the mundane workshops I had envisioned, it was a grand, concert-like affair, blending learning with a palpable sense of celebration. The structured schedule kept us on track, ensuring that our creativity and productivity flowed in harmony.

Lessons learned

This sprint wasn’t just another item on my academic to-do list; it became a journey of profound discovery, guiding me through the intricate dance of the double-diamond process and embedding in me a deep appreciation for design-led problem-solving. What struck me most profoundly was the lesson hidden in the simplicity and infinite recyclability of glass. Discovering its quiet strength and endless cycle of rebirth was like finding a hidden message of hope and sustainability in our daily lives.

I found myself wishing that time could stretch, allowing our team more moments together to weave our collective magic on the challenge before us. Our meetings were few—just a couple as a team and another with our sage-like coach, Niina—but each was dense with purpose and connection. In those brief gatherings, our ideas mingled forming a shared vision.

[The experience] touched my heart, teaching me that at the core of professional development is the deeply human experience of learning, sharing, and growing together.

In just two weeks, the sprint became more than a learning curve; it was a life curve. It deepened my grasp of the circular economy and embedded in me the values of design thinking not just as academic concepts but as lenses to view the world differently. This wasn’t just about gaining new knowledge; it was about undergoing a transformation that I’m convinced will echo through my career and beyond.

Setting out to broaden my horizons this year, I couldn’t have imagined a more fitting chapter than this sprint. It reaffirmed that the richest growth often sprouts from stepping into the unknown. Embracing challenges, engaging with new ideas, and connecting with others on this journey hasn’t just enriched my intellect—it’s touched my heart, teaching me that at the core of professional development is the deeply human experience of learning, sharing, and growing together.

Advice to Future Participants

If you’re on the fence about joining the next Sprint Innovation Festival, let me share a piece of advice from the heart: leap into it with all you’ve got. Life is a grand, intricate canvas, dotted with infinite opportunities waiting for the bold and the curious to discover them. Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do,” and this festival is the embodiment of that spirit. Dive deep into the resources available, engage with every fiber of your being, and most importantly, let the joy of discovery lead your way.

The festival is not just an educational endeavor; it’s a celebration of curiosity, innovation, and collaborative spirit. It’s an invitation to step into a realm where learning is fueled by passion and discovery. The thrill of innovation, coupled with the profound satisfaction of contributing to a sustainable future, transcends traditional academic pursuits and ventures into the extraordinary.

So, to every student standing at the crossroads of decision, consider this not just an opportunity for academic enrichment but as a beacon for personal growth and joyous adventure. Life is an expansive sea of possibilities, and events like these are the sails to your ship, guiding you to uncharted territories of knowledge and excitement. Embrace the challenge, bask in the camaraderie, and revel in the innovation. Remember, the memories that stay with us, that color our lives with joy and discovery, are crafted from moments of fun and shared wonders.

“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size” – Albert Einstein

Thank you for sharing your story and thoughts with us, Ibtehaz!

All photos taken by Èrica Dahlström Dezonne