Kristie Dickinson ’14: Back at BC for a “mini dream come true”

Meet Kristie Dickinson ’14, former Apple Watch team lead who’s back at Boston College to teach Design Thinking, the first BC course of its kind. We caught up with the newly minted adjunct professor and Shea Center Entrepreneur in Residence to get her thoughts on teaching, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, and why she counts UX design, TechTrek, and her third-grade teacher among her greatest inspirations.

Dickinson’s story is an inspiration in itself. So rather than paraphrase, we’ll let her tell it in her own words. What follows is a lightly edited recap of our conversation.

So, BC to Apple and now back on campus in front of a classroom. How do you like being an educator?

I love it! Being back at BC is pretty wonderful to begin with, but getting to teach is a mini dream come true. I feel so energized at the end of every single class. I'm constantly remembering little things my teachers did over the years and trying to emulate them. My third-grade teacher, in particular, is a constant inspiration. 

(Writer’s Note: Florence Aldrich-Bennett, aka “Mrs. A-B,” taught third grade at Noyes Elementary School in Sudbury, MA, for 53 years and still sends birthday cards to her former students every year.)

What inspired you to teach Design Thinking and how did you create the curriculum?

Human-centered design is something I’m always challenging myself to learn more about. “Design thinking” has become quite the buzzword, so I wanted to make sure the content I taught was real, applicable knowledge.

To create the curriculum, I started out the old-school way, going to my local library and borrowing a huge stack of books. Somewhere between those library books, my Apple experiences, and dozens of TED Talks, I created the syllabus. I’ve been prototyping the class week by week, asking for feedback and changing things as we go. I design the class like I’d design a real product, for real people.

On top of teaching, you’re a Shea Center Entrepreneur in Residence, mentoring students with an array of interests. What are they involved in these days?

One problem I've seen multiple students tackling is creating a better solution for finding out about events on campus. It's fun to see students working on problems that I had fully accepted as "the way things are" when I was here as a student.

The Shea Center has also done an amazing job supporting students with full-blown startups. I’ve met current student founders from BC-born companies like OurPet and Busways, and it's so exciting to see them growing and dreaming big.

Speaking of big dreams, the part of your résumé we’re all dying to read about–your six years at Apple. How did that prepare you for what you’re doing now? 

At Apple, I took every possible chance to work on my public speaking and presentation skills. No doubt those experiences helped me get more comfortable in front of a crowd. 

But my entire job always revolved around improving UX design. I learned to look at everything–apps, emails, meetings–like an experience that can be designed with greater intention. I approach this class the same way. It's the students' responsibility to show up to every class, bring an open mind, and apply themselves. It’s my responsibility to earn their trust and build an environment for genuine learning.

Tell us about your career path before Apple. What led you to education apps for kids? 

I’ve always had a passion for kids and education. I worked and volunteered for years as a day camp counselor, assistant teacher, and nanny. Plus, at 22, I was intimidated by Silicon Valley, and kids/edu felt like a pocket of the world I was comfortable getting into.

During your time in California, you studied at Stanford too. What was that like? 

I took a semester-long course inspired by Michael Ray's famed Creativity in Business class. I learned so many unconventional tactics for accessing creativity. Meditation, vulnerability, and spirituality have more to do with innovation than I ever imagined.

How did your undergrad years at Boston College shape your career path?

I wouldn't be where I am today without TechTrek, a program founded by Professor John Gallaugher, now led by Professors Jere Doyle and Jerry Kane. I attended TechTrek West, which is a rigorous course culminating in a trip to Silicon Valley, where students visit over 20 companies in five days. One of our visits was to Apple HQ, and it was connections from that TechTrek visit that wound up landing me a summer internship my junior year. I worked for Apple every day since, until this year.

Was TechTrek your most formative experience at BC?

Actually, I always say that running an all-female a cappella group is the one college experience that prepared me most for the real world (shout-out to The Sharps). The management skills I learned taught me more about being a leader in business than any of my core business classes.

Besides The Sharps, what’s special about Boston College and what advice do you have for BC students interested in becoming entrepreneurs?

Students' willingness to be reflective is something that's truly unique to this school. We all help foster this community of self-awareness and empathy, and this creates a perfect environment for entrepreneurs who want to make a difference.

At the Shea Center, we all say entrepreneurship at BC isn’t just about starting companies. It’s about cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in all students to be self-starters. That's the mission I try to support in every conversation I have with a student.

Okay, last question: What do you dream of doing someday, or are you already doing it?

I wouldn’t say I have one big dream, but I have lots of little dreams incubating. I dream of being a home cook who can whip up something delicious with whatever’s in the fridge. I dream of recording an original song. I dream of writing a book someday. So I spend lots of time in the kitchen and at the piano. I haven’t been writing much lately, but when I do, I’m all about pen and paper (or using my typewriter, when I feel fancy).