Shelfie Program Coordinator
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I was hired as a regular graduate assistant. My role shifted to being the Interactive Design Coordinator after my skillset was evaluated. After 6 months, I was entrusted with becoming the VCU da Vinci Center Shift Retail Labs’ Shelfie Program Coordinator.
Interactive Design
I assist the Shelfies curate their shelf design and the set up of the shelf. I encourage them to treat their shelf like a prototype that they can come in and change and iterate on. I also assign the Shelfies their placement in on the shelves. Unlike conventional store fronts, I try to not put like category businesses beside each other. This keeps them from competing directly with each other and gives them time to shine.
Facilitation
I help facilitate the Shelfie Program’s workshops and programs. I brought energy to these long facilitations while encouraging and fostering a supportive environment. I encouraged participants to slow down and ask questions when they were confused and had regular check-ins.
Bootcamp focused around onboarding and Design Thinking
Pitch Practice Workshop focused around the Art of the Pitch
Feedback Friday focused around networking and a mini pitch competition.
Coordination
I am the liaison between the team and the Shelfies as well as the main communicator to the Shelfies. I also coordinate getting every Shelfie a board that displays their information. I communicate events and opportunities for the Shelfies to take advantage of.
Zoomed out photo of the skeleton boards that I input the Shelfies’ information in.
Revamping Workshops and Content
VCU da Vinci Center prides itself on constantly iterating to improve its experience for its student. This extends to all their programs. I was fortunate to be able to contribute and grow with the Shelfie Program. I was able to help improve the flow of the workshops by implementing my knowledge of interactive design and create a more interactive workbook with my Adobe skill set.
Example of a slide that I created to help the entrepreneurs envision their idea or business within the constraints of our space.
Creating an interactive workbook that support the content of Bootcamp while also being a manual to get through the program.
Coordinating Shelfie Markets
I was in charge of coordinating successful markets for the Shelfies in the Shelfie Program. I created the intake form of who was interested, and communicated and coordinated with those participants. I then worked with a team to set up space and prep the stations for the Shelfies. The Shelfie market was the the big event of a week long event to celebrate the spooky season. I was the head of coordinating a team to set up the weeks events, decoration and any snacks provided.
Kickstarter CEO Visit to Shift Retail Lab at VCU da Vinci Center
I was tasked to help with the logistics of having Everette Taylor, the CEO of Kickstarter visit the Shift Retail Lab. My job was to make sure our Shelfies could pitch well and smoothly the day of the visit. I worked with both past and present Shelfies to make sure they were confident in the pitches and presentation abilities and coordinating any donational gifts they would want to give to Everette Taylor. I helped turn over the Shift Retail space from a conference meeting to open networking when Everette and the team went of for lunch. I made sure that both the Shelfies and the space was ready for the afternoon event. I was to adapt quickly to being informed that Michael Rao, the President of VCU, would be dropping in and speaking at this event.
I was able to kick off the Shelfie’s Pitches and introduce them.
Pre-X Liaison and Coach
I was able to get to work with Adam Woodward to revamp the da Vinci Center’s Pre-X Program. We helped transition the program from just Demo Day preparation to helping give value to their business and ideas. During this program I was the liaison between the Pre-X participants and the rest of the Shift team. I coached the participants in their design of their displays, ideate their ideas, and refine their pitch and presentation.
