Watercooler Challenge: CoffeeMeet
What was the inspiration behind your idea?
As a product owner, my day job requires me to innovate so we can create better products to save cost or increase efficiency, so innovation is one of my core values.
I like challenging myself and solving real-life problems. When I saw the absence of watercooler conversations and loss of social interaction as we all started working from home, I wanted to create a solution.
What made you interested in taking part in this challenge?
I had actually started working on my idea before the challenge was launched. When we went into lockdown I was struggling to meet new, like-minded people for informal chats like those which happen in the office.
I found breaking the ice to be rather difficult without a physical connection. That’s when I had the idea of extending the ‘recommender’ algorithm used in apps like Netflix to create a recommender system for professionals. When I saw the Watercooler Challenge, it was a no brainer for me to submit my idea.
If your idea could achieve one thing, what would you like that to be?
I would love to help build some meaningful long-lasting connections across geographies, cultures and economies, between colleagues who otherwise have been unlikely to meet.
This would help keep social interactions going and hopefully help curb the mental health issues that can come from the sense of isolation working from home can bring. I believe it could also improve employee engagement and facilitate the exchange of ideas, helping us be more innovative.
What has it been like working on these projects during lockdown?
It has been very fulfilling, especially given the fact that I was trying to solve a problem that has so personally impacted me and so many colleagues. People I shared the idea with wanted to subscribe to CoffeeMeet instantaneously! I felt I could help so many to make connections via this platform.
Although it was challenging to balance my day job with this initiative, the project gave me a purpose and helped keep me occupied during lockdown weekends. Working on CoffeeMeet has actually led to learning for me: I completed a certification in machine learning on Coursera which helped me test out the recommender algorithm.
What has it been like working with our innovation support team?
They ensured I did not miss anything, and organised 1-1 personal sessions for me. They also allocated a dedicated coach to guide me during the time leading up to the pitch. Going through the process really helped refine my value proposition and identify any loopholes that might have been missed. It also helped me practice my pitch and get some feedback so I could improve my delivery!