Faculty Projects
Technical Difficulties Podcast

Four people standing close together and smiling

Project Manager

Liz Gerber, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and (by courtesy) Computer Science; Professor of Communication Studies; and Co-Director of the Center for Human Computer Interaction + Design

Amount Requested

$35,300

Summary

The object of the Technical Difficulties podcast is to empower undergraduate women at Northwestern to pursue careers in technology and design. We will do this by showcasing the achievements, stories, and experiences of female leaders in technology and design and highlighting the impact of women and their efforts to break stereotypes and systemic barriers. We will provide career guidance and insights including practical advice and career tips as well as discuss industry trends and skill development. We will build a supportive community where Northwestern women can connect, learn, and collaborate – encouraging dialogue on challenges, successes, and shared experiences through a moderated Slack channel.

Planned Activities/Investments

Planned activities:

We will produce eight episodes (30-45 minutes) featuring female leaders in technology and design.
We will develop a Slack community open to all podcast listeners

Outcomes:

Audience Engagement:

  • Reach 10 percent of female undergraduate engineering students at McCormick as listeners.
  • Measure engagement through downloads, subscriptions, and listener feedback.
  • Engage 5 percent of female undergraduate engineering students as regular participants in Slack channel.

Increased Interest and Confidence:

  • Survey listeners to assess changes in interest and confidence levels.
  • Encourage more female students to take coursework in the McCormick School of Engineering, pursue internships, attend technology and design conferences, and join tech and design communities.

Impact

1. Impact on Undergraduate Students:

  • Inspiration and Aspiration: The podcast will expose undergraduate women in engineering to relatable role models—successful women in tech and design. Hearing their stories, challenges, and triumphs will inspire students to dream big and pursue similar paths.
  • Career Exploration: By discussing various aspects of tech and design careers, the podcast will help students explore different roles, industries, and opportunities. It can ignite curiosity and encourage them to consider paths they might not have thought about before.
  • Confidence Boost: Knowing that other women have overcome obstacles and achieved greatness will boost confidence among female students. They’ll realize that they, too, can thrive in these fields.

2. Evaluating Impact:

  • Listener Surveys: Survey female undergraduates in engineering to gather feedback. Ask about changes in their perceptions, interests, and career aspirations after listening to specific episodes.
  • Download Metrics: Track the number of downloads per episode. A steady increase will indicate growing interest.
  • Engagement Levels: Monitor social media engagement, comments, and shares related to podcast content. High engagement will suggest active involvement.
  • Guest Speaker Influence: Assess the impact of guest speakers through Slack channel. Did their insights resonate with listeners? Did they prompt action (e.g., pursuing coursework, seeking internships)
  • Participation in Tech and Design Events: Encourage listeners to attend conferences, workshops, or networking events for women in tech and design on campus and in Chicagoland.
  • Career Choices: Long-term evaluation involves tracking career choices. Did more female students pursue tech and design roles after exposure to the podcast and Slack community? 

Sustainability

1. Content Strategy and Consistency:

  • Regularly release high-quality episodes. Consistency keeps listeners engaged and builds a loyal audience.
  • Plan ahead—create an editorial calendar to ensure a steady stream of content.

2. Diverse Revenue Streams:

  • Sponsorships: Collaborate with relevant companies or organizations including Adobe, Microsoft, Meta, Salesforce, IBM, and the Anita Borg Foundation. They can sponsor episodes or provide in-kind support (e.g., equipment).
  • Premium Content: Consider offering exclusive content to paid subscribers long term.

3. Community Engagement:

  • Build a community around the podcast. Engage with listeners on social media, respond to comments on Slack, and create a sense of belonging.
  • Host live Q&A sessions on Slack.

4. Networking and Partnerships:

  • Collaborate with other podcasts on campus, industry events and organizations (ex. Society of Women Engineering or Graduate Women in Computing). Explore cross-promotion to expand our reach.
  • Attend conferences and network with potential guests, sponsors, and listeners.

5. Monetization without Sacrificing Integrity:

  • Be transparent with our audience about our sponsorships. Choose partners aligned with our podcast’s values.
  • Maintain editorial independence.

6. Cost Management:

  • Continuously evaluate expenses. Optimize hosting costs, marketing spending, and production expenses.
  • Seek cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.

7. Long-Term Vision and Adaptability:

  • Be adaptable and stay relevant as technology, trends, and audience preferences evolve.

Deliverables

1. Podcasts:

  • Release eight engaging podcast episodes featuring interviews with accomplished women in technology and design.
  • Each episode should be well-researched, professionally edited, and aligned with the podcast’s mission.

2. Podcast Website:

  • Develop a user-friendly website where listeners can access episodes, show notes, and guest profiles.

3. Social Media Content:

  • Develop a social media content calendar to promote episodes, share behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engage with the audience.
  • Design eye-catching graphics, teaser videos, and quotes from podcast episodes.

4. Marketing Materials:

  • Prepare promotional materials (e.g., flyers, posters) for season launch and Slack community.
  • Collaborate with McCormick student organizations, McCormick Engineering Career Development, McCormick marketing, and McCormick departments to spread the word.

5. Guest Outreach and Coordination:

  • Secure commitments from influential and diverse female leaders in tech and design to appear as guests.
  • Coordinate interview schedules, prepare questions, and ensure a smooth recording process.

6. Listener Engagement Strategies:

  • Encourage listener participation through Q&A sessions, polls, and feedback.
  • Foster a sense of community by responding to comments and messages in Slack.

7. Metrics and Analytics:

  • Regularly track podcast metrics (downloads, subscribers, listener demographics) to the best of our ability.
  • Use analytics tools to understand audience behavior and preferences.

8. Collaborations and Partnerships:

  • Explore collaborations with other podcasts, organizations, and industry events.
  • Seek sponsorships or partnerships with McCormick’s Office of Corporate Development to support the podcast financially in the long term.

Budget Overview

1. Equipment and Studio Setup:

  • High-quality microphones, headphones, and recording equipment: $5,000
  • Acoustic treatment for the recording space: $1,500

2. Production Costs:

  • Producer to research and coordinate the speakers: $8,000 (assuming a year-long podcast)
  • Editor to edit podcasts: $8,000 (assuming a year-long podcast)
  • Music licensing for intro/outro: $500

3. Marketing and Promotion:

  • Community manager to manage social media, website, and engage community via Slack: $8,000 (assuming a year-long podcast)
  • Social media advertising: $2,500
  • Podcast launch campaign (ads, graphics, etc.): $1,500

4. Website and Hosting:

  • Domain registration and hosting: $500
  • Podcast hosting platform (annual subscription): $300
  • Project Management software (annual subscription): $300
  • Slack registration and hosting: $1,200

5. Guest Fees:

  • Inviting guest speakers (per episode): $1,000 ($8,000 total)

Total Budget Amount: $45,300

Matching Funds

The Center for Human Computer Interaction + Design has agreed to provide $10K funds for the project. We are requesting $35,300 from the Murphy Society Fellows.

Previous Projects

Between 2008-2011, I received Murphy Society funding to launch Design for America (DFA), a national network empowering the next generation of community focused innovators. Founded by myself and three Northwestern undergraduate students, DFA aimed to address complex, real-world problems using human-centered design principles. Over the past 16 years, the program has substantially impacted:

1. Student Engagement and Projects:

  • Since 2008, over 6,500 students at over 90 universities have participated in DFA projects.
  • These students have worked on 1,600-plus projects, spanning diverse topics such as food waste, hospital acquired infections, and sustainable transportation.
  • 52 percent of the students identified as female in the traditionally male dominated fields of design.

2. Innovative Solutions:

  • DFA teams tackle extraordinary challenges across various domains, including healthcare, sustainability, economics, and education.
  • Through interdisciplinary collaboration, students develop innovative solutions that address real community needs.

3. Stronger reputation for the McCormick School of Engineering:

  • DFA attracted press from popular press outlets including but not limited to Fast Company, Oprah Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and more, drawing attention to the McCormick School of Engineering’s reputation.
  • Northwestern University Office of Admissions recruited undergraduate and graduate students to campus based on DFA’s origin at Northwestern and students' successes.
  • McCormick’s DFA students received national awards including an invitation to Innovation Day at the White House by President Obama.
  • DFA received the national recognition from the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt Design Museum for Institutional Excellence in Design in 2018

4. Stronger Communities:

  • DFA fosters a sense of community among its participants. Students form strong connections, camaraderie, and friendships.
  • Collaborating on complex problems together strengthens the bonds within the DFA community.

5. Systems Thinking and Equity:

  • DFA emphasizes community-centered design. Students learn that addressing systemic issues requires holistic thinking.
  • By focusing on equity and social justice, DFA helps students build confidence as creative contributors and action-oriented partners.

6. Transferable Skills:

  • DFA’s design thinking process instills lifelong skills, including empathy, curiosity, resilience, and collaboration.
  • Participants gain confidence and expand their possibilities, benefiting themselves, organizations, and communities everywhere.

7. Expanding Participation and Impact:

  • DFA actively partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and community colleges.
  • By reaching more diverse participants, DFA continues to expand its positive influence.

In summary, DFA has become a driving force for social impact, empowering students to create meaningful change through design. Its legacy extends far beyond the classroom and Northwestern, inspiring a generation of problem solvers and community builders.