At the University of Cincinnati's 1819 Innovation Hub, the Learning Lab serves as a hands-on innovation and workforce development resource for business partners, helping teams learn faster, work smarter and deliver results sooner.
That approach has made the Learning Lab a trusted partner for organizations across the region.
"The Learning Lab at 1819 has been an invaluable partner for our team," says Shannon Lewandowski of Great American Insurance Group. She noted that the Lab's ability to deliver creative, customized experiences, whether for interns or departmentwide sessions, has driven real impact. "It's a resource we're fortunate to have access to."
The Learning Lab's applied model delivers measurable results across industries.
A three-day "Reconciliation Innovation Sprint" with U.S. Bank aligned a cross-functional team around user needs and produced a focused MVP and pilot road map to reduce errors and simplify reconciliation. Global project managers at Kao used a Learning Lab sprint to cut through complexity, align across regions and leave with clear owners, quick wins and a more transparent way of working.
Teams from Great American Insurance Group, Fifth Third Bank and Western & Southern have all used Learning Lab sessions to untangle complex processes, challenge assumptions and move from discussion to action, often within days.
Over the past year, Partridge has seen companies shift their focus. Innovation is no longer just about new products; it's about improving processes, increasing efficiency and helping teams do more with less.
There's also growing demand for alignment, trust and experimentation as teams navigate uncertainty. In response, the Learning Lab has expanded its two- and three-day working sprints, partnered more closely with corporate learning and development teams and integrated AI-enabled tools to accelerate session design and customization.
What excites Partridge most is the momentum stimulated by the Learning Lab. As part of the broader Cincinnati Innovation District, 1819 operates as a catalyst launching startups while helping long-standing companies rethink how they work, innovate and grow. The Learning Lab plays an essential role in that process.
"With more than 100 workshops a year, the Learning Lab is becoming a place where learning turns into action," Partridge says. "It's where people come to solve problems, not just talk about them."
Throughout 2025, the Learning Lab held 129 sessions with more than 2,500 learners.
