What started three years ago as a hard-hat tour through The Possible Zone’s 36,000-square-foot innovation center has evolved into a dynamic, ongoing collaboration between SharkNinja and The Possible Zone (TPZ), one that continues to inspire and empower young innovators from across Greater Boston.
TPZ, an innovative educational program where Boston high school students and a cohort of young entrepreneurs build essential skills that meet 21st century demands, is now recognized as a signature collaborator within SharkNinja’s Innovation for Impact program. From immersive site visits to hands-on project development, this continued work strengthens SharkNinja’s focus on community impact and helps empower the next generation of innovators.
Franchesca Carrington, SharkNinja’s Head of Philanthropy, shared what this collaboration means to the company: “This is an opportunity to share expertise, mentor emerging talent, and get inspired by the next generation of thinkers.” Carrington also emphasized that the collaboration, “showcases SharkNinja’s commitment to being a leader not just in product innovation, but in community impact—reaching consumers, candidates, and the broader tech community in an authentic and powerful way.”
Building on that initial hard-hat tour, SharkNinja teamed up with TPZ to provide a hands-on, end-to-end, product design experience. Over the course of the program, students simulate a real-world product development cycle. Their final appearance models will be used in a mock executive review and sales pitch, giving them an authentic taste of what it’s like to present to company leadership. Throughout the process, SharkNinja team members from across industrial design, engineering, and marketing serve as mentors, offering feedback and guidance to help students refine their ideas and strengthen their presentations.
This immersive experience not only expands students’ exposure to design and innovation but also builds essential skills in creativity, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
Zach Dollar, TPZ’s Vice President of Corporate Development, emphasized the value of these types of collaborations.
“Talent and potential are distributed equally among America’s youth, but opportunity and the dynamic and learning experiences that help young people thrive are not. This is why The Possible Zone exists,” he said. “But we don’t do this work alone. TPZ students who engage with SharkNinja are building valuable mindsets and skills that will help them meet emerging needs – as life-long learners, professionals, and valued members of their communities.”
This is just the beginning. With TPZ as a signature partner, SharkNinja is creating a model for what purpose-driven innovation can look like—today and for years to come.
