Podcasts about Design thinking

What if the reason your idea isn't working isn't the idea itself, but the questions you're asking before you build it?About This EpisodeTracy Brandenburg has taught design thinking at Stanford's d.school, built three programs at Cornell, and helped student entrepreneurs go from "I already know the answer" to actually talking to real humans and learning something.Tracy unpacks what design thinking really means, where it comes from, and why it might be the most practical tool a social entrepreneur can have.Tracy started as a cultural anthropologist, showed up at Stanford not knowing why she was there, and ended up running design thinking workshops on her living room floor with popsicle sticks and craft supplies. From there it grew into JetBlue airport fieldwork, Cornell university programs, and now work with student entrepreneurs at Denison University's Red Labs.The conversation covers the full arc of the design thinking process, from building empathy and asking better questions to prototyping, pivoting, and integrating what you learn. Tracy is honest about what students consistently struggle with: getting out of the classroom to talk to strangers, and letting go of an idea when the feedback tells them to.There's also a genuinely fun tangent about designing your life the same way you'd design a product, and what a pirate surf camp in Costa Rica has to do with finding your calling.Episode in a glance00:00 Introduction to Design Thinking and Its Impact01:30 How an anthropologist ended up at Stanford's d.school03:26 Empathy as the foundation of design thinking05:44 From living room workshops to university programs08:35 Getting students to talk to strangers and what actually helps12:30 Applying design thinking with student entrepreneurs at Denison15:15 Why pivoting is the hardest skill to teach17:34 Designing your life like a prototype 221:54 Reimagining the Rust Belt with design thinking24:20 What Tracy wants to build next in social innovationAbout the GuestTracy Brandenburg is a design thinking trainer, anthropologist, and social innovator who has taught at Stanford's d.school, pioneered three design thinking programs at Cornell, and currently leads design thinking work at Denison University's Red Labs. She is also the founder of Reimagining the Rust Belt, a social innovation project in her hometown of Middletown, Ohio.Connect with Tracy and her work:→ tracydesign.rocks→ LinkedIn

Amy Schwartz, Chief People Officer at Wiz, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why HR alone can't create a high-performance culture, why relationships and influence matter more than HR systems, and why "picking up the trash" - a leadership philosophy she picked up working in casinos - has stuck with her ever since.----  Sponsor Links:

Kako se inovacije uvode u banke, a kako na odeljenje neurohirurgije? U 371. epizodi podkasta Pojačalo, Ivan nastavlja razgovor sa Nikolom Kalinovićem, partnerom u agenciji Evoke i Design Thinkers akademiji. Nikola nas vodi kroz svoj dinamičan životni put - od ambicija na fudbalskom terenu, preko freelancinga, do uvođenja Design Thinking metodologije i postavljanja ozbiljnih biznis sistema na našem tržištu. Otkrivamo zašto su korporacije trome kada su inovacije u pitanju, kako prepoznati stvarne potrebe korisnika i izgraditi brend sa svrhom. U duboko ličnom delu razgovora, Nikola deli svoje iskustvo suočavanja sa tumorom kičme i kako ga je boravak na neurohirurgiji naučio najvažnijim lekcijama o empatiji, preduzetništvu i zahvalnosti za ono što imamo. Prava epizoda za sve koji traže konkretne poslovne savete i snažnu životnu inspiraciju. Ukoliko ste propustili početak priče, toplo preporučujemo da prvo pogledate prvi deo razgovora kako biste imali potpunu sliku o Nikolinom putu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJIH0cTizYE O čemu smo pričali: - Talanoa i mentor Dalibor Vasiljević - Otkriće design thinkinga - Erste banka i krediti za penzionere - Otpor organizacija prema novom - Zašto je razgovor sa korisnicima ključan - Tobako industrija i zamka globalnih persona - Zašto se velike korporacije teško menjaju - Projekti sa gostujućih terena: Dubai i Češka - Udruženje mladih privrednika Srbije - Povratak fudbalu - Partnerstvo u Evoke-u - Sređivanje procesa i alati Realizaciju ove epizode podržali su naši prijatelji i sponzori: - Epson Srbija - https://www.epson.rs - Orion telekom - https://oriontelekom.rs - Smilies - https://smilies.rs Hvala na poverenju i podršci! Podržite nas na BuyMeACoffee: https://bit.ly/3uSBmoa Pročitajte transkript ove epizode: https://bit.ly/43J6rO4 Posetite naš sajt i prijavite se na našu mailing listu: http://bit.ly/2LUKSBG Prijavite se na naš YouTube kanal: http://bit.ly/2Rgnu7o Pratite Pojačalo na društvenim mrežama: FB: https://www.facebook.com/PojacaloRS/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/pojacalo.rs/ X: https://x.com/PojacaloRS LN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pojacalo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pojacalo.rs

→ How can education podcasting impact professional growth over time?→ What is the single most dangerous misconception schools are making about artificial intelligence right now?→ How can design thinking prepare secondary students for a complex, uncertain, technology-driven future?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today's Teacher on Fire is Alex Gray. Alex is head of sixth form, BSME Network Lead for AI in Education, and founder of the DEEP Education Network, a global platform connecting 1,000+ educators across 50+ countries with courses, community, and evidence-based frameworks for modern teaching. He hosts The International Classroom Podcast, one of Dubai's largest education podcasts with hundreds of thousands of views.You can connect with Alexon LinkedIn,on Instagram @deepeducationnetwork,on YouTube @deepeducationnetwork, and on his website at deepeducationnetwork.com/blog.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Alex Gray is a secondary educator and podcaster in Dubai1:48 - Alex's journey from the UK to Dubai5:43 - Teacher sustainability in international contexts9:26 - Teacher burnout around the globe12:31 - Podcasting as professional development15:46 - AI literacy23:09 - School misconceptions about AI25:30 - Vibe coding29:20 - Design thinking in secondary34:54 - Alex's courses for educators at deepeducationnetwork.com37:46 - How and where to connect with Alex onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

Lange Zeit wurden Menschen belohnt, die auf alles eine schnelle Antwort hatten. Heute verändert sich die Welt schneller als jede fertige Meinung. Märkte kippen, Kundenbedürfnisse wandern, Technologien überholen Strategien. Und plötzlich wird eine Fähigkeit wertvoll, die viele unterschätzt haben: geistige Beweglichkeit. Warum fällt es klugen Menschen oft so schwer, ihre Meinung zu ändern? Warum halten Organisationen an Lösungen fest, die längst nicht mehr funktionieren? Und was hat Design Thinking damit zu tun? Darüber sprechen wir heute.

In this episode, Kate, a Year 7 transition teacher with 25 years of experience across regional and remote NSW public schools, shares how her first placement in Broken Hill became the foundation of her career. She also explores her approach to design thinking, highlighting the power of authentic, real-world learning to engage students and create meaningful impact.We acknowledge that this episode of the Teach NSW Podcast was recorded on the homelands of the Darug people at Parramatta Public School. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples listening to the Teach NSW Podcast today. Connect with usIf you would like to provide feedback or suggestions for future episodes, please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠teachnsw@det.nsw.edu.au⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get in touch with the Teach NSW Podcast team. Follow the Teach NSW team on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ to be the first to know when new episodes are released.Resources and useful linksTeach NSW - become a teacher in a NSW public school and find out how a career in teaching can open doors for you.Approval to teach - learn how to gain approval to teach in NSW public schools.Benefits and incentives - Learn about the great range of benefits and incentives for teachers and executives in rural and remote NSW public schools.Beyond the Line Program - complete an expenses-paid, 5-day study tour with the department through regional, rural and remote NSW public schools.Game Changer Challenge - find out more about the department's award-winning design thinking competition.Housing for teachers - find out more information about eligibility and location of teaching housing in NSW.Inspire - high potential and gifted education - find out about how the department is strengthening opportunities for students to be challenged and supported in NSW public schools.

Design Thinking isn't a workshop recipe or a six-step certification. It's an evolving language. If you're just ticking boxes, you aren't designing, you're just rearranging the furniture. It's time to move beyond the label and humanise the system… Stop being a recipe follower. Start being a chef.

Reflections from host Sarah Olivieri ... The Problem Isn't Change. It's the Size of the Decision. Most nonprofit leaders I talk to are not actually afraid of change. They are stuck between two sizes of it. On one side, a monster decision. Restructure the program. Leave the role. Overhaul the funding model. A move so big it feels reckless to say out loud. On the other side, no change at all. Keep going. Ride it out another quarter. Wait for more information. Wait for the board. Wait for a better moment. What nobody offers is the middle option. The small, cheap, fast, reversible move whose only job is to teach you something. That option is almost always the right one, and it is almost always missing from the conversation. Where This Thinking Came From I've been turning this over for a while. I recently had a conversation about exactly this with Ashley Jablow, who works with leaders and teams in transition and has deep training in design thinking. It sharpened how I think about why change gets stuck inside nonprofits and what actually unsticks it. The short version: the problem isn't that leaders lack courage. The problem is that the only option on the table is too expensive to say yes to. Change Is Neutral. The Story You Wrap Around It Isn't. Change is constantly happening. Seasons turn. Budgets shift. Staff come and go. A funder's priorities drift. A board member rolls off. None of that is catastrophic on its own. What makes change feel charged is the story we attach to it. In the nonprofit sector, that story is usually some version of: change is dangerous, so we should avoid it. That story hardens into a posture. The posture becomes the culture. The culture becomes the reason your organization cannot move. In short: Change is constant and mostly neutral. What makes it feel dangerous is the interpretation the organization layers on top. Culture that treats change as risky will struggle to adapt even when adaptation is overdue. If you want an organization that can respond to what the world is actually doing, you have to separate the event from the story. The Hidden Cost of "Staying Put" Here is the belief I keep running into inside nonprofits: doing nothing is the safe option. Especially with money. Especially with programs that "have always worked." Especially when funders are watching. The truth is, staying put is not neutral. It has a cost, and that cost is usually larger than the one people are trying to avoid. If a program is slowly losing relevance and you do not adjust, the cost shows up later as a funding cliff. If a leader is quietly burning out and the system does not adapt, the cost shows up as a crisis hire. If a revenue model depends on one big grant and you do not diversify, the cost shows up when that grant does not renew. In short: Inaction is not the absence of risk. It is a different kind of risk. The cost of standing still usually arrives later and bigger. Every "we'll deal with that next year" is a decision, not a non-decision. When leaders only weigh the risk of moving, they miss half the math. Why Nonprofits Over-Index on the Risk of Moving Two structural things push nonprofits toward inaction. The first is the donor stewardship story. Somewhere along the way, "be a good steward of donor money" got translated into "never take risks with money." That is not what stewardship means. Stewardship means using resources wisely in service of the mission. Sometimes that means holding the line. Sometimes it means making a bet. The second is harder to see, and it matters more. In most nonprofits, the people with the biggest formal role in risky decisions, the board, do not experience the consequences of those decisions. The staff does. The community does. The executive director does. The board votes and goes home. So when a decision comes with risk, the board defaults to "let's not do that." To them, sitting still feels responsible. To the people running the organization every day, sitting still might be the thing burning the building down. In short: Stewardship is not a synonym for risk avoidance. The people voting on risky decisions in nonprofits often do not bear the consequences. The people who bear the consequences are usually best positioned to lead the decision. Decisions belong, as much as possible, with the people who will live inside their outcomes. That is not a revolutionary idea. It is just rarely the way nonprofit governance actually operates. The Move That Makes Change Manageable This is where the size of the decision matters. When every change is framed as a cannon shot, people freeze. The stakes are too high, the ambiguity too wide, the board too uncomfortable. So nothing moves. But there is another option. Jim Collins calls it firing bullets before cannons. Ashley Jablow frames it as a design thinking question. It is the same idea in different clothes. Ask what is the smallest, fastest, cheapest thing I could do right now to learn the most? That is a different size of decision. It does not require a board vote. It does not require a three year strategic plan. It does not require certainty. It only requires that you be willing to run a small experiment and read the results. In short: The question to ask before any big change is: what's the smallest move I could make to learn the most? A bullet is cheap. A cannon is expensive. Fire bullets first. Experiments replace certainty with evidence. One line from that conversation with Ashley has stayed with me: "What is the smallest, fastest, cheapest thing that you could do or try right now in order to learn the most?" What I appreciate about this framing is that it does not ask the leader to be brave. It asks them to be curious. It shrinks the change until it fits inside the capacity the organization actually has, and then it uses the result of that small move to decide the next one. That is how sustainable change actually works. Not through heroic leaps. Through a chain of small moves that each teach you something. Self-Trust Is the Quiet Currency of Change There is a second thing small experiments do that nobody talks about, and it may be more important than the learning itself. They build self-trust. Every small move you make and see through teaches you that you are a person who follows through. Every small experiment that works teaches you that your instincts are worth listening to. Every small experiment that fails teaches you that failure is survivable and useful. You cannot lead a big change if you do not trust yourself to make a small one. And most leaders who feel stuck are not missing strategy. They are missing the lived experience of their own follow-through. In short: Small experiments are also self-trust training. Leaders who have never run a small move do not trust themselves with a big one. Evidence of your own follow-through is what makes confidence durable. This is why the "do one small thing" advice is not soft advice. It is structural. It is how capacity gets built. Another moment from the conversation sat with me here. Ashley named a question she said often hides under any change effort, whether leaders realize it or not: "Can I trust myself to actually accomplish this and follow through?" Most leaders never say that question out loud. So the answer never gets built. Small experiments are how you build the answer. What This Makes Possible When leaders stop sizing every change as either "do nothing" or "blow it up," the whole posture of the organization changes. What shifts: Change stops being a crisis event and becomes a practice. Decisions get made closer to the people who live with the outcomes. Self-trust builds through reps, not through a pep talk. The organization starts learning instead of defending. The work is not lighter. It is just better aimed. Closing This isn't about being braver. It's about picking a smaller move. Nonprofits can adapt without crisis. They can change without drama. They can build self-trust through evidence instead of hoping for it. Not by betting the whole organization on one cannon shot, but by firing a lot of cheap, honest bullets and paying attention to where they land.

On this episode of The Digital Patient, Dr. Joshua Liu, Co-founder & CEO of SeamlessMD, and colleague, Alan Sardana, chat with David Lovinger, MD, FHM, FACP, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Chief Informatics Officer at Carle Health, about "How a Sculptor Became a CMIO, Why Pop-Ups Are Almost Never the Right Answer, How Design Thinking Fixes What Informatics Degrees Miss, and more..."

SummaryIn this episode I'm joined by Chad Holdorf, longtime product and technology leader whose career spans John Deere, Salesforce, Pendo, and now Demandbase, where he leads AI initiatives across the company.We explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping the way modern product teams test, ship, and learn, from debugging customer issues directly against live codebases to product managers and support teams submitting pull requests themselves. Chad shares how tools like Cursor and Claude are collapsing traditional handoffs between product, engineering, and support, creating a much faster feedback loop between customer problems, experimentation, and shipped solutions.We also get into the messy reality behind enterprise AI adoption, including data quality, hallucinations, trust, evals, and why testing AI products inside real customer environments is much harder than most demos make it look. Chad gives us a peek into how his own workflow has changed, how his teams are learning by building in real time, and why this moment reminds him of the early days of Lean Startup, where he and I first met.If you've been wondering what AI-native product development actually looks and feels like inside a real company, this episode is for you.TakeawaysAI is collapsing traditional handoffs between product, engineering, and support teams. Chad described customer support teams going directly into code repositories with AI tools to investigate issues, understand root causes, and eventually submit merge requests themselves.Most enterprise AI demos fall apart when connected to messy real-world customer data. Chad emphasized that “just putting Claude on top of the data” failed quickly without extensive labeling, validation, testing, and human feedback loops. Customers could detect hallucinations within a few prompts.AI systems expose hidden data inconsistencies inside organizations. One example showed AI selecting a custom CRM field that technically produced better targeting results than the field support teams were trained to use, creating confusion about which “truth” was actually correct.Trust has become the critical success factor for enterprise AI adoption. Chad explained that once customers encounter inaccurate outputs, confidence in the system drops immediately, which forces teams to spend enormous time improving prompts, SQL queries, evals, and validation workflows before broader rollout.Product managers are increasingly becoming hands-on builders again. Instead of relying entirely on engineering handoffs, Chad now spends large portions of his week inside Cursor and AI coding agents investigating bugs, generating tickets, reviewing repos, and shaping product direction directly through code conversations.AI-native workflows dramatically compress feedback loops. Problems that previously took days of back-and-forth between support, product, and engineering can now move from customer issue to deployed fix in under an hour through AI-assisted workflows and automated merge requests.The biggest organizational bottleneck is shifting away from engineering speed toward enablement and adaptation. Chad compared this moment to early Agile adoption, where downstream teams like sales, support, and training struggled to keep pace with accelerated shipping cycles. AI is now amplifying that challenge even further.Continuous learning and experimentation matter more than formal process mastery right now. Chad repeatedly compared the current AI moment to the early Agile movement: the people progressing fastest are the ones willing to try tools, build things, stay curious, and learn in public rather than waiting for established best practices or certifications.Guest LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadholdorf/Demandbase: https://www.demandbase.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn't the idea, it's the assumptions behind it that haven't been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

Most students start their personal statement by asking, “What should I write about?”That's the wrong starting point.In this episode, Steve explains why the topic is not the essay-- and why strong essays usually reveal three layers: the external problem  the internal journey  the deeper reason the story matters Before students begin drafting, they need to understand what their essay is actually trying to reveal: who they are, what they value, and why it matters.For students who have been through the Ivy League Challenge, this is the moment to connect the dots between core values, meaningful impact, personal growth, and application strategy.Register for the workshop at TILC.to/essay

In a market flooded with AI tools, the smartest legal teams aren't chasing technology first - they're slowing down to ask better questions. In this episode of Careers and the Business of Law, David Cowen sits down with Stacy Lettie, James Vinson, and Scott Milner to unpack why design thinking is making a comeback in the AI era. Special shoutout to Nitant Narang for jumping into the conversation and raising one of the most important questions of the episode: when does asking "why" become too much? The conversation cuts through the hype around legal AI and focuses on something far more valuable: defining the right problem before rushing toward a solution. From practical frameworks to real-world failures, the panel explores how legal professionals can think more strategically, collaborate more effectively, and avoid wasting time and money on "shiny software" that doesn't solve the actual issue. Key Topics Covered: Why most legal teams are moving too fast into AI adoption without defining the underlying business problem first The real meaning of design thinking - minus the consultant jargon and buzzwords How asking "Why?" repeatedly uncovers the actual issue hiding beneath the surface The shift from "technology first" back to "people, process, then technology" Why communities like Legal Data Intelligence help legal professionals solve problems faster and avoid reinventing the wheel The importance of prototyping, failing early, and learning through experimentation instead of chasing perfection Why the future value of legal professionals will come from asking the right questions - not just delivering answers

to improve your career, join the career coaching club : www.ncourage.top

Panduan inovasi biodiversitas bagi kaum muda bermula dari pergeseran pola pikir menuju kreativitas yang mampu menciptakan koneksi baru di antara ide-ide yang sudah ada. Kreativitas ini bukan sekadar berpikir di luar kotak, melainkan upaya menciptakan nilai tambah dari hasil hutan non-kayu serta menggabungkan teknologi digital dengan pelestarian alam. Melalui teknik ideasi praktis seperti SCAMPER, inovator muda dapat mengeksplorasi tantangan nyata di sektor kehutanan—termasuk deforestasi yang mencapai 95% dan konflik tenurial sebesar 60%—sebagai peluang emas untuk menghadirkan solusi manajemen ekosistem digital dan ekonomi hijau.     Tahapan perumusan solusi dilakukan melalui metode "Dynamic Thinking" untuk menyusun pernyataan masalah yang kuat dengan mencakup data lapangan, kekhawatiran jangka panjang, serta peluang inovasi. Proses ini kemudian dipertajam dengan metode Design Thinking yang meliputi tahap empati untuk memahami kebutuhan tersembunyi melalui wawancara dengan komunitas lokal, pendefinisian ulang masalah, hingga ideasi solusi kreatif. Inovator muda diarahkan untuk membangun prototipe fisik atau digital dengan prinsip "fail fast, learn fast" agar ide tersebut dapat segera direalisasikan dan diuji coba untuk mendapatkan umpan balik guna iterasi selanjutnya.     Rencana aksi nyata diimplementasikan melalui pola eksperimentasi cepat yang disebut "Z-Template" atau Bio-Sprint dalam durasi 90 hari, yang terdiri dari fase Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, dan Feeling. Dalam kurun waktu tersebut, inovator melakukan pengumpulan fakta lapangan hingga pengembangan produk layak minimum (MVP) seperti aplikasi pemindaian biodiversitas berbasis kecerdasan buatan (AI). Melalui aksi kolektif dan pembangunan jaringan "Kampung Biodiversitas", inovasi ini tidak hanya menjadi solusi teknis sementara, tetapi tumbuh menjadi ekosistem perubahan yang mengukur dampak positif dan merayakan keberhasilan tim secara publik demi kelestarian alam Nusantara.    

In this episode of Digital Health Talks, host Megan Antonelli, CEO of Health Impact Live, sits down with Mohan Nair, innovator, author, and former Chief Innovation Officer at Cambia Health Solutions, to explore what it truly means to stay human in an AI-obsessed world. Mohan's newest book, Unreachable: How Not to Lose Your Mind in an AI-Obsessed Era, is already an Amazon bestseller, and the conversation is as timely as it is thought-provoking. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why AI adoption is creating cognitive atrophy and how the concept of "inconvenient learning" means removing friction from work may be costing us our most valuable skills How healthcare leaders should distinguish between AI enablement and AI obsession, and why the physician-patient relationship remains fundamentally unreachable by any machine Mohan's take on the rise of Chief AI Officers and how to find your own AI-unreachable value, the insights and instincts no technology can replicate Mohan Nair, CEO, Emerge Inc Megan Antonelli, Chief Executive Officer, HealthIMPACT Live

I am Aleksandra Vancevska, gestalt therapeutic counsellor and UKCP student therapist. I support you to transform overachieving burnout, stress, perfectionism and stuckness into fulfilling self-confidence and authentic success.To start therapy with me schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/aleksandra-vanchevska/discovery-call

SummaryIn this episode, I'm joined by Büşra Coşkuner, a product management coach and trainer who helps teams move from project thinking to product thinking.We explore how she approaches product discovery and testing. From building zero-to-one products at Doodle to coaching teams across B2B and B2C environments, Büşra shares how to actually operationalize experimentation beyond just A/B tests.We also dig into how to test when you don't have much data, how to combine qualitative and quantitative insights, and why many teams get stuck thinking they're doing product work when they're really just managing tickets.If you're trying to build a stronger testing culture or just want to make better decisions this episode will challenge how you think about product metrics and experimentation.TakeawaysProduct transformation is a leadership decision - If leadership isn't backing the shift from projects to products, it won't happen, bottom-up enthusiasm isn't enough.Most “product orgs” aren't actually product orgs - Adopting Scrum and calling someone a product owner doesn't mean you're doing product, many teams are still just managing tickets.You can't test what you can't measure - Without proper data instrumentation, teams fall into a “build, build, build” loop instead of build–measure–learn.Metrics frameworks are a starting point, not the system - Pirate metrics (AARRR) or customer factory models help, but real insight comes from adapting them to your actual business model.Qualitative data is not optional - Quant tells you what is happening, qual tells you why. In low-data environments, qual becomes your primary signal.“No data” is usually an excuse - Even in B2B, you can extract directional insights, from sales teams, customer conversations, and patterns across feedback.A/B testing is over-indexed and often misused - Experimentation goes beyond A/B testing. Many teams default to it even when it's impractical or irrelevant.Sometimes building is the test - For low-risk features, the fastest way to learn is to ship and observe behavior, treat the release itself as the experiment.B2B testing requires creativity, not scale - From sales-assisted experiments to prototype validation and even WhatsApp groups, testing in small markets is possible if you rethink the approach.AI changes the cost of being wrong - When building becomes cheap, you don't always need heavy upfront validation, you can test the problem through the solution, as long as you're willing to kill what doesn't work.Guest LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busra-coskuner/Website: https://busra.co/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn't the idea, it's the assumptions behind it that haven't been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

From Corporate HR To Luxury Home DesignA polished career can still leave you whispering through a closed office door while your kids are on the other side. We sit down with Alissa, founder of Gemhaus Design, to talk about what happens when a global HR path with late-night calls and constant pressure stops fitting real life and you decide to jump anyway.We get into the full pivot: how her love of interiors started early, why the business began with real estate development, and how Whitefish, Montana became the springboard for luxury ski-home investing. Alissa breaks down what she actually looks for in a smart investment property, why seasonality matters for a short-term rental, and how to think about cap rate and operating costs without getting lost in jargon.Then we zoom into the human side of interior design and entrepreneurship. Alissa shares what a premium design process looks like, how she learns the truth of how a family lives, and why “work-life balance” isn't the goal. We talk harmony, trade-offs, failure, celebration, and the kind of mom mornings that include potty-training emergencies and gorilla glue on every door handle.If you're building a business, considering real estate investing, or craving a career that feels more like you, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who's on the edge of a leap, and leave a review with the biggest trade-off you're navigating right now.Resources Mentioned:Shonda Rhimes The DailyRadio Lab - The InterstitiumTelepathy TapesConnect with Alissa:Website: Gemhaus DesignIG: @gemhaus.designContact the Host, Kelly Kirk:Email: info.ryh7@gmail.comGet Connected/Follow:The Hue Drop Newsletter: Subscribe HereIG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirkFacebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook PageCAKES Affiliate Link: KELLYKIRKCredits:Editor: Joseph KirkMusic: Kristofer Tanke Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue! 

In this episode, Andrra Berisha describes how she has dynamically created an envious hospitality management path for herself after her hospitality studies in Switzerland. As the Business Development Manager at Lighthouse, the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry, Andrra uses her hospitality acumen to drive revenue growth and foster long-term client partnerships. We ask Andrra to describe her hospitality education and how it has helped her to succeed in the hospitality sector and she gives our listeners some insights on how to creatively and dynamically approach a successful management career.  Working in the luxury hotel sector gave Andrra the skills she needed to engage with demanding clients and to understand the importance of having a service-based approach to business.   In addition, Andrra understood early in her career the importance of technology and how to use it optimally. She also explains how she moved from a traditional hospitality role into a more technology-based position and the challenges she faced during this time. Finally, Andrra gives us her opinion of AI and how this new technology can improve the customer experience while underpinning her solid conviction that the human touch will always be appreciated and needed.With a proven track record in academia and business development, Andrra is a dynamic force in the field. As the Business Development Manager at Lighthouse, Andrra drives growth by forging strategic partnerships and securing enterprise-level contracts. Based in Pristina, Kosovo, Andrra excels in remote environments, leveraging strong relationships with C-level executives to expand market reach and drive sales. Previously, Andrra served as a Business & Sales Consultant for Everguest, where they pioneered entry market strategies and elevated client portfolios through innovative approaches to online reputation management. Prior to this, Andrra demonstrated exceptional leadership as the Front Office & Revenue Manager at Four Points by Sheraton, optimizing guest experiences and increasing satisfaction scores through Design Thinking methodologies. With a background spanning pre-opening project management, client experience design, and sales, Andrra brings a wealth of expertise to every endeavor. From internships at neuvoo to roles at renowned hospitality establishments like Perry Lane Hotel and Penha Longa Resort, Andrra has consistently delivered outstanding results, earning accolades for her dedication and innovation. 

In this episode of CPMA Produce Talks, host Daniel Duguay, Senior Director, Sustainability at CPMA, speaks with Edmund Chin, Managing Director and Co-founder of Lucid Corp, about how design thinking is transforming the way innovative packaging is developed, designed, and ultimately adopted across the fresh produce supply chain.

SummaryIn this episode I'm joined by Gil Vaisman. He's the founder of GoADU, a construction company focused on building accessory dwelling units.We explore how he went from a 15-year career in film editing to building a construction business that helps homeowners unlock equity and create new living spaces. What started out as a personal project in his own backyard turned into a growing business built through trial, error, and constant iteration.Gil shares how he tested his way into the market, from helping friends navigate permitting to evolving into a guaranteed fixed pricing model. We also dig into how he qualifies customers, avoids costly mistakes, and thinks about what to test next in an industry that's rapidly changing.If you're trying to turn a personal pain point into something scalable, this episode is a great look at how testing can lead to a viable business.Enjoy my conversation with Gil Vaisman.TakeawaysGreat businesses often start as personal pain points - Gil's ADU company emerged from building one in his own backyard and helping friends navigate the same confusing process. Transferable skills matter more than industry experience - His background in film production translated directly into construction, both require coordination, budgeting, timelines, and managing complex teams. Early traction came from education, not selling - In the beginning, most customers didn't even know what an ADU was, growth required teaching the market before capturing it. Trial and error built the real expertise - Navigating difficult permitting processes and making costly mistakes early on became the foundation for a repeatable, refined system. Pre-qualification is critical in complex services - Gil now asks 20–25 upfront questions before taking on a client, ensuring alignment and reducing downstream risk. Competing on price is a starting point, not a strategy - The business initially won work by being the cheapest, but evolved into a premium, top-20% offering focused on quality and service. A strong value proposition can reduce industry fear - Guaranteed fixed pricing became a key differentiator, directly addressing customer anxiety around hidden costs and change orders. Future innovation is constrained by feasibility, not demand - Customers clearly want faster, cheaper builds (prefab, SIPs), but adoption is limited by execution risk, expertise gaps, and inconsistent quality. Guest LinksGoADU: https://www.goadu.com/Vaisman Construction: https://www.vaismanconstruction.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn't the idea, it's the assumptions behind it that haven't been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

Zapraszam na rozmowę o kostiumografii i scenografii jako przestrzeni kreacji i współpracy między artystami, ale też publicznością. To opowieść o tym, czy kostium może być "eko" i jak re-use, upcycling i dekonstrukcja stają się ciekawym narzędziem budowania relacji i znaczeń. Posłuchajcie o projektach, w których kostiumy powstają z ubrań widzów, z archiwów teatralnych czy tekstyliów z drugiego obiegu, a scenografia z choinek, dzięki czemu niosą realne historie i wyzwalają silniejsze emocje.Bio gościni: Martą Dąbrowską-Okrasko to absolwentka warszawskiej Akademii Sztuk Pięknych, wykładowczyni Art Brandingu na ASP, Design Thinking i rysunku na Uniwersytecie Vizja. Artystka i projektantka działająca na styku sztuki, mody i strategii marek, specjalizująca się w art brandingu w modzie, kostiumografii oraz projektowaniu narracji wizualnych. Wiedzą i procesem twórczym dzieli się na Instagramie jako @grafikbabble, gdzie popularyzuje wpływy sztuki na modę oraz mody na sztukę. Podcastu Odpowiedzialna Moda można słuchać także w aplikacjach: m.in. na Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor i EmpikGo.#odpowiedzialnamoda #katarzynazajaczkowska #kostiumografia #teatr #film #upcycling #zrównoważonamoda #ESG #scenografia #moda

Marie-Pierre Lafforgue est médecin chez Maladies Rares Occitanie et ancienne apprenante de la formation Design Thinking en Santé.Dans cet épisode, elle nous raconte comment elle a transformé une difficulté professionnelle en innovation concrète.Dans son quotidien, elle constate le problème suivant : les médecins généralistes face à des patients sans diagnostic clair se retrouvent seuls, incapables d'exprimer leur doute. Cette solitude les conduit parfois à donner des réponses comme "C'est dans votre tête" qui rompent la confiance avec les patients et les privent d'un diagnostic de maladie rare.Alors elle a cherché une solution en utilisant la méthode Design Thinking.Elle a crée le doutomètre, un outil inspiré du violentomètre qui aide les médecins à évaluer leur niveau d'incertitude diagnostique et à savoir quand solliciter un expert.Marie-Pierre nous explique sa démarche : entretiens patients et médecins, atelier d'idéation, prototypage itératif et co-construction avec les utilisateurs.Ressources mentionnées : Le violentomètre (outil de prévention des violences faites aux femmes) L'association SPS (Institut pour la santé des soignants)

In this episode I'm joined by Bill Fienup. He's the co-founder of mHUB, one of the world's leading hardtech innovation centers, located in Chicago, IL.We explore how he went from building Nerf gun prototypes at MIT to creating a space where thousands of hardware founders can prototype, test, and scale physical products. What started out as a meetup group and a spreadsheet, grew into a full ecosystem with millions of dollars in equipment and billions of dollars in economic impact.Bill shares how to test hardware ideas without burning capital, why most teams over-focus on feasibility instead of desirability, and how to validate what people will actually pay for before you build.If you're working on physical products, or funding them, this episode is a masterclass in how to test before you invest.Enjoy my conversation with Bill Fienup.TakeawaysStart with the problem, not the solution. The biggest risk isn't building something, it's solving a problem that customers don't care enough about to act on.Desirability and willingness to pay matter more than feasibility early. Teams often over-focus on building, but the real uncertainty is whether customers value the solution enough to pay.Test demand before investing in development. Simple experiments like landing pages or fake purchase flows can validate real interest before committing resources.Iterate in spirals, not stages. Move across desirability, feasibility, and viability repeatedly, increasing investment only as uncertainty is reduced.Avoid building the wrong thing the right way. Strong execution can't fix a fundamentally misaligned product, validation must come before scale.Use competition as validation. Existing solutions signal real demand and confirm the problem is worth solving.Focus on the majority, not edge cases. Designing for the loud minority can increase cost and complexity without improving overall product-market fit.Community can be a powerful starting point. MHub began as a meetup and shared spreadsheet, showing how real user pain can evolve into a scalable ecosystem.Guest LinksmHub's Website: https://www.mhubchicago.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fienup/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn't the idea, it's the assumptions behind it that haven't been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

Wondering if Octalysis fits your challenge? Quick intro chat → professorgame.com/chat Most companies rely on traditional design thinking to build their products. That assumption is exactly why their retention rates flatline. In this episode, Rob Alvarez sits down with Joris Beerda, CEO of The Octalysis Group, to unpack the five-step Octalysis design process that drives engagement for Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft and Porsche. They discuss the critical difference between human-centered and human-focused design, the mechanics of building a high-functioning loyalty loop, and how to prioritize features using the "Biggest Bang for the Buck" model. If you want to move beyond simple points and badges to build experiences users genuinely care about, this conversation lays out the exact blueprint. Joris Beerda is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Octalysis Group. As a world-leading expert in Human-Focused Design and Octalysis Gamification, Joris' global career in creating engagement spans across 20 years, 15 countries and 7 languages. He has designed Human-Focused experiences for dozens of Fortune 500s as well as medium-sized companies. Joris is also a well known Keynote Speaker on Gamification in many renowned conferences throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.   Guest Links and Info LinkedIn: Joris Beerda The Octalysis Group The Octalysis Group Case Studies   Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Daniel Kahneman or Richard Thaler Recommended book: Why Everyone Else is a Hypocrite by Robert Kurzban Favorite game: Heroes of the Storm   Lets's do stuff together! Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question

Erike De Veyra, Assoc. AIA, SEED, is a designer, seasoned project manager, and the founder of Design Gym. Her career spans architecture, public programming, and design education; bringing together creative practice with a strong focus on community impact. She recently earned a Master of Science in Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship, further shaping her interdisciplinary approach to design and leadership.Design Gym is a platform that provides design education, workshops, educational programming, and design project leadership for clients and teams. Erike believes design is part of everyday life, that it should feel accessible, and that it should not be limited by cost or background.Through her work, Erike empowers people to better understand the world around them and recognize their own ability to design. The individuals she works with leave more confident, more curious, and better equipped to be thoughtful stewards of design in their own communities.We talk about: - Erike's non-linear path in architecture which started with graduating during the Recession. We talk about the challenges of the job market at that time and how she  leveraged her volunteer leadership and extracurricular work to build skills, visibility, and career momentum.- She speaks candidly about licensure, identity, and self-worth, unpacking the emotional realities of exams, motherhood, and redefining success beyond traditional firm roles.- We highlight some of Erike's most exciting roles, the impact she has had on the Philadelphia community, and how these opportunities led to the founding of Design Gym which blends architecture, design thinking, entrepreneurship, and education to help people of all ages build creativity and problem-solving confidence.>>>Connect with Erike: Design Gym WebsiteDesign Gym LinkedInDesign Gym Instagram>>>Thank you to our Sponsor:⁠⁠Arcol ⁠⁠is a collaborative building design tool built for modern teams. Arcol streamlines your design process by keeping your model, data, and presentations in sync- enabling your team to work together seamlessly. Learn more about Arcol on their ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠.>>>Connect with Architectette:- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>>> Support Architectette:- Leave us a rating and review!>>>Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

ใช้ Design Thinking ช่วยได้

Can design thinking and partnerships accelerate climate solutions at the pace the world now demands? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing PolyGone Systems CEO & Co-Founder Nathaniel Banks to discuss the use of design thinking and partnerships to remove and recover microplastics across bodies of water, the balance of product iteration and customer testing, and and importance of education of a problem and relevant solutions to facilitate adoption

If you've been following this podcast, you already know that college admissions isn't about being the most impressive student.But what does a truly strong essay actually look like?In this episode, Steve shares a clip from a live essay workshop with a current Yale student who also works in admissions. Together, they break down a real supplemental essay from a student admitted to Yale, Harvard, Caltech, and other top schools.More importantly, they unpack the level of curiosity, depth, and engagement behind the essay, so you can understand what students need to develop before they ever start writing.In this episode, you'll learn:Why strong essays reflect how a student thinks, not just what they've doneThe difference between average essays and those that stand out at top schoolsA simple framework for evaluating essay quality (Tier 1, 2, and 3)What level of engagement students need to reach in their activities-----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our websiteTo follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents

SummaryIn this episode I'm joined by Dr. Akvile Ignotaite, a data scientist and founder building AI-powered skin health technology used by more than 800,000 people around the world.We explore how her team combines data science, health tech, and creative marketing to rethink skincare for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. From building a vast skin care dataset to launching a TikTok influencer pimple called Pimsy that has almost 40k followers, Akvile shares how cultural insights and small tests drive their product strategy.We also get into the challenges of building health technology for younger audiences, how to test ideas across different global markets, and why treating skin as a health problem, changes how you design products and measure success.If you're interested in experimentation and AI in health you'll enjoy my chat with Akvile.TakeawaysStart small and imperfect to learn faster. The team prioritizes quick MVPs, sometimes built in days, to test ideas before investing heavily in development, branding, or marketing.Customer language and psychology matter. The original millennial-focused “compliance app” failed because it sounded too technical; shifting to Gen Z language, emojis, and storytelling dramatically improved adoption.Meet users where they already are. Channels like TikTok became critical for reaching younger audiences, even though the team initially resisted the platform.Creative experimentation can unlock growth. The “Pimsy” influencer pimple character started as a small test and quickly grew to tens of thousands of followers, proving unconventional ideas can resonate strongly with audiences.Micro-learning can drive high engagement. A simple, quickly built “myths vs. facts” quiz feature created massive engagement and generated valuable behavioral data about user beliefs.User feedback is a competitive advantage. Hiring a developer who criticized the Android experience highlighted the importance of listening closely to real user complaints and improving where customers actually are.Cultural assumptions can mislead founders. Expanding into India revealed how preconceived ideas about markets, healthcare practices, and culture can be wrong, reinforcing the need for curiosity and humility.Structured programs don't always fit real user behavior. Highly designed 6- or 8-week skincare programs failed because users resisted rigid routines, showing how human behavior often breaks logical product design.Gen Z and Gen Alpha are forming a global digital culture. The app's success without localization suggests younger generations increasingly share common digital behaviors and language across regions.Guest LinksSystem Akvile: https://systemakvile.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-akvile-ignotaite/Pimsy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@i.am.pimsy If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn't the idea, it's the assumptions behind it that haven't been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

Are you building your social enterprise in a "basement" of isolation, or are you developing it alongside the community you actually serve?Social entrepreneurship attracts people with a deep desire to solve community problems, but many of these founders fall into the trap of building their vision in total isolation. Adam Morris explores why the "perfect" plan often fails while the "messy" test succeeds. Using the cautionary tale of two underwater vehicle companies, the discussion highlights how early failure is actually a competitive advantage. One company spent ten years engineering the perfect vessel only to go bankrupt, while the other "crashed" early, learned quickly, and eventually dominated the market.We dive into the journey of Jerry from Renter Mentor, who bypassed high-tech coding to first sit down with landlords and discover their true pain points through focus groups and "speed dating" sessions. This approach to Applied Design Thinking isn't about colorful sticky notes; it's a disciplined way to identify your riskiest assumptions. Whether they involve your customer, your revenue model, or your actual social impact. By shifting the focus from building a "car" to building a "skateboard," founders can stop guessing and start creating solutions that people are actually ready to support.Episode in a glance00:00 Defining social entrepreneurship and the two types of founders02:46 Learning by doing: The tale of two submarine companies05:33 Success story: How Renter Mentor used focus groups to pivot07:31 Understanding Design Thinking09:33 The MVP explained11:38 Six core assumptions every social entrepreneur makes16:13 Avoiding bias: The Mom Test by Robert Fitzpatrick17:25 Five practical tests to validate your idea19:03 Why revenue and pre-order tests are the ultimate signalAbout Adam MorrisAdam Morris is the founder and host of People Helping People. He launched the podcast in 2017 with the vision to learn and share what is possible through social entrepreneurship, as well as to give individuals the tools to successfully start their own impact ventures. He is passionate about connecting people and creating a world that will thrive for generations.Connect with Adam and his work→ People Helping People→ Linkedin→ Instagram→ Youtube

“Our industry needs brave people who are willing to understand problems deeply, understand the people who are attached to those problems deeply, and find ways to innovate through those shared gains that this industry is experiencing.”Register for the 2026 AECiSummit HERE! (April 8-10). Join Devon as he chats with previous co-host Nathan Wood and Nick Caravella about the upcoming AECiSummit 2026! Use the promo code "AOC" to be entered in a ski trip lottery! Nick Caravella is an architect-turned-technologist focused on helping industrial teams deliver safer, more predictable projects. He works at the intersection of the built environment and digital transformation. At Cumulus, he helps owners and contractors adopt digital QA/QC and Connected Worker solutions that reduce rework, improve quality, and provide real-time visibility into schedule - and cost-driving work. He partners closely with customers, industry leaders, and internal teams to modernize inspection workflows and advance data-driven quality programs across capital projects.Nathan C. Wood is the Executive Director of Construction Progress Coalition (CPC), a grassroots non-profit initiative to educate AEC professionals about the need for open interoperability standards between project delivery stakeholders. Nathan's experience with Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), Lean process improvement, and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) has led him to realize how even proven technology solutions can result in lost ROI when the needs of people and process are not addressed. Nathan balances his passion for data insights and stakeholder empathy through pragmatic adoption strategy, driving digital standards adoption in design and construction. When not fighting for open standards, Nathan also supports construction transformation as Chief Enabling Officer of SpectrumAEC, delivering speaking engagements, research publications and Design Thinking workshops.For more information on the AECISummit, checkout the Construction Progress Collation's Website!Take a listen to episode 338 (The ConTech Crew featuring Devon Tilly) and 337 (Data driven construction) as mentioned in this episode!Keep up with the Art of Construction (AOC) podcast on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn! Subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

In this episode of The UX Consultants Lounge, Kyle sits down with Jeff Gothelf, consultant, speaker, and author of Lean UX, Sense & Respond, Lean vs. Agile vs. Design Thinking, Who Does What By How Much?, and Forever Employable.Jeff shares the story behind his leap into consulting, including launching an agency with Josh Seiden, the acquisition by Neo Innovation and later Pivotal, and the realization that the real asset he built was not the company itself but the reputation and ideas he developed through writing, speaking, and teaching.Kyle and Jeff discuss:What it takes to build a sustainable consulting practice todayHow partnerships can work without sacrificing independenceWhy building a personal brand through content marketing mattersHow generosity and knowledge sharing create long-term consulting opportunitiesWhy consultants should specialize and “plant their flag”Jeff's writing discipline Why owning your audience through email and newsletters still mattersJeff's philosophy on pricing and why “people value expensive things”Connect with Us:Host: Kyle Soucy | Usable Interface | LinkedInGuest: Jeff Gothelf | https://jeffgothelf.com | Sense & Respond Learning | LinkedInLinks and Resources Mentioned:Continuous Learning – Jeff's NewsletterForever Employable by Jeff GothelfLean UX by Jeff Gothelf and Josh SeidenSense & Respond by Jeff Gothelf and Josh SeidenWho Does What By How Much? by Jeff Gothelf and Josh SeidenMillion Dollar Consulting by Alan WeissNever Split the Difference by Chris VossPlaying to Win by Roger MartinHBR Article: The Big Lie of Strategic Scaling Lean by Jeff Gothelf at Mind the Product London 2016IA Conference (IAC26) - Use "uxlounge" discount code for $50 off registrationSubmit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories. Don't want to miss an episode? Be sure to sign up for the podcast newsletter.Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. I can't wait to have you back in the lounge for our next episode!

What Does Radical Acceptance Look Like in Real Life?   In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang sits down with Dave Evans (co-founder of the Stanford Life Design Lab) to tear up the "find your purpose" script and explore how design thinking, faith, and radical acceptance can lead to real meaning—especially through grief and uncertainty. Expect sharp insights, honest stories, and practical tools to build a life with more presence, flow, and authenticity starting now. Dave and Curtis dig into faith and the tension of the "already and not yet" as they look at the ideas in Dave's latest book, How to Live a Meaningful Life.   Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher   03:05 - Dave Evans' Journey & the Origins of Life Design 09:54 - Are there Pitfalls When Pursuing Impact and Transactional Mindset? 18:08 - Design Moves for Greater Meaning 22:05 - Radical Acceptance Illustrated by Personal Loss  28:06 - Why Is the Concept of Flow Important? 39:37 - Compatibility of Design Thinking and Christian Worldview 41:06 - Four Areas of Human Experience for Meaning 45:34 - Meaning in the Second Half of Life  48:59 - Getting Started: Practical First Steps   Scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:11–14 (ESV)  Deuteronomy 30:19–20 (ESV) John 10:10 (ESV)  Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)  Romans 12:2 (ESV) Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV) Luke 17:20–21 (ESV) Mark 8:18 (ESV)   Mentioned in This Episode: Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day What is Radical Acceptance? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Lisa Miller's lecture The Awakened Brain  Jill Bolte Taylor's TED Talk: My Stroke of Insight More about Jean Vanier and L'Arche Richard Rohr's Falling Upward Veritas Forum: Dallas Willard Stanford's Life Design Lab What is Design thinking? (pdf) Don Norman's The Design of Everyday Things More from Dave Evans: Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's Designing Your New Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness--and a New Freedom--at Work Dave Evans Praxis Mentor page Check out: Designing Your Life website   Connected Good Faith Episodes: Good Faith ep. 68: The Impact Fetish (with Andy Crouch)   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.  

In this episode I'm joined by Jim Morris.  We chat about the wake-up call that pushed him from building first to testing first. Jim and I discuss loyalty programs no one wanted, roadmaps filled with sequenced risk, AI prototypes that hallucinate and the uncomfortable reality that confidence often replaces evidence.We also dig into something deeper: why smart teams ignore data, why leaders fall in love once an idea hits the roadmap, and why testing isn't about better UX,  it's about real value.Jim shares how he even tests his own teaching process for students at Berkeley.Because as he puts it:“We can build stuff. But if people don't use it, we're just creating product debt.”Enjoy my conversation with Jim Morris.TakeawaysTesting is crucial to ensure product effectiveness and user engagement.Data analysis can reveal the true usage of product features.Mindset plays a significant role in how product ideas are perceived and developed.Not all ideas will succeed; testing helps identify the viable ones.User motivation is key to the success of features and programs.Prototyping tools can enhance the testing process but require careful implementation.Learning from failures in testing is essential for growth and improvement.Roadmaps should be flexible to adapt to changing priorities and evidence.It's important to focus on the core value proposition of a product.Continuous experimentation and adaptation are vital in product management.Guest LinksWebsite: https://productdiscoverygroup.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmorrisstanford/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn't the idea, it's the assumptions behind it that haven't been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

Key Topics Covered: 1. Design as Custodianship, Not Decoration Julian explains that design is about how a property works, not just how it looks in photos. He links design to long term wealth planning: like pensions, it's too important to leave entirely in someone else's hands. The goal is performance over years: easy lettings, happy tenants, fewer repairs, and a product that holds value. 2. The Big Mindset Shift: Property Is a Business and a Product Julian challenges the word “investment” and suggests landlords are really buying a business. Each property is a living, breathing product that gets used, abused, and needs managing. If you don't treat it like a business, it can quietly become a liability over five to ten years. 3. How Properties Become Liabilities Over Time Poor design and poor maintenance create a snowball effect: worse condition attracts worse tenants, which accelerates deterioration. Julian shares examples of developments becoming hard to sell or even “unmortgageable” due to maintenance and management issues. Legacy matters: many children don't want property, so dumping a problematic asset onto them creates stress, not wealth. 4. Why You Can't Abdicate Design to Architects and Builders Plans can pass planning and building regs but still be awful to live in. Common issues include impractical layouts, no storage, poor kitchen design, and bathrooms that don't function properly. Julian introduces the “good, fast, cheap” triangle: you can pick two, but not all three, and landlords pay the price later if they chase cheap and fast. 5. Practical Design Thinking for HMOs and High Use Properties In HMOs, the room is the tenant's home, so it must support multiple functions, not just sleep. Flow matters: kitchens, waste, smells, and shared spaces can make or break tenant experience and long term value. Lighting and electrics are often done to a builder's default spec, but that can create uncomfortable living and higher churn. 6. Serviced Accommodation Is an Experience Business Short stay guests want something boutique and memorable, not copy and paste. Julian recommends living in your serviced accommodation for a week to spot friction points: heating controls, WiFi, TV, keys, lighting, and usability. Service quality affects reviews, and reviews affect profitability. He references research suggesting superhost status can significantly lift margins. 7. The Commercial Upside: Small Design Changes, Big Profit and Value Gains Julian shares an example where improving presentation helped increase rent by £150 per month, which translated into a major profit uplift. He highlights how many landlords don't know their true profit margin, and confuse turnover with profit. Improving existing assets often delivers faster ROI than buying new ones, especially if older stock is dragging performance down. 8. How Julian Helps Investors: Training and Hands On Support Julian trains investors to become “design aware” and “design led” without needing to be designers. He offers remote consults (including Zoom based reviews), layout planning, electrical plans, materials specs, and project support via WhatsApp. His core message: be involved, be informed, and take control of the decisions that shape income and maintenance. Actionable Takeaways Treat each property like a business product, not a passive investment. Design for performance: durability, usability, flow, and maintenance, not just photos. Don't assume architects and builders will design a home that works, review layouts with real living in mind. Audit your existing portfolio before buying more, older assets may be dragging your returns down. Know your numbers: profit margin, not just rent, and understand how small rent uplifts can multiply profit. For serviced accommodation, test the experience yourself and tighten service, reviews drive revenue. Adopt the custodian mindset: build assets your children would actually want to inherit. Resources & Next Steps Icon Living UK: The creation of living spaces that people love and enjoy Julian Maurice: julian@iconliving.co.uk Download our FREE Pensions and Inheritance Tax Guide WealthBuilders Membership: Free access to guides, webinars, and community Connect with Us: Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. Next Steps On Your WealthBuilding Journey:   Join the WealthBuilders Facebook Community Schedule a 1:1 call with one of our team Become a member of WealthBuilders If you have been enjoying listening to WealthTalk - Please Leave Us A Review!

Scoping, Empathy, Ideation: A Structured Process for Innovation Innovation Catalyst: How to Help Your Team Come Up With the Ideas Episode 293 (Lee Kitchen is based in south-west Ontario, Repeat of episode 54) In this conversation we explore: the role of an innovation catalyst in helping teams think differently the importance of scoping before solving walking in the end user's shoes through empathy defining a clear human truth separating expansive thinking from reductive thinking creating environments that encourage ideation mixing diverse perspectives to break river thinking building ownership so ideas gain adoption practicing fresh thinking through exposure to new concepts extending your intended message consistently across experience ----- About out guest, Lee Kitchen: Lee worked at Disney for 32 years. His journey started in Operations and Guest Relations. then moved through Special Events, PR, Marketing and Advertising. Currently offering his experience as an Innovation Catalyst via his company, Magical Dude Consulting. Visit his website here https://www.magicaldude.com/ ----- Key Lessons from this conversation with Lee Kitchen: how an innovation catalyst helps teams come up with ideas rather than supplying the answer why empathy and “human truth” must precede ideation the structured steps of design thinking: scoping, empathy, ideation, idea development, prototyping, execution why expansive and reductive mindsets must stay separate how collaboration builds ownership and advocacy the value of bringing diverse and unbiased ideators into the room how environment influences creativity why fresh thinking requires exposure to different concepts and disciplines the importance of consistency between intended message and actual experience how authentic leadership encourages creative thinking ----- ----more---- Your Intended Message is the podcast about how you can boost your career and business success by honing your communication skills. We'll examine the aspects of how we communicate one-to-one, one to few and one to many – plus that important conversation, one to self. In these interviews we will explore presentation skills, public speaking, conversation, persuasion, negotiation, sales conversations, marketing, team meetings, social media, branding, self talk and more.   Your host is George Torok George is a specialist in communication skills. Especially presentation. He's fascinated by the links between communication and influencing behaviors. He delivers training and coaching programs to help leaders and promising professionals deliver the intended message for greater success.   Connect with George www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com https://superiorpresentations.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgetorokpresentations/ https://www.youtube.com/user/presentationskill  

Send a textIn this episode, we explore the College of Charleston's Life Design Center and how it helps students move from uncertainty to action through individualized coaching, practical tools, and community support.What You Will LearnWhat the College of Charleston's Life Design Center is and how it helps students build clarity and confidence with practical tools and coaching. Life Design Center How Life Design differs from traditional advising or career planning by focusing on individualized support and real-world experimentation. What students can expect in a first visit, including the kinds of questions coaches ask to help students clarify what they want and what to try next. The difference between Design My Charleston (for early college exploration) and Life Launch: Design My Life (for students preparing for graduation), and how students can start in either place. How to take the first step, including where to find the Life Design Center and when to drop in. Where to go next on campus for degree planning and job or internship preparation, including Academic Advising and the Career Center. Resources from this episode:Life Design 

SummaryIn this conversation, David J Bland and Dan Olsen discuss the evolution of product management, the impact of vibe coding, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration. They explore the challenges of prototyping, user research, and the role of AI in product development. The discussion emphasizes the need for strong product management fundamentals and the future of product management in a rapidly changing landscape.TakeawaysThe awareness of product management has significantly increased over the years.Vibe coding allows for rapid prototyping and testing without heavy technical resources.Cross-functional collaboration is essential for successful product development.User research is becoming more valued in product management.Prototyping should focus on learning rather than just building.AI can assist in generating ideas but lacks judgment in prioritization.The pace of innovation in product tools is accelerating rapidly.Understanding customer problems is crucial for product success.Rushing to high fidelity prototypes can lead to missed opportunities in the problem space.Product management fundamentals will be key in differentiating successful products.Guest LinksWebsite: https://dan-olsen.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danolsen98/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/danolsenLean Product Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/lean-product/ Vibe Coding Product Brief: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/Vibe Coding Spectrum: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/The Lean Product Playbook: https://amzn.to/1EYCUdP Struggling to decide which bets deserve more time, money, and people?Join my AI-Assisted Decision Workshop and learn how to use AI to surface assumptions, map risk, and reach a Commit, Correct, or Cut decision in just 3 hours.

This interview was recorded on the sidelines of the 2025 Design Research Society (DRS) Special InterestGroup Learn by Design conference, held at the University of Aveiro, as part of the activities of theUNIDCOM research centre.To know more visit unrelease.unidcom-IADE.ptIn this interview Hande Ayanoglu talks to Katja Tschimmel, a design researcher, educator, and consultant specialising in creative thinking and design thinking. She founded the consultancyMindshake, integrating academic research with practical innovation processes. Her work spanseducation, organizational change, and sustainability, with a focus on evolving design thinkingmethodologies. Katja teaches at several universities and actively contributes to transdisciplinary andsocially impactful design projects.In this episode, Katja Tschimmel explores the evolution of design thinking from cognitive processes toinnovation and social transformation. She shares her journey from academia to consultancy,highlighting the interplay between research, teaching, and practice. Katja discusses Design Thinking 3.0and its potential in transdisciplinary collaboration and sustainability. She also reflects on emergingchallenges, including AI integration and the future of design education.

Welcome to episode #1022 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when organizational change is too often treated as a mandate rather than an experience people choose to embrace, Phil Gilbert has spent his career proving that transformation only sticks when it earns genuine buy-in. Phil is a design executive, transformation leader and former General Manager of Design at IBM, where he architected one of the largest cultural and operational shifts in corporate history, helping nearly 400,000 employees across 180 countries become more entrepreneurial, agile and customer-centered. Trained as both a designer and systems thinker, Phil brought design thinking out of studios and into the core of enterprise decision-making, reshaping how teams collaborated, how products were built, and how leaders understood their customers. His work at IBM addressed hard truths, including the company's struggles with usability and missed opportunities in the early cloud era, by treating change itself as a product worthy of rigor, investment, and care. That experience became the foundation for his book Irresistible Change - A Blueprint For Earning Buy-In And Breakout Success, which blends narrative and field guide to show how large organizations can scale transformation by focusing on people, practices, and environments rather than slogans or top-down directives. Phil's approach reframes culture as an outcome, not an initiative, arguing that lasting change emerges when employees see themselves in the future being designed. Beyond IBM, his work as an executive coach and advisor continues to focus on how leaders navigate complexity, align teams, and thoughtfully integrate technologies like AI into human systems without eroding trust or creativity. Grounded in real-world execution rather than theory, Phil's perspective challenges organizations to stop forcing change and start making it irresistible. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:02:49. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Phil Gilbert. Irresistible Change - A Blueprint For Earning Buy-In And Breakout Success. Follow Phil on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Phil Gilbert and His Journey. (01:26) - IBM's Transformation and Challenges. (04:17) - The Shift from Technology to Product. (10:55) - Implementing Design Thinking at IBM. (16:30) - Cultural Change and Its Impact on Outcomes. (22:53) - The Role of Teams in Transformation. (26:40) - Branding the Change: Hallmark Program. (32:22) - The Importance of Team Selection in Transformation. (34:59) - Creating Demand for Change. (37:23) - Agency and Team Resilience. (38:06) - IBM's Market Position and Transformation. (41:14) - The Shift in Work Dynamics. (44:46) - Rethinking Office Spaces. (48:58) - Irresistible Change and Transformation Failures. (53:51) - AI Integration and Market Forces. (59:38) - The Impact of Design Thinking on Business.

One of the challenges of getting older—especially for men—is meeting people and forming new friendships. Social connection is a fundamental human need, yet the demands of work, responsibilities, and constant distractions make it difficult to create the time and space for meaningful relationships. A recent Pew study found that men and women report loneliness at similar rates. However, women are more likely to lean on their social networks for support, while men often struggle in silence.A Gallup poll further reveals that young men in the U.S. are lonelier than their counterparts in other parts of the world. According to the report, “U.S. men stand out, not only in terms of absolute rates of loneliness but also in how much more likely they are to feel lonely compared with younger women and others in their own country. This is a rare pattern across wealthy countries, none of which exhibit a starker divide between young men and the rest of the nation's residents.”There is a clear need for men—and for people more broadly—to have opportunities to gather, meet, and genuinely connect.Enter WeRoad, a travel experience company designed to bring people together through shared journeys. Fabio Bin, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of WeRoad, helped create the company with the loneliness epidemic in mind. He joins me on Experience by Design to discuss WeRoad's origins and its mission to foster human connection, not just tourism. While the trip is the product, the true experience comes from the people who share it with you.From the thoughtful screening and training of travel coordinators, to pre-trip events that help groups bond, to post-trip virtual communities, every aspect of WeRoad is designed around building relationships and cultivating a sense of belonging.We talk about WeRoad's growth across Europe and its efforts to expand into the United States—something that survey data suggests is sorely needed. We explore how WeRoad helps people break out of their social bubbles and form new communities through shared adventures. Fabio also describes how travelers are building an identity as “WeRoaders”—some even getting WeRoad tattoos—and shares the company's new initiative, WeRoadX, which empowers travel leaders to design their own trips based on their passions through a participatory design approach.Fabio Bin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiobinWeRoad: https://www.weroad.com/

In this episode of I See What You're Saying, we explore how human-centered design and disciplined listening intersect to solve the right problems with educator and design thinking instigator David Phillips. Together, we unpack why finding problems worth solving matters more than rushing to solutions, and how curiosity, observation, and patience fuel better communication, collaboration, and innovation.David shares practical frameworks for applying design thinking beyond product development, revealing how leaders can uncover hidden constraints, earn candid feedback, and create environments where people feel safe to think, speak, and contribute honestly. From the dangers of data delusion to the power of prototyping, beginner's mindset, and asking better questions, this conversation highlights how listening is the foundation of meaningful progress in business and human relationships.Join us as we examine why innovation is a contact sport, how to get comfortable being wrong, and what it really takes to design solutions that people will adopt, trust, and sustain.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: Why Solving the Right Problem Matters(04:10) What Human-Centered Design Really Means(09:00) Why Data Fails Without Context(12:55) The Danger of Solving the Wrong Problem Well(16:20) A Practical Design Thinking Framework(20:00) Why Innovation Requires Behavior Change(24:15) Prototyping to Get Honest Feedback(29:00) Learning to Get Comfortable Being Wrong(33:00) Ego, Identity, and Resistance to Change(37:00) Why Innovation Is a Contact Sport(45:00) Asking Better Questions to Drive Better Decisions(50:20) How Environment Shapes Human Behavior(58:30) Finding Problems Worth Solving(01:05:20) Final Takeaways and Where to Learn MoreGuest InformationDavid Phillips | LinkedIn Faster Glass – Innovation Training, Facilitation, and Consulting - Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeScout Mindset – Julia Galef (TEDx Talk) Why You Think You're Right — Even If You're Wrong

Why your best life isn't about having the right answers, but about asking the right questions.Finding meaning and purpose in life isn't about having all the answers. For Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, it's about having the courage and curiosity to constantly engage with the questions.As designers, Burnett and Evans have careers spanning everything from academia to companies like Apple, Electronic Arts, and Hasbro. But beyond fashioning better products and user experiences, they've also put their expertise toward the transcendent, writing several books about designing and living lives filled with meaning and purpose.“Compasses say North, not Seattle,” says Evans, highlighting how many mistakenly think of purpose as a single destination. “We're all a dynamic, flowing, constantly changing thing. So how could a changing thing have one static right answer?” Instead, he and Burnett maintain that meaning is more about “going the right direction, not [finding] the right destination.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Burnett and Evans join host Matt Abrahams to explore their strategies for leading a purposeful life. Rather than “rehearsing [an] answer,” their method involves “living [a] question” — embracing curiosity and designing a life through dialogue with ourselves and with others.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Bill BurnettDave EvansBill and Dave's Book: How to Live a Meaningful LifeEp.181 Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination: Communication, Happiness & WellbeingEp.138 Speak Your Truth: Why Authenticity Leads to Better Communication  Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:02) - Meaning & Purpose as a Direction (01:42) - Coherence & Living in Alignment (02:23) - Design Thinking for Life Decisions (03:56) - Prototyping Conversations (05:29) - Odyssey Plans: Three Possible Futures (07:33) - The Four Elements of Meaning (09:22) - Wonder Glasses: Shifting Perspective (10:48) - Transactional vs. Flow World (12:36) - How to Build a Formative Community (13:59) - The Practice-to-Production Trap (15:07) - The Final Three Questions (18:35) - Conclusion

In this episode, Dan and Mark discuss Apple's attempt at a Creative Cloud competitor, Kristen is at home with sick kids, and Dan's wife has stolen his favorite design-related t-shirt. Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark CelaHost, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen PericleousHost, Social Media Manager, Social Media Content Creator, & Editor - Dan Lawson

In this episode we talk with John Coyle about how leaders can use design thinking, storytelling, and time mastery to be a more impactful as a leader.  During our time together we discuss:Some of the most common mistakes leaders make when trying to lead.How to shed a fixed mindset as well as being a "know it all".How to spend more time leading and less time firefighting.How to be more innovative and be open to trying new things.Tips to improve your storytelling abilities.Ways to unlock the potential of everyone around you.If you are interested in more from John, please visit https://johnkcoyle.com/

In this special episode, Leticia Caminero steps into the guest's seat to explore the ideas behind her book Protection for the Inventive Mind. Through an honest and reflective conversation, she shares how creativity, human-centered design, and intellectual property come together to turn fragile ideas into real, sustainable value. This episode is an invitation to think differently about innovation, protection, and the courage to build with intention.Ever had an idea feel bright in the shower and dim by lunchtime? We open the door to a different path: a living, pencil-in-hand guide for taking an idea from spark to market with intellectual property as structure, not handcuffs. Leticia moves from host to guest to share why she wrote Protection for the Inventive Mind and how it helps creators make small daily moves that reduce anxiety, protect originality, and build sustainable income.We walk through the mindset shift that turns books into workspaces and readers into builders. Instead of chasing a finish line like “file the patent,” we reframe protection as a bridge to value—licensing, partnerships, investment, and fair deals. You will hear how to sequence complexity, choose what to cut without losing the soul of the idea, and align patents, utility models, or industrial designs with a clear strategy. The String of Thought method takes center stage: an honest chain that captures fear, sparks, contradictions, and breakthroughs without polishing too soon. That chain becomes both creative x-ray and strategic map, revealing what deserves protection and where the market fit can take root.From user-first thinking to documentation practices that stand up in conflict, we stitch together design thinking, practical IP, and monetization in a humane way. This is about creative justice: giving your idea the structure it needs to breathe, be recognized, and be paid. If you are tired of vague advice and hungry for a process that respects both magic and rigor, this conversation will meet you where you are and move you one concrete step forward today.If this episode helps you see your idea more clearly, share it with a friend who needs a nudge. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the next small step you will take.Send us a textCheck out "Protection for the Inventive Mind" – available now on Amazon in print and Kindle formats. The views and opinions expressed (by the host and guest(s)) in this podcast are strictly their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the entities with which they may be affiliated. This podcast should in no way be construed as promoting or criticizing any particular government policy, institutional position, private interest or commercial entity. Any content provided is for informational and educational purposes only.

While the bike helmet industry screamed "you need this for safety!", Gloria Hwang did the opposite. She made helmets so beautiful that 25% of Thousand customers are wearing helmets for the first time ever. Thousand now offers helmet and bike accessories in 20+ countries with financial backing from REI and the Clif Bar Family Office. Gloria talks all things customer loyalty, business branding, and nailing your product roadmap for maximum impact. She intimately shares how a personal tragedy inspired a mission to save 1,000 lives, and how that number grew to 1,300+ through their lifetime crash replacement guarantee. You'll learn the counterintuitive strategy that made safety cool, and why Thousand wins with culture instead of competing on tech features. You'll learn: Why fear-based marketing fails and what works insteadThe psychology insight that built a $10M+ brand across 20+ countriesHow 25% of customers are first-time helmet wearersTransitioning from maker to manager over 10 yearsTaking back the product roadmap to return to core differentiationWhy solving customer problems beats chasing growth at all costsChapters:00:00 Introducing Gloria Hwang, Founder & CEO of Thousand1:30 How to Change Customer Behaviors 4:11 The Personal Tragedy That Started Thousand & The Design Philosophy That Wins Every Time5:15 Why 25% of Customers Are First-Time Helmet Wearers7:30 Steps to Get Further Differentiated & Beat Out The Competition 9:55 Strategies for Collecting High-Quality Customer Insights 16:00 Expanding to 20+ Countries & Quality Standards19:50 The BEST Advice Gloria Has Ever Gotten 24:30 The Hardest Transition Gloria Went Through & How to Tackle People Problems 29:20 What to Ask for When Pitching Investors (Surprise, it's NOT Money)  32:48 How Motherhood Changed Her Approach to Business Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

In a world that constantly demands breakthrough solutions, do you ever feel like innovation is reserved for a select few, or that you're simply not "creative enough"? This week's guests are here to set the record straight: that we are all capable of creative thinking if we just give ourselves permission and a little guidance. Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden are the co-authors of Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World. Tessa is a cognitive scientist exploring how we work, learn, and innovate. She is a co-founder of Harvard's Next Level Lab and teaches Design Thinking and Innovation at Harvard, DCE, and Stanford D School. Rich is the founder and CEO of People Rocket, which helps leaders and teams overcome innovation hesitation; there, they guide clients through the innovation-ish approach, a flexible human-centered framework built on mindset shifts, small adaptive steps, and reflective practice he also teaches at Stanford D School.In this episode, we're cutting through the myth of the "right-brained" innovator. You'll learn how to integrate the six innovation mindsets into your work, overcome "innovation hesitation," and embrace your "whole brain" approach to problem-solving. This conversation offers practical tools to foster fresh thinking within your team, create space for ideas to thrive, and give you the concrete tools to move those ideas forward, no matter your role.Plus, in the extended episode, Tessa and Rich share tips for normalizing failure and using “F-Up Nights” to build a culture that learns from failure.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week's episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction – Why experimentation beats opinion-driven decision-making(01:18) The root of spiraling: fear, assumptions, and cognitive bias(04:02) Why small experiments create big clarity(07:10) The danger of optimizing parts of a system instead of the whole(10:42) A real-world case study: redesigning a supply chain through small tests(15:45) Why most ideas fail and why that's a good thing(18:04) How emotional attachment to ideas sabotages good decisions(21:30) Cognitive caution: What your brain is really doing when you avoid failure(25:14) Practicing emotional regulation while testing ideas(28:33) Creating a culture where testing > guessing(30:20) [Extended only] How leaders can use data to reduce conflict and opinion-driven debate(36:24) [Extended only] Normalizing failure and learning from it as a team(40:18) [Extended only] Global “F-Up Nights” and how leaders can model healthy failure