Podcasts about leading how

Jon said that when he first discovered the design operations community at the 2019 Design Ops Summit in Brooklyn, it felt like coming home. Here was this entire tribe of people who cared about the same things he'd been passionate about for years—creating systems that help designers do their best work. In this episode, I'm talking with Jon Fukuda, co-founder of Limina.co, about how design operations has evolved from an unnamed set of practices into a vital discipline that drives organizational excellence. As organizations continue to face economic pressures, the conversation around design operations has become more critical than ever. How do we demonstrate the strategic value of design teams? How can operational excellence serve not just designers but business outcomes? Jon shares insights from his 20+ year journey—from early days defining UX practice models to his current role as a design ops leader and community builder. This conversation reveals how the best design operations leaders think beyond tooling and process to focus on team health, cross-functional partnerships, and systems that elevate both human-centered practices and business innovation. Whether you're considering a move into design ops or looking to strengthen your design leadership approach, Jon's practical wisdom offers a roadmap for driving operational excellence in complex organizations. Questions you'll be able to answer after listening: How might we structure the first 30-60-90 days in a new design operations role for maximum impact? What key misconceptions about design operations could undermine your effectiveness as a leader? When should design ops be positioned under product teams versus operating as a horizontal function? Why do organizations often view design teams as expendable during economic downturns, and how can we change that perception? How can design operations leaders demonstrate their impact on both team health and business outcomes? About Jon Fukuda Jon Fukuda is co-founder of Limina.co with over 20 years of experience as a user experience specialist. With expertise in UX strategy, design thinking, and UI design, Jon has led teams through human-centered requirements gathering, strategy development, interaction design, testing, and evaluation. His career journey started in the late 1990s when "user experience" was just being defined, giving him a unique perspective on how design practices have evolved. Most recently, Jon has dedicated his efforts to research and design operations facilitation for scalable, sustainable human-centered systems. His passion for operational excellence makes him a respected voice in the design ops community. Episode Highlights [01:30] Jon's journey began when "user experience" was just being defined [02:10] Early exposure to coordinating UX work alongside business analysts and technologists [03:40] "I always approached with a continuous improvement mindset - learn from mistakes, get better" [04:50] The shift from individual excellence to system-level operational thinking [06:40] Jon's team started defining specialized roles: information architects, interaction designers, visual designers [08:40] On discovering the term design ops, "This is the work I've been doing for years - I just didn't have a word for it" — Jon [10:00] The North Pacific Gyre metaphor: design ops managers pick up tasks no one else claims [11:10] The community focuses on team health and infrastructure that supports practitioners [12:20] Design ops handles everything from licensing software to managing team dynamics [14:40] Different maturity levels: from surface-level design to strategic human-centered integration [16:10] How design ops prevents team burnout and toxic workplace dynamics [18:30] First steps for new design ops leaders: conduct a listening tour with your design team [19:40] "Design operations is a servant leader role - you make sure people feel taken care of" — Jon [21:30] Expand your listening tour to horizontal and vertical stakeholders to identify friction points [22:40] The necessity of executive sponsorship when conducting large-scale assessments [24:30] Building a shared vision of success that aligns stakeholders around design operations [26:40] Design ops spans program management, infrastructure, HR partnerships, and career development [27:00] Common misconception: reducing design ops to just design systems or program management [29:40] Challenges of positioning design operations within product-led organizational hierarchies [31:00] Why siloing design teams under product lines limits cross-organizational learning [32:00] The Design Ops Assembly Slack community as a primary resource for practitioners [34:40] Recommended resources: Nielsen Norman article and the Design Conductors book [36:10] Design Ops Assembly Learning Labs offer stratified professional development programs [38:40] Economic challenges lead organizations to view designers as expendable despite their value [41:40] "The future requires better integration - both process and tooling" — Jon [42:10] Need for better connections between design tools and broader business systems   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning What surprised you most about the spectrum of activities that fall under design operations, and why? How does the concept of operational excellence in design challenge or enhance your current understanding of design leadership? Which aspects of the listening tour methodology seem most valuable for your context? Leading How might you help your team understand the connection between operational excellence and strategic business outcomes? Where in your organization would improved design operations create the most immediate value? What would success look like if you implemented a structured listening tour with your horizontal and vertical stakeholders? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week to improve an operational aspect of your design practice? Which current friction points in your team's workflow could be addressed using design operations principles? How could you adapt the first 30-60-90 days framework to fit your specific organizational context?   Practicing How will you build stakeholder relationship management into your regular practice? What support or resources do you need to implement better integration between your design tools and broader organizational systems? Who could you partner with to practice articulating the business value of your design operations initiatives? Resources Nielsen Norman Group Design Ops 101 - An excellent primer that defines design operations as "the orchestration and optimization of people, processes, and craft in order to amplify design's value and impact at scale." The Design Conductors - A new comprehensive book by Rachel Posman and John Calhoun from Salesforce, providing guidance on building DesignOps programs. Patrizia Bertini's Website - Jon recommends her perspective on design ops and business value, with various articles on DesignOps strategy and measuring impact. Events Rosenfeld Media's Design Ops Summit - The premier annual conference for design operations professionals. Henry Stewart's Creative Operations + Design Operations Events - These events take place in New York, London, Los Angeles and other cities, often featuring co-located Design Operations Symposiums. Deepen Your Learning Operations + Human Centered Design + Art with Alvin Schexnider — DT101 E116 - Explores the intersection between operations, human-centered design practices, and artistic approaches to problem-solving, providing additional context for operational excellence in design organizations. Creating a UX Career with Sarah Doody — DT101 E77 - Offers insights into career development for UX professionals that complements the discussion on design operations leadership and team development. Ask Like a Designer — DT101 E61 - Introduces the six designer voices (Builder, Scout, Tinker, Facilitator, Traveler, and Pro) that can help design operations leaders develop a more comprehensive approach to supporting their teams and driving excellence.

Jon said that when he first discovered the design operations community at the 2019 Design Ops Summit in Brooklyn, it felt like coming home. Here was this entire tribe of people who cared about the same things he'd been passionate about for years—creating systems that help designers do their best work. In this episode, I'm talking with Jon Fukuda, co-founder of Limina.co, about how design operations has evolved from an unnamed set of practices into a vital discipline that drives organizational excellence. As organizations continue to face economic pressures, the conversation around design operations has become more critical than ever. How do we demonstrate the strategic value of design teams? How can operational excellence serve not just designers but business outcomes? Jon shares insights from his 20+ year journey—from early days defining UX practice models to his current role as a design ops leader and community builder. This conversation reveals how the best design operations leaders think beyond tooling and process to focus on team health, cross-functional partnerships, and systems that elevate both human-centered practices and business innovation. Whether you're considering a move into design ops or looking to strengthen your design leadership approach, Jon's practical wisdom offers a roadmap for driving operational excellence in complex organizations. Questions you'll be able to answer after listening: How might we structure the first 30-60-90 days in a new design operations role for maximum impact? What key misconceptions about design operations could undermine your effectiveness as a leader? When should design ops be positioned under product teams versus operating as a horizontal function? Why do organizations often view design teams as expendable during economic downturns, and how can we change that perception? How can design operations leaders demonstrate their impact on both team health and business outcomes? About Jon Fukuda Jon Fukuda is co-founder of Limina.co with over 20 years of experience as a user experience specialist. With expertise in UX strategy, design thinking, and UI design, Jon has led teams through human-centered requirements gathering, strategy development, interaction design, testing, and evaluation. His career journey started in the late 1990s when "user experience" was just being defined, giving him a unique perspective on how design practices have evolved. Most recently, Jon has dedicated his efforts to research and design operations facilitation for scalable, sustainable human-centered systems. His passion for operational excellence makes him a respected voice in the design ops community. Episode Highlights [01:30] Jon's journey began when "user experience" was just being defined [02:10] Early exposure to coordinating UX work alongside business analysts and technologists [03:40] "I always approached with a continuous improvement mindset - learn from mistakes, get better" [04:50] The shift from individual excellence to system-level operational thinking [06:40] Jon's team started defining specialized roles: information architects, interaction designers, visual designers [08:40] On discovering the term design ops, "This is the work I've been doing for years - I just didn't have a word for it" — Jon [10:00] The North Pacific Gyre metaphor: design ops managers pick up tasks no one else claims [11:10] The community focuses on team health and infrastructure that supports practitioners [12:20] Design ops handles everything from licensing software to managing team dynamics [14:40] Different maturity levels: from surface-level design to strategic human-centered integration [16:10] How design ops prevents team burnout and toxic workplace dynamics [18:30] First steps for new design ops leaders: conduct a listening tour with your design team [19:40] "Design operations is a servant leader role - you make sure people feel taken care of" — Jon [21:30] Expand your listening tour to horizontal and vertical stakeholders to identify friction points [22:40] The necessity of executive sponsorship when conducting large-scale assessments [24:30] Building a shared vision of success that aligns stakeholders around design operations [26:40] Design ops spans program management, infrastructure, HR partnerships, and career development [27:00] Common misconception: reducing design ops to just design systems or program management [29:40] Challenges of positioning design operations within product-led organizational hierarchies [31:00] Why siloing design teams under product lines limits cross-organizational learning [32:00] The Design Ops Assembly Slack community as a primary resource for practitioners [34:40] Recommended resources: Nielsen Norman article and the Design Conductors book [36:10] Design Ops Assembly Learning Labs offer stratified professional development programs [38:40] Economic challenges lead organizations to view designers as expendable despite their value [41:40] "The future requires better integration - both process and tooling" — Jon [42:10] Need for better connections between design tools and broader business systems   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning What surprised you most about the spectrum of activities that fall under design operations, and why? How does the concept of operational excellence in design challenge or enhance your current understanding of design leadership? Which aspects of the listening tour methodology seem most valuable for your context? Leading How might you help your team understand the connection between operational excellence and strategic business outcomes? Where in your organization would improved design operations create the most immediate value? What would success look like if you implemented a structured listening tour with your horizontal and vertical stakeholders? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week to improve an operational aspect of your design practice? Which current friction points in your team's workflow could be addressed using design operations principles? How could you adapt the first 30-60-90 days framework to fit your specific organizational context?   Practicing How will you build stakeholder relationship management into your regular practice? What support or resources do you need to implement better integration between your design tools and broader organizational systems? Who could you partner with to practice articulating the business value of your design operations initiatives? Resources Nielsen Norman Group Design Ops 101 - An excellent primer that defines design operations as "the orchestration and optimization of people, processes, and craft in order to amplify design's value and impact at scale." The Design Conductors - A new comprehensive book by Rachel Posman and John Calhoun from Salesforce, providing guidance on building DesignOps programs. Patrizia Bertini's Website - Jon recommends her perspective on design ops and business value, with various articles on DesignOps strategy and measuring impact. Events Rosenfeld Media's Design Ops Summit - The premier annual conference for design operations professionals. Henry Stewart's Creative Operations + Design Operations Events - These events take place in New York, London, Los Angeles and other cities, often featuring co-located Design Operations Symposiums. Deepen Your Learning Operations + Human Centered Design + Art with Alvin Schexnider — DT101 E116 - Explores the intersection between operations, human-centered design practices, and artistic approaches to problem-solving, providing additional context for operational excellence in design organizations. Creating a UX Career with Sarah Doody — DT101 E77 - Offers insights into career development for UX professionals that complements the discussion on design operations leadership and team development. Ask Like a Designer — DT101 E61 - Introduces the six designer voices (Builder, Scout, Tinker, Facilitator, Traveler, and Pro) that can help design operations leaders develop a more comprehensive approach to supporting their teams and driving excellence.

The tension between doing good research and delivering on tight timelines is something I've experienced throughout my career in design and innovation. This conversation with Sam Zucker unpacks powerful approaches to making research more sustainable and equitable while building systems that support continuous learning and engagement. What particularly struck me was Sam's practical framework for embedding research into organizational workflows. Her approach transforms research from a periodic, resource-intensive effort into an ongoing capability that shapes decision-making and product development. This represents a crucial evolution in how we think about evidence-based design.   Questions This Episode Helps You Answer How can we build sustainable research systems that work within real-world constraints? What makes equity-based research different from traditional approaches? When should we adapt research methods for regulated environments? How might we use prototypes to get better research insights? Why do continuous research systems often succeed where one-off studies fail? I invited Sam to share her expertise because she brings a unique perspective on making research work in complex, regulated environments while maintaining a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. Her experience spans from reimagining college financial aid experiences to transforming employer benefits, always with a focus on serving people who are often overlooked in traditional research.   Episode Highlights [01:40] Sam describes her journey from an interdisciplinary background at Carnegie Mellon studying conceptual art, communication design, and sociolinguistics to founding Reroute Research, illustrating how diverse educational foundations can lead to innovative research approaches. [03:00] Shares insights from working on College Abacus, a groundbreaking tool that helped students understand true college costs beyond sticker prices, demonstrating how design research can tackle complex financial decisions. [05:30] Articulates her core focus: taking complex decisions (like college choice or insurance selection) and making them more understandable and actionable for users, revealing how design research can simplify without oversimplifying. [08:30] Introduces the innovative "researcher in residence" model where she embeds within companies for 3–4 months, showing how deeper integration leads to better knowledge transfer and organizational impact. [12:00] Explains her commitment to equity-based design and how it shapes recruiting practices, emphasizing the importance of reaching participants who are typically underrepresented. [15:30] Details practical strategies for inclusive recruitment, including flexible scheduling, multiple contact attempts, and accommodating cancellations — demonstrating how research processes themselves need to be designed for equity. [18:30] Shares approach to reciprocity in research, explaining how she ensures participants benefit from the process through information sharing and resource connections. [22:00] Describes how to build sustainable research systems that organizations can maintain long-term, emphasizing the importance of integrating with existing tools and workflows. [25:30] Provides a success story of Better Future Forward implementing a continuous research system, showing how research can become embedded in organizational culture. [31:30] Explains her approach to using low-fidelity prototypes early in research to get more accurate insights about what people actually want versus what they say they want. [37:30] Shares expertise on conducting research in highly regulated environments, emphasizing the importance of reading and understanding regulations firsthand rather than relying on others' interpretations. [41:30] Offers valuable advice for researchers working in regulated environments: build relationships with supportive stakeholders who can help drive innovation forward while navigating constraints. [45:00] Concludes with an important insight about the critical role of language in UX, noting how sometimes the most impactful research finding can be identifying the right word choice for users.   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning What surprised you about Sam's approach to continuous research systems and why? How does her equity-based framework challenge or enhance your current research practice? Which aspects of the researcher-in-residence model seem most valuable for your context? Leading How might you help your team understand and apply continuous research approaches? Where in your organization would more equitable research practices create the most value? What would success look like if you implemented ongoing research systems with your team? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week with prototype-based research? Which current challenge could you address using Sam's approach to participant recruiting? How could you adapt the continuous research system to work in your specific context? Practicing How will you build more equitable research practices into your regular work? What support or resources do you need to implement continuous research systems?   Resources I Recommend Monteiro, Mike. Ruined by Design: How Designers Destroyed the World, and What We Can Do to Fix It. MULE BOOKS, 2024.  >>> Sam specifically mentioned finding this essential reading and I agree. This bold update of Monteiro's classic work challenges us to face the ethical implications of our design choices head-on. The 2024 edition feels especially relevant for research practitioners wrestling with AI ethics, privacy concerns, and the increasing impact of our design decisions on society. While provocative, it provides practical frameworks for making better choices about what we create and why. Monteiro, Mike. Design Is a Job: The Necessary Second Edition. Edited by Lisa Marie Marquis, Mule Books, 2024.  >>> While not mentioned in our conversation, this book expands on many of the ideas in this episode and is essential reading for every designer. Reece, Erik. Utopia Drive: A Road Trip through America's Most Radical Idea. First paperback edition, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017.  >>> Sam highlighted this as one of her favorite books, noting how it connects to design thinking through its exploration of systematic change efforts. The book examines America's history of utopian communities as design experiments. I find it valuable for understanding how ambitious visions for change interact with real-world constraints — a tension researchers regularly navigate. Hall, Erika. Just Enough Research. 2024 edition, Mule Books, 2024.  >>> While not directly referenced by Sam, this newly updated guide aligns perfectly with her lean, practical approach to research. It provides excellent frameworks for right-sizing research efforts to match organizational constraints while maintaining rigor. The 2024 edition adds valuable perspective on remote research and working within regulated environments. Gray, Dave, et al. Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers. O'reilly, 2010.  >>> Sam mentioned returning to this book often, seeing it as an intersection of conceptual art and facilitation techniques. I agree. While positioned as a workshop tool, Gamestorming's techniques for structured exploration and collaborative meaning-making are invaluable for research sessions. The methods can help create the trust and openness Sam emphasized as crucial for good research.   Tools We Discussed Typeform: For research participant feedback loops Salesforce: Example of embedding research in existing systems Asana/Jira/Notion: Options for research operations management   Deepen Your Learning 5.5 Things Every Designer Should Know About Hacking Bureaucracy with Marina Nitze — DT101 E106 Language + Design Research + Researcher Self-Care with Abby Bajuniemi — DT101 E96 Trauma-Informed Design + Participatory Design Perils + Research with Vulnerable Populations with Sarah Fathallah — DT101 E72 Remember to join Ask Like a Designer, our learning community at fluidhive.com/podcast for more resources and conversations about design thinking in practice!

The tension between doing good research and delivering on tight timelines is something I've experienced throughout my career in design and innovation. This conversation with Sam Zucker unpacks powerful approaches to making research more sustainable and equitable while building systems that support continuous learning and engagement. What particularly struck me was Sam's practical framework for embedding research into organizational workflows. Her approach transforms research from a periodic, resource-intensive effort into an ongoing capability that shapes decision-making and product development. This represents a crucial evolution in how we think about evidence-based design.   Questions This Episode Helps You Answer How can we build sustainable research systems that work within real-world constraints? What makes equity-based research different from traditional approaches? When should we adapt research methods for regulated environments? How might we use prototypes to get better research insights? Why do continuous research systems often succeed where one-off studies fail? I invited Sam to share her expertise because she brings a unique perspective on making research work in complex, regulated environments while maintaining a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. Her experience spans from reimagining college financial aid experiences to transforming employer benefits, always with a focus on serving people who are often overlooked in traditional research.   Episode Highlights [01:40] Sam describes her journey from an interdisciplinary background at Carnegie Mellon studying conceptual art, communication design, and sociolinguistics to founding Reroute Research, illustrating how diverse educational foundations can lead to innovative research approaches. [03:00] Shares insights from working on College Abacus, a groundbreaking tool that helped students understand true college costs beyond sticker prices, demonstrating how design research can tackle complex financial decisions. [05:30] Articulates her core focus: taking complex decisions (like college choice or insurance selection) and making them more understandable and actionable for users, revealing how design research can simplify without oversimplifying. [08:30] Introduces the innovative "researcher in residence" model where she embeds within companies for 3–4 months, showing how deeper integration leads to better knowledge transfer and organizational impact. [12:00] Explains her commitment to equity-based design and how it shapes recruiting practices, emphasizing the importance of reaching participants who are typically underrepresented. [15:30] Details practical strategies for inclusive recruitment, including flexible scheduling, multiple contact attempts, and accommodating cancellations — demonstrating how research processes themselves need to be designed for equity. [18:30] Shares approach to reciprocity in research, explaining how she ensures participants benefit from the process through information sharing and resource connections. [22:00] Describes how to build sustainable research systems that organizations can maintain long-term, emphasizing the importance of integrating with existing tools and workflows. [25:30] Provides a success story of Better Future Forward implementing a continuous research system, showing how research can become embedded in organizational culture. [31:30] Explains her approach to using low-fidelity prototypes early in research to get more accurate insights about what people actually want versus what they say they want. [37:30] Shares expertise on conducting research in highly regulated environments, emphasizing the importance of reading and understanding regulations firsthand rather than relying on others' interpretations. [41:30] Offers valuable advice for researchers working in regulated environments: build relationships with supportive stakeholders who can help drive innovation forward while navigating constraints. [45:00] Concludes with an important insight about the critical role of language in UX, noting how sometimes the most impactful research finding can be identifying the right word choice for users.   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning What surprised you about Sam's approach to continuous research systems and why? How does her equity-based framework challenge or enhance your current research practice? Which aspects of the researcher-in-residence model seem most valuable for your context? Leading How might you help your team understand and apply continuous research approaches? Where in your organization would more equitable research practices create the most value? What would success look like if you implemented ongoing research systems with your team? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week with prototype-based research? Which current challenge could you address using Sam's approach to participant recruiting? How could you adapt the continuous research system to work in your specific context? Practicing How will you build more equitable research practices into your regular work? What support or resources do you need to implement continuous research systems?   Resources I Recommend Monteiro, Mike. Ruined by Design: How Designers Destroyed the World, and What We Can Do to Fix It. MULE BOOKS, 2024.  >>> Sam specifically mentioned finding this essential reading and I agree. This bold update of Monteiro's classic work challenges us to face the ethical implications of our design choices head-on. The 2024 edition feels especially relevant for research practitioners wrestling with AI ethics, privacy concerns, and the increasing impact of our design decisions on society. While provocative, it provides practical frameworks for making better choices about what we create and why. Monteiro, Mike. Design Is a Job: The Necessary Second Edition. Edited by Lisa Marie Marquis, Mule Books, 2024.  >>> While not mentioned in our conversation, this book expands on many of the ideas in this episode and is essential reading for every designer. Reece, Erik. Utopia Drive: A Road Trip through America's Most Radical Idea. First paperback edition, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017.  >>> Sam highlighted this as one of her favorite books, noting how it connects to design thinking through its exploration of systematic change efforts. The book examines America's history of utopian communities as design experiments. I find it valuable for understanding how ambitious visions for change interact with real-world constraints — a tension researchers regularly navigate. Hall, Erika. Just Enough Research. 2024 edition, Mule Books, 2024.  >>> While not directly referenced by Sam, this newly updated guide aligns perfectly with her lean, practical approach to research. It provides excellent frameworks for right-sizing research efforts to match organizational constraints while maintaining rigor. The 2024 edition adds valuable perspective on remote research and working within regulated environments. Gray, Dave, et al. Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers. O'reilly, 2010.  >>> Sam mentioned returning to this book often, seeing it as an intersection of conceptual art and facilitation techniques. I agree. While positioned as a workshop tool, Gamestorming's techniques for structured exploration and collaborative meaning-making are invaluable for research sessions. The methods can help create the trust and openness Sam emphasized as crucial for good research.   Tools We Discussed Typeform: For research participant feedback loops Salesforce: Example of embedding research in existing systems Asana/Jira/Notion: Options for research operations management   Deepen Your Learning 5.5 Things Every Designer Should Know About Hacking Bureaucracy with Marina Nitze — DT101 E106 Language + Design Research + Researcher Self-Care with Abby Bajuniemi — DT101 E96 Trauma-Informed Design + Participatory Design Perils + Research with Vulnerable Populations with Sarah Fathallah — DT101 E72 Remember to join Ask Like a Designer, our learning community at fluidhive.com/podcast for more resources and conversations about design thinking in practice!

In this episode, I explore how architectural thinking enhances strategic decision-making with Adam Griff. Our conversation reveals how his architectural background shapes his approach to helping higher education institutions navigate complex decisions and create flexible space solutions. We dig into the challenges of designing spaces that can adapt to unknown futures and discuss how universities can better integrate with their communities.  I particularly love how Adam frames flexibility in building design as creating platforms for future adaptations rather than just multi-purpose spaces. We also explore the tension between academic and organizational decision-making and how to create and decide while delivering innovation in higher education. Questions This Episode Helps You Answer How does thinking like an architect help organizations make better strategic decisions? What makes flexibility essential in both physical spaces and organizational processes, and how can we intentionally design for it from the beginning? What elements create environments where good decisions emerge, and how can we support better decision-making outcomes? How do we determine whether physical space is the best solution for achieving our organizational goals, and what questions should we ask before investing in space? How can we think about buildings as adaptable platforms that support evolving human needs rather than fixed structures with predetermined uses? How might universities and colleges create meaningful connections between campus development and community growth that benefit both? What strategies help organizations balance the need for scholarly rigor with efficient administrative decision-making, and how can these different approaches work together effectively? Episode Highlights [00:00] Introduction and background on Adam Griff [01:38] How architectural thinking shapes strategic problem-solving [04:17] Managing diverse stakeholders in higher education contexts [05:35] Understanding people's needs versus asking for solutions [07:31] Orchestrating organizational decision-making [09:13] The importance of decision-making culture in institutions [11:20] Building trust and managing participation in decisions [14:15] Creating shared understanding of evidence and good decisions [17:04] Balancing organizational conditions with decision quality [19:38] Making decisions with incomplete information [21:36] Academic versus administrative approaches to decisions [24:40] Rethinking flexibility in organizational strategy [25:25] Space as a medium for service delivery [26:51] Designing buildings as platforms for adaptation [29:14] Lifecycle costs and sustainable building design [30:48] Integration of campus and community development [33:31] Responding to demographic changes in higher education [35:33] Finding what is "uniquely possible" for institutions [39:12] Moving from master planning to scenario-based "playbooks" [41:09] Closing thoughts and connecting with Adam   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning How does architectural thinking about constraints and systems change your approach to organizational challenges? What surprised you about our discussion of decision-making quality? Why? Leading How might you redesign decision-making environments in your organization? What would change if you approached strategic planning as creating a playbook rather than a rigid strategic plan? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week to improve your team's decision-making space? Choose a current project or challenge. How might it benefit from thinking about systems and constraints like an architect? Practicing How will you incorporate the "Is space the right medium?" question into your solution development process? What is one idea from the episode that you will apply in the next two two weeks? Guest Resources Adam on LinkedIn Adam on Academia Gamification: How to Play Gensler Gensler Research & Insights Stewart Brand's "How Buildings Learn" The High Line, NYC Higher education demographic/enrollment cliff Scenario planning methodologies COM-B behavior change model Stranded assets   Resources I Recommend DT101 Episodes Radical Participatory Design + Relationships in Complex Systems Inclusive Design with Victor Udoewa — DT101 E127 Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change with Julie Dirksen — DT101 E131 Healthcare Design: Evidence-based, Business Fluent, and Change Prepared with Matt Van Der Tuyn — DT101 E140 Books Brown, Peter C., Henry L. Roediger, and Mark A. McDaniel. Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Cambridge, Mass: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014. -- Orchestrating good decisions requires understanding how people learn. Before people can decide about something new they must learn the information they need to know to make a good decision and what constitutes a good decision in this context. Read chapter 8. Ariely, Dan. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Revised and Expanded edition, First Harper Perennial edition published. Harper Business & Economics. New York: Harper Perennial, 2010. -- Ariely walks you through ways we make decisions that conflict with classic economic rationality, like: The Effect of Expectations: Our preconceptions and expectations significantly influence our experiences and decisions. For instance, people report greater pain relief from more expensive placebos, demonstrating how price can affect perceived value. The Cost of Ownership: Once we own something, we tend to overvalue it (the "endowment effect"). Heath, Chip, and Dan Heath. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work. New York: Random House Books, 2014. -- Don't trust your gut. It hates you. You'll learn how to slow down and avoid becoming a cautionary tale like the ones in this book. Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. First paperback edition. Psychology/Economics. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. -- "Thinking, Fast and Slow" reveals how our minds use both quick instincts and careful analysis to make choices, helping innovators design solutions that work with human psychology rather than against it. Thaler, Richard H., and Cass R. Sunstein. Nudge: Improving Decisions about Money, Health, and the Environment. Final edition. New York: Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021. -- Nudge "Nudge" reveals how small changes in how choices are presented can dramatically impact decision-making and behavior at scale, while preserving freedom of choice.   I'd love to hear what insights you're taking away from this exploration of architecture, strategy, and organizational design. Share your thoughts and stay updated at https://fluidhive.com/design-thinking-101-podcast/  Stay lucky ~ Dawan  

In this episode, I explore how architectural thinking enhances strategic decision-making with Adam Griff. Our conversation reveals how his architectural background shapes his approach to helping higher education institutions navigate complex decisions and create flexible space solutions. We dig into the challenges of designing spaces that can adapt to unknown futures and discuss how universities can better integrate with their communities.  I particularly love how Adam frames flexibility in building design as creating platforms for future adaptations rather than just multi-purpose spaces. We also explore the tension between academic and organizational decision-making and how to create and decide while delivering innovation in higher education. Questions This Episode Helps You Answer How does thinking like an architect help organizations make better strategic decisions? What makes flexibility essential in both physical spaces and organizational processes, and how can we intentionally design for it from the beginning? What elements create environments where good decisions emerge, and how can we support better decision-making outcomes? How do we determine whether physical space is the best solution for achieving our organizational goals, and what questions should we ask before investing in space? How can we think about buildings as adaptable platforms that support evolving human needs rather than fixed structures with predetermined uses? How might universities and colleges create meaningful connections between campus development and community growth that benefit both? What strategies help organizations balance the need for scholarly rigor with efficient administrative decision-making, and how can these different approaches work together effectively? Episode Highlights [00:00] Introduction and background on Adam Griff [01:38] How architectural thinking shapes strategic problem-solving [04:17] Managing diverse stakeholders in higher education contexts [05:35] Understanding people's needs versus asking for solutions [07:31] Orchestrating organizational decision-making [09:13] The importance of decision-making culture in institutions [11:20] Building trust and managing participation in decisions [14:15] Creating shared understanding of evidence and good decisions [17:04] Balancing organizational conditions with decision quality [19:38] Making decisions with incomplete information [21:36] Academic versus administrative approaches to decisions [24:40] Rethinking flexibility in organizational strategy [25:25] Space as a medium for service delivery [26:51] Designing buildings as platforms for adaptation [29:14] Lifecycle costs and sustainable building design [30:48] Integration of campus and community development [33:31] Responding to demographic changes in higher education [35:33] Finding what is "uniquely possible" for institutions [39:12] Moving from master planning to scenario-based "playbooks" [41:09] Closing thoughts and connecting with Adam   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning How does architectural thinking about constraints and systems change your approach to organizational challenges? What surprised you about our discussion of decision-making quality? Why? Leading How might you redesign decision-making environments in your organization? What would change if you approached strategic planning as creating a playbook rather than a rigid strategic plan? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week to improve your team's decision-making space? Choose a current project or challenge. How might it benefit from thinking about systems and constraints like an architect? Practicing How will you incorporate the "Is space the right medium?" question into your solution development process? What is one idea from the episode that you will apply in the next two two weeks? Guest Resources Adam on LinkedIn Adam on Academia Gamification: How to Play Gensler Gensler Research & Insights Stewart Brand's "How Buildings Learn" The High Line, NYC Higher education demographic/enrollment cliff Scenario planning methodologies COM-B behavior change model Stranded assets   Resources I Recommend DT101 Episodes Radical Participatory Design + Relationships in Complex Systems Inclusive Design with Victor Udoewa — DT101 E127 Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change with Julie Dirksen — DT101 E131 Healthcare Design: Evidence-based, Business Fluent, and Change Prepared with Matt Van Der Tuyn — DT101 E140 Books Brown, Peter C., Henry L. Roediger, and Mark A. McDaniel. Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Cambridge, Mass: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014. -- Orchestrating good decisions requires understanding how people learn. Before people can decide about something new they must learn the information they need to know to make a good decision and what constitutes a good decision in this context. Read chapter 8. Ariely, Dan. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Revised and Expanded edition, First Harper Perennial edition published. Harper Business & Economics. New York: Harper Perennial, 2010. -- Ariely walks you through ways we make decisions that conflict with classic economic rationality, like: The Effect of Expectations: Our preconceptions and expectations significantly influence our experiences and decisions. For instance, people report greater pain relief from more expensive placebos, demonstrating how price can affect perceived value. The Cost of Ownership: Once we own something, we tend to overvalue it (the "endowment effect"). Heath, Chip, and Dan Heath. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work. New York: Random House Books, 2014. -- Don't trust your gut. It hates you. You'll learn how to slow down and avoid becoming a cautionary tale like the ones in this book. Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. First paperback edition. Psychology/Economics. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. -- "Thinking, Fast and Slow" reveals how our minds use both quick instincts and careful analysis to make choices, helping innovators design solutions that work with human psychology rather than against it. Thaler, Richard H., and Cass R. Sunstein. Nudge: Improving Decisions about Money, Health, and the Environment. Final edition. New York: Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021. -- Nudge "Nudge" reveals how small changes in how choices are presented can dramatically impact decision-making and behavior at scale, while preserving freedom of choice.   I'd love to hear what insights you're taking away from this exploration of architecture, strategy, and organizational design. Share your thoughts and stay updated at https://fluidhive.com/design-thinking-101-podcast/  Stay lucky ~ Dawan  

Changing from the ''I have to'' to the ''I get to'' mindset goes a long way in your family life. Listen in as Shani Magosky shares how she guides adults into a leadership mindset and gives tips to improve your communication with your loved ones. Key takeaways to listen for Managing vs. Leading How to motivate children to do house chores Tips to help kids manage uncertainty The impact of tone and body language in conversations Resources mentioned in this episode Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us About Shani Magosky After many years of diverse leadership experience across multiple industries, Shani started her leadership development consulting and executive coaching practice, The LeaderShift Project™.  In addition, Shani does content development design, and facilitation of highly interactive trainings and workshops that are relevant, fun, and memorable so learning has the best chance of being retained and applied on the job. She is also the author of ''The Better Boss Blueprint'' and host of The LeaderShifter Show podcast. Connect with Shani Website: www.theleadershiftproject.com Podcast: The Leadershifter Show Instagram: @theleadershiftproject Facebook: The Leadershift Project YouTube: The Leadershift Project with Shani LinkedIn: The Leadershift Project Twitter: @leadershiftproj E-mail: shani@theprojectshift.com   Connect with Us To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book “The Family Board Meeting”, click here. Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review! Social Media Channels Facebook Group: 18 Summers LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils Instagram: @18summerstribe

Jeff and David talk about Engaging Your Management Team in Leading – How you as the business owner or CEO can build a winning management team and empower that.

Jeff and David talk about Engaging Your Management Team in Leading – How you as the business owner or CEO can build a winning management team and empower that.

Jeff Kemp, retired NFL quarterback and entrepreneur, joins the show today to talk about faith, entrepreneurship, and adversity. Jeff discusses the times he had to rely on faith to make it through tough career decisions and life. For Jeff, success is not having many things instead it is having one thing - abiding faith in Jesus Christ. Show Notes: How Jeff defines true success and significance for himself The difference between how Society/ Culture perceives success and how a person defines it Through the transitions and loss in life, Jeff realized his true identity is totally outside of what he does. Experiences that have impacted Jeff to set him on his Calling path and molded him to be who he is The difference between an opportunity mindset and a defeated mindset A blitz is an opportunity to wake-up to the spiritual life and to start living by faith not sight Running a business and firing employees in the light of God One of the keys to life is a right and healthy perspective - A long-term perspective and ability to change in the face of a blitz of life The role of Entrepreneurship is “Leading” How to start over when life hits you with the ultimate blitz Align your passions with what the world needs and discover opportunities to serve others 3 Key Points:   Personal definition of success is much more meaningful than the societal definition of success.    Success means being faithful and Significance is Serving Others.    Everyone can be an entrepreneur - align your passions with what the world needs.    Tweetable Quotes: “Success means being Faithful and Significance is Serving Others – Jeff Kemp. “Get so secure in who you are and who God made you.” – Jeff Kemp. ¨Being in Jesus and living in faith is an overcoming mindset.¨ – Jeff Kemp. Connect with Jeff & Resources Mentioned:   Email Jeff: Jeff@jeffkempteam.com   Social: Facebook: @FacingtheBlitzbook, Twitter: @JeffKempTeam, Youtube: Jeff Kemp   Coaching, Training, Keynote Speaker: JeffKempTeam.com Facing The Blitz Resources: Book,  Free Devotional & Discussion Guide,  Sign-up for Free Video Newsletter Facingtheblitz.com    

Jeff and David talk about Engaging Your Management Team in Leading – How you as the business owner or CEO can build a winning management team and empower that.

Deb Calvert is the President of People First Productivity Solutions, offering sales training, coaching, and leadership development programs. She leads the Stop Selling & Start Leading® movement and founded The Sales Experts Channel. She is certified as an executive and sales coach and is a Certified Master of The Leadership Challenge®. Her bestseller, DISCOVER Questions® Get You Connected”, has recently been named by HubSpot as one of the “20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time.” Quotes To Remember: “Those negative pervasive stereotypes about selling, that’s what causes buyers to shut down.” “When sellers are in selling mode, they come across to buyers as being self-serving, pushy, arrogant and really not all that interested in the buyer.” “Believing in a product starts with believing in the people who are responsible for the product.” “Credibility is a foundation.” “They can’t believe your message if they don’t believe in you as a messenger.”   What You’ll Learn: Difference Between Selling and Leading How to Make People Care About Your Brand The Awesome Connecting Experience How to Enable Collaborations on a Greater Scale   Key Links From The Show: Deb’s Site   Recommended Books: Content Marketing Secrets by Marc Guberti Podcast Domination by Marc Guberti Stop Selling and Start Leading by Barry Posner, Deb Calvert, and James M. Kouzes Learning Leadership by Barry Posner and James M. Kouzes Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni Mindset by Carol Dweck

Jeff and David talk about Engaging Your Management Team in Leading - How you as the business owner or CEO can build a winning management team and empower that.