Creative Capes

Epizodes

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  Ivo Gormley, GoodGym's Founder on designing for contribution 27.07.2026 1h 15min

  Acts of kindness feel good, but they are rarely profitable. Ivo Gormley has spent nearly twenty years proving it's possible while creating an incredible community around helping people.We sat down with him to find out how.Since starting GoodGym in 2007 with a single newspaper run, Ivo has built it into a movement of 25,000+ volunteers across 60+ cities. He's been awarded an OBE and made GoodGym the first-ever charity to win the Sky Zero Footprint Fund Grand Prix.Ivo is also a teacher at the Executive Programme at Future London Academy. Learn from him in-person: https://fla.wiki/3TdVYZlIn this video, you'll learn:▶ How an £8 suggestion made over a pint became a reliable, recurring source of income▶ Why he chose to become a charity, not a business, and doesn't regret it▶ How he built what he needed because no one else did▶ Why a genuine, acknowledged role in delivering something beats a frictionless experience of receiving it▶ Why designing for contribution creates more winners than competition0:00 - Who is Ivo Gormley? GoodGym founder introduction1:41 - Anthropology, comedy & service design: Ivo's career path6:03 - The story behind GoodGym: why Ivo started it9:05 - Quitting his job to go full-time on GoodGym (2013)12:14 - Group runs & community volunteering: the GoodGym model14:34 - GoodGym's donation-based business model explained19:29 - How GoodGym got local councils to invest24:55 - GoodGym during COVID: volunteering through the pandemic35:25 - Charity vs social enterprise: why GoodGym chose nonprofit status44:55 - Design, loneliness & human connection52:45 - How AI is eroding human identity (the Stack Overflow effect)1:04:20 - Building a business with AI without losing human connectionSubscribe to our social media channels:Instagram: @futurelondonacademyLinkedIn: Future London AcademyTwitter: @flondonacademyfuturelondonacademy.co.uk
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  Chief Design Officer on Turning £1 into £20 Through Design | Cat Drew 16.07.2026 1h 16min

  How can design create impact at a systems level, across business, government and the planet? Cat Drew has spent a large part of her career answering exactly that question.Chief Design Officer at Design Council, the UK's design body, set up nearly 80 years ago to help rebuild the post-war economy. Cat works at the intersection of design, business, policy and sustainability.Cat is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4vsrYWRAs In our conversation, we explored how designers can better communicate their value, why sustainability belongs in every designer's toolkit, and what it takes to influence entire systems. What you'll learn:► How to build design's influence inside a large organisation, and make the business case for it, from Decathlon to Impossible Foods► Why sustainability and "skills for the planet" now belong in every designer's toolkit► How design can shape government policy, not just products👤 Who this episode is for: Chief Design Officers · Design Leaders · Heads of Design · Policy Makers · Sustainability Leads · and anyone curious about design's role in business, government and the planet00:00 Meet Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer at Design Council2:04 80 Years of Design Council: From Post-War Product Awards to Design for Planet6:45 Why Governments and Businesses Still Misunderstand the Word Design9:39 Design Speaks a Different Language Than Business 12:10 How to Build Design Influence Inside a Large Organisation14:33 Five Business Arguments for Design, With Case Studies From Decathlon to Impossible Foods19:04 What Governments Actually Care About: Design Economy vs Design for Policy23:54 Measuring Impact in the Public Sector From Vulnerable Families to Mental Health Access29:54 Salford Wetlands: A Design Solution That Solves Five Problems at Once32:34 Should Designers Even Use the Word "Design"?36:44 Introducing Skills for the Planet and the Weight of Design's Responsibility45:58 How Can Designers Advocate for the Planet49:31 Judging FLA's Executive Programme & What Design Leaders Are Building Next52:03 Q&A: B Corp Certification vs Measurable Regenerative Impact53:42 Q&A: Why Designers Need Hands in Soil and Feet in Rivers56:49 Q&A: Fixing Design Education for the Next Generation01:03:45 Q&A: Designing for Systems When Work Is Project-Based01:06:08 Q&A: Building a Business Case for Retainer-Based Sustainability Work01:10:35 Q&A: Who Kat Thinks We Should Invite Next to the Podcast & Why01:12:21 Q&A: Bridging a Career Into Purpose-Led WorkMore about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4vsrYWR
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  Why self-limiting beliefs about leadership are the hidden barrier for most design leaders | Julia Whitney, Executive Coach 10.06.2026 1h 17min

  How design leaders build influence, navigate conflict, and lead across cultures. In this episode, Ekaterina sits down with Julia Whitney, executive coach and former General Manager and Executive Creative Director at the BBC, where she led a 150-person UX and design team.Julia spent over 20 years as a design leader across the UK and US before turning her experience into a coaching practice that helps design leaders at companies like Condé Nast, AWS, the Financial Times, and IDEO perform at their best.Julia is also a teacher at our Executive programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4fDlOirWhat you'll learn:► Why self-limiting beliefs about leadership are the hidden barrier for most design leaders► How to build sponsorship at the next level up — and why empathy is the first step► How cultural differences shape communication, hierarchy, and trust — and what to do about it► The four types of workplace conflict and why identifying them early changes everything👤 Who this episode is for:Design Leaders · Heads of Design · Creative Directors · UX Leaders · People Managers · Anyone going for a senior or C-level role · Anyone who's been passed over for promotion and wants to understand why00:00:00 Welcome, Julia Whitney, Executive Coach and former Executive Creative Director at BBC00:02:05 What design leaders most commonly struggle with00:04:20 Self-limiting beliefs and the leader you think you have to be00:07:25 How introverts can build influence without performing extroversion00:12:00 Levels of zoom: how leadership shifts at every career stage00:17:25 Why candidates get rejected for senior roles — and what to do instead00:20:00 How to build sponsorship at C-level using empathy00:27:25 Generational differences at work: what the research actually says00:36:20 Multi-hyphenate careers and the future of work00:40:25 Remote vs in-office: why it's more nuanced than you think00:46:55 The SCARF Model and why people resist change00:49:30 Leading multicultural teams and the Culture Map by Erin Meyer00:54:35 High-context vs low-context cultures and remote communication00:59:30 How to handle conflict: the broken record technique and four conflict types01:07:05 Centralising design in a broadcaster organisation01:13:45 Final thoughts and who Julia recommends we speak to next
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  Google's Chief Design Officer on why designers are the most strategic people in the room | Ivy Ross 09.06.2026 49min

  By 26, Ivy Ross had jewellery in the permanent collections of 12 international museums, including the Smithsonian and V&A. She went on to hold executive roles at Calvin Klein, Swatch, Mattel, Gap, and Disney before arriving at Google, where her hardware design team has since won over 240 global design awards and helped Fast Company name Google the most important design company in the world in 2018. Her book Your Brain on Art, co-authored with neuroscientist Susan Magsamen, became a New York Times bestseller. She is one of the most creatively accomplished people working in business today. Future London Academy spent a day with her in London, during which Ivy has shared And if you are curious about our Executive Programme for Design Leader that Ivy teaches on, you can find more information here: https://fla.wiki/4evyOFI
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  What it really takes to lead a global creative team | Tim Greenhalgh, Like a Moth, ex Landor & Fitch 01.06.2026 1h 16min

  How can designers reach the executive level, and what are their responsibilities and the impact they get to create?To find out, join our Design Executives Series with Tim Greenhalgh, Founder and Creative Director at Like a Moth and former Chief Creative Officer at Landor & Fitch, one of the most iconic creative agencies in the world.Tim is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3RTKnxHOver more than 30 years, Tim has led a team of over 1,200 curious minds across 20 countries, creating award-winning brand experiences for clients including Apple, LEGO, and Adidas. During our live interview, Tim will share his mistakes and learnings, along with insights into leading at executive level.What you'll learn► How to create and maintain high-quality design standards, and motivate the team to "destroy the ordinary"► The value of design and creativity for business performance► Tim's journey from creative director to chief creative officer00:00 Meet Tim Greenhalgh — 40 years leading global creative at Fitch and Landor, now founder of Like a Moth02:00 What Tim learned from Rodney Fitch about the value of design05:15 How to justify the value of design to clients13:00 How to present bold creative ideas so clients say yes19:25 Why most creative briefs are just agendas and how to fix them23:35 What nobody tells you about being a chief creative officer33:10 Dealing with underperformers in creative teams without burning the culture35:30 Why there's no such thing as a bad project45:20 How Tim uses sight, insight, foresight to start every creative project52:40 Destroy Ordinary: the creative framework that united 26 global studios57:45 The future of craft, ideas and creative leadership01:06:00 How to sell the value of an idea (not just the design) to business leaders01:08:45 Has hybrid working destroyed studio culture?01:12:20 If you could change one thing in the world👤 Who this episode is for: Design Leaders · Creative Directors · Heads of Design · Agency Founders · Brand Strategists · Innovation Leads · and anyone curious about creativity, leadership, and businessTim is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3RTKnxH
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  How to use Play as your Business Strategy | Michelle Lee, IDEO Partner 12.05.2026 1h 22min

  How IDEO uses play to solve real business problems. In this interview, Ekaterina sits down with Michelle Lee, IDEO Partner and Executive Managing Director of IDEO San Francisco. Michelle Lee began her career as an aerospace engineer, working on satellites, wondering why it took so long to launch one. A friend's room full of toys changed everything. What followed was a winding path through the toy industry: an internship at IDEO in 2004, a startup she spun out and left, and a return to lead the Play Lab. Over two decades, she brought over 250 products to market with Hasbro, Mattel, and Sesame Workshop, and today, she is Partner and Executive Managing Director of IDEO's San Francisco studio.In a recent conversation with Future London Academy, Michelle shared what she's learned about creativity, leadership, ambiguity, and why play is one of the most underestimated tools in business.What you'll learn:► Why play is a serious business tool, not a frivolous one► How to design a non-linear career by following curiosity rather than chasing titles► How to move from individual contributor into leadership without losing the craft► Why clients are partners, not customers, and how generosity builds trust► How to prove the ROI of design, play, and creativity using IDEO's POWER framework► How to use AI as a sparring partner without losing your creativity👤 Who this episode is for: Design Leaders · Product Designers · Heads of Design · Service Designers · Experience Designers · Creative Directors · Agency Founders · Innovation Leads · and anyone curious about creativity, leadership, and businessChapters:00:00 Welcome and why play matters in business05:30 How to design a non-linear career by following curiosity10:30 From individual contributor to leader without losing the craft17:00 Heart vs dollar sign: balancing creativity and business as a senior professional20:30 Why clients are partners, not customers24:30 How to step into senior leadership without going it alone29:30 The IDEO IQ framework and the ROI of play41:30 How to sit in ambiguity and why good friction matters48:30 How to convince business leaders that play drives results53:30 Cultivating IDEO's culture: concrete floors and rough prototypes01:01:30 AI at IDEO: rough, rapid, right prototyping in the AI era01:10:30 Earning design a seat at the table and more curiosity in the world
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  AKQA Co-Founder on the Lessons Behind a $550 Million Agency | James Hilton 22.04.2026 1h 6min

  Nearly 30 years ago, James Hilton answered an ad in Creative Review, met a stranger named Ajaz Ahmed, and they signed Virgin as their first client. That was the beginning of AKQA.AKQA went on to win Grand Prix Cannes Lions, James was named the UK's number one digital creative director three times, and they were acquired by WPP for around $550 million. He also made the Creativity 50 alongside Jonathan Ive and Lady Gaga.What followed was a design studio, a custom motorcycle brand featured by Netflix and Top Gear, a Chief Creative Officer role at Native, and now a position inside Abbott, helping a 100,000-person healthcare company grow.James invited Future London Academy to his home outside London to chat about his journey. And if you are curious about our Executive Programme for Design Leader that James teaches on, you can find more information here: https://fla.wiki/42jCun400:00:00 — Meet James Hilton — The Design Leader Who Built AKQA Into a 6,000-Person Agency00:01:00 — Selling AKQA for £340M00:04:00 — What made AKQA succeed: obsession, craft & hiring people smarter than you00:09:00 — The founder's paradox: staying in the work vs. scaling a creative business00:11:00 — Building a Culture of Honest Feedback as a Creative Leadership Strategy00:16:00 — Over-delivering as a growth strategy: how AKQA became a trusted advisor00:28:00 — Life after AKQA: leaving, fear, and starting over from scratch00:37:00 — Imposter syndrome, catastrophic thinking & using data to fight anxiety00:44:00 — Stoicism as a leadership practice: the philosophy that changed everything00:49:00 — Design with a capital D: transforming organisations at scale (Abbott case study)00:53:00 — Why design leaders are a business value lever, not a visual service01:00:00 — AI as a design tool, post-scarcity futures & final advice for design leaders#designleadership #agencyfounder #
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  Sam Bompass, Co-Founder of Bompass & Parr, on Creative Risks, Inspiration and the Business of Wonder 19.03.2026 1h 24min

  How Bompas & Parr built a creative agency that stands out.In this interview, Ekaterina sits down Sam Bompass. Nearly 20 years ago, Sam Bompas quit his job in property PR to make jelly. Since then, as co-founder of Bompas & Parr, Sam has cooked on molten lava, built a breathable cloud of gin and tonic, and founded the British Museum of Food. His studio works with governments, global brands like Coca-Cola, Johnnie Walker, and Mercedes, and major cultural institutions including the V&A, the Design Museum, and The Met. In a recent conversation with Future London Academy, he shared his remarkable hard-won wisdom about creativity, leadership, and what it really takes to build something lasting.What you’ll learn► How to turn a creative experiment into a scalable experiential agency► Why systemising ideas strengthens creativity rather than limiting it► How to pitch bold concepts while protecting budgets, feasibility, and client trust► What it takes to lead multidisciplinary teams across food, design, strategy, and making► How to use history and culture as a source of commercially powerful innovation► Why AI will not replace human creativity, and what founders should focus on instead👤 Who this episode is for:Design Leaders · Product Designers · Head of Design · Service Designers · Experience Designers · Brand Designers · Agency founders · Creatives · Creative Directors · and anyone interested in creativity and business Chapters: 00:00 Welcome introduction and the origin of Bompas and Parr06:37 From jelly experiments to building a global experiential agency13:01 Creative risk safety lessons and scaling ambitious ideas18:48 Finding inspiration in London and using history as creative fuel30:22 Systematising ideas from studio archives to client-ready concepts35:43 What makes a strong idea clarity impact, feasibility and business value42:32 Pitching bold work, presenting multiple routes, and winning client trust49:43 Leading multidisciplinary teams culture rituals and hybrid working56:41 Co-founder dynamics long-term partnership, and complementary strengths01:03:51 PR visibility and rescuing projects under pressure01:09:54 Food, drink, design inspiration and the power of service01:13:57 AI: The future of creativity and discovering new cultural possibilities
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  Cal Thompson, VP of Design on how they use AI at Headspace and why they hire interns 08.12.2025 1h 26min

  With so many AI tools flying around, it’s easy for creative teams to feel overwhelmed. Which tools actually matter? And more importantly, what stays uniquely human in design leadership as technology evolves?In this episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom,Ekaterina sits down with Cal Thompson, VP Design at Headspace and curator of Future London Academy’s Product Design Strategy course. Cal shares how AI is changing the strategic power of design (not replacing it), where these tools genuinely help guiding roadmaps, measuring product signals, prototyping visions, and where they don’t belong at all, especially when it comes to anchoring human stories.Joining as a special guest, Rachel Arredondo , Senior Product Designer at Headspace, offers a practical, grounded view of AI as a thought collaborator. She shows how she uses Claude to expand her reach without outsourcing judgment, and why designers must shape tools just as much as tools shape us.Expect a conversation rooted in empathy, culture, and creative responsibility, plus a clear, usable framework for deciding where AI fits in your design process.What you’ll learn Why design’s strategic influence can grow in an AI-enabled worldWhere AI helps most across the process of guiding roadmap, synthesising measurement signals, prototyping future visions, navigating crowded marketsWhy human observation and interviews can’t be replaced by synthesis toolsHow to build a design culture that fuels collaboration, trust, and imaginationWhat AI means for junior talent, and how leaders should rethink career pathwaysWhy the next “design movement” will be collective, not solo-AI drivenWho this episode is forDesign Leaders · Product Designers · Head of Design · Head of UX / UX Director · Product Design Lead · UX Design Lead / Design Lead · Design Managers & Senior ICs navigating AI adoption · Solo/In-house designers · Creatives and cross-functional partners (PMs, researchers, engineers) shaping AI-enabled products
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  Apple’s former design executive on tools, purpose of design and creativity in the age of AI | Charles Migos, intangible.ai 01.12.2025 1h 24min

  With so many AI tools flying around, it feels overwhelming for any creative team to choose the ones that will make a difference. This is why last week, we decided to have a conversation with Charles Migos, Chief Product Officer, Founder of Intangible.ai, Design Leaders faculty member and one of the most exciting voices in design today. He is a design executive who has spent 30 years building tools for creatives, working alongside the industry’s brightest minds like Steve Jobs and in companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Unity.What we got is a powerful conversation with Charles about how designers play an important role in the age of AI, from problem-solving and aligning teams to improving collaboration. Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to design and AI with Charles Moberly (ex Apple, Microsoft, Unity)03:04 How the AI shift compares to the internet, Photoshop, and touchscreens06:12 The fundamentals of design that stay the same in the AI era08:23 How to choose AI tools for designers without feeling overwhelmed14:07 How to test and adopt AI tools in a design team16:36 Why creativity still works best as a team sport19:49 What design leaders should focus on in the AI era25:51 Balancing design and engineering cultures at scale32:20 Building Intangible AI and rethinking generative 3D workflows38:46 Copyright, IP, and ethical risks in generative AI45:08 Trust, privacy, and data choices when using AI tools45:26 A realistic look at the future of AI for creatives46:42 How designers can actively shape the future with AI50:19 New opportunities for designers using AI tools well54:09 Practical Figma Make tips for faster high fidelity prototyping01:02:04 Gender bias in AI and what design leaders can do01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism as core design leadership skills54:09 Practical Figma Make tips Prototyping faster in high fidelity01:02:04 Gender bias in AI How design leaders respond01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism in design leadership
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  Jim Prior on Protecting Creativity in Business | Chair at Design Bridge & Partners 20.11.2025 1h 24min

  What does it really take to protect creativity inside large organisations, and why do some CEOs champion design while others struggle to?In this episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom, Jim Prior, former Global CEO at WPP and Chair at Design Bridge & Partners, Superunion shares 25 years of experience leading some of the world’s most influential creative companies.Hosted by Future London Academy, this warm, honest conversation explores how creativity drives business performance, and what every designer should know to influence decision-makers at the highest level.🎙️ About the guest Jim Prior is a global brand leader and creative business strategist who has spent over two decades as CEO of The Partners, Superunion and Design Bridge & Partners (WPP). He has advised executive boards worldwide on brand transformation, creativity in leadership, and building future-ready organisations.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3LNPYCM💡 You’ll learn: ► How CEOs think about creativity and business value ► How to pitch creative ideas to leadership teams ► How agencies can help clients sell creativity internally ► Leadership habits, decision-making frameworks & lessons from a CEO ► How AI and automation change the creative landscape — and what designers should do now⏱ Chapters 00:00 Welcome – Ekaterina & Jim Prior02:36 How CEOs value creativity and design07:00 Why big companies struggle with innovation10:22 How to pitch creative ideas to CEOs and boards14:40 Selling creativity in the boardroom – tips from a CEO19:42 Creativity in leadership teams vs the boardroom22:07 How agencies help clients sell ideas internally26:25 What makes a creative agency truly valuable28:30 From knowledge economy → creative economy31:29 Inside the CEO mindset – decision making36:32 Making smart decisions with imperfect data43:25 Time management for creative leaders47:45 Why CEOs prefer talking over email51:52 Leading through hard times & crises55:30 Reconnecting with your company vision57:00 The evolving role of design in leadership1:03:00 Tech hype vs real change for design leaders1:07:00 AI & creativity – how designers can adapt1:12:30 Running creative workshops with leaders1:17:00 Balancing creativity and business1:21:00 If Jim Prior could change one thing in the worldIdeal for:Design leaders • Creative directors • Senior designers • Strategists • CEOs who value design • Anyone aiming to grow their influence in business and boardrooms.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3LNPYCM
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  Christophe Egret on Leading Studio Egret West, Architecture with Soul and Building with Purpose 08.11.2025 1h 17min

  In the second episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom, we’re joined by Christophe Egret — visionary architect, artist, and co-founder of Studio Egret West, to explore how creativity, spirituality, and leadership come together to shape cities and the people who build them.🎙 Hosted by Future London Academy, this episode dives into architecture with soul, exploring what it means to build meaningful spaces, lead with empathy, and balance creative vision with commercial success.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4a3iU3E💡 What you’ll learn: ► How to keep creativity alive while running a thriving design business ► Ways to lead teams with empathy, purpose, and sou, not just strategy ► Why sketching, storytelling, and intuition still matter in the age of AI ► How to design spaces (and studio cultures) that connect people and purpose✨ A conversation about imagination, courage, and what it means to build a better world, one soulful design at a time.About Christoph Egret:Christoph is one of the UK’s most respected architects and urban thinkers. As co-founder of Studio Egret West, he has helped redefine placemaking through landmark projects such as Mayfield Park in Manchester, Clapham Library, and the Earl’s Court Masterplan. Known for blending architecture, landscape, and urban design into a seamless practice, Christoph brings a deep sense of spirituality and purpose to his work. Today, through his new platform Soul in the City, he explores how the emotional and spiritual dimensions of urban life can inspire more connected, human-centered cities.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4a3iU3E
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  Neurodiversity coach on ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia & Inclusive Leadership at Work | Emma Wee 02.11.2025 1h 16min

  Join us for the first episode of our Design Leadership in the Boardroom series, where we speak with executive leaders across architecture, product, AI, branding and psychology to unpack the strategies, practices and frameworks that help them succeed at the highest level.This time we’re joined by neurodiversity coach Emma Wee to learn how to create environments where neurodivergent talent thrives, and how to lead authentically with your own neurodivergent identity.From ADHD and Autism to Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, Emma shares practical, humane tactics leaders can use today to help every brain do its best work.What you’ll learn how to:► Navigate ADHD at work► Leverage dyslexia strengths► Dismantle autism myths► Build inclusive teams► Implement meeting hygiene► Handle tricky moments🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4oRvYhjTimecodes:00:00:00 – Intro & why neurodiversity matters in creative leadership00:01:06 – Meet Emma Wee, Neurodiversity Coach00:03:50 – Emma’s journey: from theatre design to Neurodiversity coaching00:06:22 – Masking explained (code-switching, cost, and relief in naming it)00:16:19 – ADHD 101: attention selection, hyperfocus arcs, RSD, boom-and-bust00:21:28 – Finishing & focus: define “done,” emotional tags, pick tasks by brain-state00:31:25 – Dyslexia strengths & tools: pattern spotting, dictation, read-aloud, color contrast00:40:32 – Autism realities: sensory seesaw, clarity over small talk, change vs. variables00:45:11 – Leading Neurodiverse teams: briefs, check-ins, inclusive defaults, “Manual of Me”01:00:12 – Disclosure & safety: when to share (or not), alternatives to get support01:06:11 – Rapid-fire coaching: brainstorms, missed deadlines, interruptions, feedback clashes01:15:40 – Closing & big question: one change Emma would make in the worldAbout GuestEmma Wee — Neurodiversity Coach working with organisations from Universal Music Group to the UK FCDO, EY and PwC, helping teams adapt working practices for neurodivergent professionals. Emma is faculty member at Executive programme for Design Leaders.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4oRvYhj
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  How a Design Prototype Became an $800M Business Opportunity for Philips 17.07.2025 1h 24min

  Join us for the fifth episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies. This time, we are joined by Sean Carney, former CDO of Philips. At Philips, Sean led a team of 700+ designers and helped generate over $800 million in sales pull-through.Sean shared a powerful case study of how design contributed directly to business transformation and aided a positive change in the world.Watch to learn how to:- Drive real business impact with design- Calculate and communicate ROI on design- Balance creativity with business strategy at the C-level- Build a design team that influences revenue and strategy00:00 — Welcome to the CDO Series: Why Design Belongs in the Boardroom00:49 — Meet Sean Carney: Former Chief Design Officer at Philips02:55 — Sean’s Unplanned Path to Becoming a Chief Design Officer04:42 — From Solo Creator to Strategic Leader: The Power of Diverse Teams07:43 — Why Today’s User Research Isn’t Enough: Designing for the Future10:24 — Philips' Visionary Design Approach13:24 — 📍 Case Study: How Philips Built the NICU of the Future20:05 — 📍 Case Study: Embedding Strategic Design into Business Strategy at Philips35:00 — Tracking the ROI of Design: From Vision to Measurable Business Impact43:11 — Using Real-Time Data and Predictive Modelling in Hospital Design44:35 — Designing Capabilities for the Future: Strategic Foresight in Action45:01 — 📍 Case Study: Smart Toothbrushes and the Rise of Connected Health48:00 — How Philips Prioritised Innovation Opportunities Across 30+ Units48:48 — Turning Design Ideas into Strategic Investments with Cross-Functional Teams53:26 — 📍 Case Study: The Vacuum That Failed — and What It Taught the Business55:34 — What It Takes to Design in Healthcare: Compliance, Innovation & Risk55:53 — Building the Case for Prototypes: Value Beyond the Aesthetic01:01:40 — Bridging Creative Vision and P&L: Design at the Executive Table01:03:55 — How Design Drove Business Transformation at Philips01:10:31 — Empathy Across Departments: The Secret to Influencing at C-Level01:11:18 — Budgeting for Innovation: Where to Find (and Protect) Funds01:14:46 — The Future of Design Leadership: From Systems to Strategy01:21:48 — Design for Good: Applying Creative Leadership to Global Impact01:23:28 — Final Reflections: Building a More Joyful, Impactful World with DesignLearn about our Design Leaders programme: https://fla.wiki/4kDuFPT#ChiefDesignOfficer #DesignLeadership #ROIonDesign
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  CEO EMEA of Ogilvy on How to Justify Investment to a CEO | Patou Nuytemans 16.05.2025 1h 3min

  Learn about our Design Leaders programme 👉 https://fla.wiki/4dm4cVcPatou Nuytemans, CEO EMEA of Ogilvy, one of the world's most iconic creative agencies. Discover how she went from being an "unlikely candidate" from Belgium and rose through the ranks by embracing diverse roles across three continents, pioneering digital transformation, and turning around challenging regions.In this interview, Patou shares her unexpected journey to becoming a CEO, her leadership philosophy, how she drives creative excellence across a global organisation. and how to talk your CEO to justify investment in design. 00:00 – Welcome Patou Nuytemans03:17 – The brave career moves that turned her into a leader 07:53 – Why Patou never chased titles—and what she chased instead 12:31 – “If you don’t communicate your wins, they don’t exist” 18:06 – How creatives should talk to their CEO (and be taken seriously) 22:41 – The structure that keeps 50+ teams aligned (you need this) 30:20 – What actually builds team culture (it’s not what you think) 35:44 – The 5 business metrics Ogilvy tracks 42:54 – “Creativity is a shortcut to big business impact—here’s how to prove it” 50:03 – Want a bigger budget? Say this to your CEO 55:29 – Why junior talent is more valuable than ever (even with AI) 57:49 – “Growth is my religion”: Patou’s personal philosophy on success 1:00:50 – Her wish for the world? More curiosity, more connection Learn about our Design Leaders programme 👉 https://fla.wiki/4dm4cVc#CreativeLeadership #OgilvyCEO #BusinessOfCreativity #DesignLeadership #GlobalTeams #BorderlessCreativity #FutureLondonAcademy #PatouThains #CreativeAgency #LeadershipJourney #WomenInLeadership #AIAndCreativity #TeamCulture #CommunicationSkills #CreativeROI #BrandDifferentiation #ContinuousLearning #GlobalExperience #AwardRecognition #InternationalBusiness
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  Why Being Wrong Made Me Successful ┃Don Norman 06.02.2025 1h 25min

  Don Norman, the legendary designer who coined the term "User Experience" and served as Apple's VP, shares insights from his remarkable career. At 89, he reveals why most designers fail to reach the C-suite, how AI will reshape design (not replace it), and his mission to revolutionise design education. Grab a cup of tea and settle in, this conversation might change everything you do from now on. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more here👉 https://fla.wiki/4hKKZxs #DonNorman #Design #UserExperience #Innovation #FutureLondonAcademy
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  A Design Leader's Guide to Business Impact at JP Morgan Chase | Chief Design Officer Series 23.01.2025 1h 24min

  Janaki Kumar is Chief Design Officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co., a thought leader, innovator, and author who was named a Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2016. Janaki is a proven leader in building, coaching and inspiring high performance design teams, leveraging design-thinking, customer empathy, and co-innovation. She is the co-author of Gamification at Work – Designing Engaging Business Software. She was a co-instructor at Stanford’s Graduate School Business LEAD course and inventor on over 20 patents. During our interview, she shared how she became CDO, how to prove your value to C-suite executives and what skills to develop to become CDO. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more 👉 https://fla.wiki/3EaHsKf #leadership #cdo #mba #designleadership#leadership #cdo #mba #designleadership
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  From School Dropout to Silicon Valley Gaming Legend | Jeri Ellsworth 18.12.2024 1h 29min

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  What does it mean to be the Chief Design Officer at Zoom 29.11.2024 1h 11min

  Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 2Mark Kawano, Chief Design Officer at Zoom, shared his 25+ years of experience in companies like Apple, Slack, and Adobe and the importance of influencing Design beyond the design organisation.Join us for the third episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies.  https://fla.wiki/41fznNE
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  Travis Isaacs from Cisco on how to become your company's first Chief Design Officer 20.11.2024 1h 23min

  Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 2 Travis Isaacs, Chief Design Officer at Webex Collaboration at Cisco, shared his perspective on the unique superpowers designers can bring to the boardroom and the essential skills needed for success in executive roles. Join us for the second episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies. https://fla.wiki/3ALA1rx