I know what it is like to be a creative person in a typical, rigid world. A world where others view you as the dreamer, the one who pushes pixels and makes things "pretty".

I see this behavior almost everywhere in the workplace. Especially when solving complex problems, people do not connect the dots with the creative team. The so-called leaders believe they know what the problem is, who it affects, and what the outcomes should be.

For example, when I ask basic questions like “If this is such a problem for human resources, has anyone talked to them?” I am usually greeted with scoffs and chuckles. Most reply, "No. Why would we talk to them? We know what the problem is."

What I learned was to continue to be inquisitive. It also means to express the beginner's mindset, that I don't assume to know everything. Even if I have expertise in an area, it is important to step back occasionally and ask questions.

My beginner's mindset got me invited to intense strategic meetings with major corporate players at the highest levels—you know, the mucky mucks, the suits, the C-suite.

I have a knack for asking simple, clarifying questions. By asking questions like "Do we know that's true?" or "Have we spoken to the end users?" have transformed my career in positive ways. But it didn't come without truly learning what it was I was doing: Design Thinking.

In 2010, I began my Design Thinking journey. I learned from various sources like Stanford’s dSchool, IDEO, and The Luma Institute. I've had the fortune of applying this framework to many companies.

Design thinking empowers me as an agent of change and innovation. It provides me with a common language that spans both creative and business disciplines. I have become a trusted advisor to many leaders and their teams.

What makes us creatives unique is the way we connect the dots in a complex world. But the business community often overlooks this. That’s why I want to teach you the creative superpower of Design Thinking.

With design thinking, you can go beyond someone with great taste in color palettes to someone with strong business acumen. Join me in the journey toward improved communications, stronger business relationships, and developing creative solutions.

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