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Virtual event
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Design thinking pushes participants to navigate ambiguity and to look beyond seemingly promising early solutions. It can be effective, exciting and even inspiring. But design thinking also disrupts more traditional ways of learning and working that are often seen as more comfortable or efficient. How can educators cultivate design thinking in business education and practice? This conference addresses just that.
Who is it for?
We welcome all who are grappling with how to best foster design thinking — including post-secondary educators, consultants, organizational employees and researchers.
Conference format
This one-day conference runs 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6 and is preceded by a March 5 plenary event from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The conference will comprise keynote addresses, networking opportunities and participant-led sessions. All sessions should encourage interaction, collaboration – and spark further dialogue. Opportunities for follow-on conversation and connecting will be built into the conference.
Keynote speakers
Ledia Andrawes, designer and co-founder, Sonder Collective
Ledia Andrawes is a designer, strategist, and anthropologist who loves to integrate rigour with heart to reimagine more equitable social futures. The co-founder of Sonder Collective, a diverse network of researchers and innovators driven by shared values, has 15 years experience leading interdisciplinary teams and co-designing with communities in over 10 countries. Most recently, she has collaborated with 25 peace activists from around the world to imagine what decolonised peacebuilding futures might look like. She has previously set up ThinkPlace’s consultancy in Kenya and developed their portfolio of work in Africa including co-designing a citizen-centred national health policy with the Kenyan government.
George Aye, Greater Good Studio co-founder and director of innovation
George Aye co-founded Greater Good Studio to use design to heal, to be just and to be restorative. Previously, he spent seven years at a global innovation firm before being hired as the first human-centered designer at the Chicago Transit Authority. Since founding Greater Good, Aye guides clients and teams through complex projects that honor reality, create ownership and build power. He speaks frequently across the US and internationally and holds the position of full professor (Adj) at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Tania Anaissie, Beytna Design founder and CEO
Tania Anaissie is a founding creator of Liberatory Design, a human-centered design practice that incorporates complexity theory and equity practice to drive innovation towards liberation. She is also a founding member of the Equity Design Collaborative, former faculty at The National Equity Project and a former lecturer at the Stanford University. She has built a way of practicing design that helps organizations translate equity values into equitable products, programs and cultures. She is an expert content creator and facilitator with over a decade of experience working globally. Anaissie is a graduate of Stanford University's Product Design program, an advisor in Stanford’s Design Impact program, and a StartingBloc fellow.
Doreen Arrowmaker, Chief of Gamètì
Doreen Arrowmaker is the first female chief of Gamètì, Northwest Territories. Earlier this year, she was recognized for her commitment to the Tłı̨chǫ region with the Wise Woman Award from the Status of Women Council of the NWT. The award honours women who advance the equality of women in the North. Arrowmaker is a graduate of Royal Roads’ Master of Global Management program and holds a post-graduate diploma in innovation and design thinking from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Presenters
Angèle Beausoleil
Dr. Angèle Beausoleil is the professor of Business Design and Innovation, and academic director of the Business Design Initiative at the Rotman School of Management. She completed her PhD in design-mediated innovation at the University of British Columbia after spending 25 years designing services, products and innovation processes inside large and small organizations. A recovering entrepreneur, former strategist and innovation executive, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies to creatively solve problems. She now teaches executives, MBAs and undergraduate students design-driven innovation and leads research on innovative leadership. Beausoleil is a visiting lecturer at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and just launched her first textbook Business Design Thinking and Doing: Frameworks, Strategies and Techniques for Sustainable Innovation.
Graphic facilitation
Sam Bradd
Sam Bradd is a graphic facilitator, meeting facilitator, and the principal of Drawing Change. He combines 20 years’ facilitation experience with visuals to help groups unlock their creativity and truly lead. He has an MEd in Educational Studies (UBC), is certified in Human Systems Dynamics and is a Dialogue Associate with the SFU Centre for Dialogue. Bradd's facilitation is strengths-based, creative and uses an intersectional and anti-racism lens. Throughout his career, Bradd has worked in 11 countries, with the World Health Organization and with groups working to change the world. He is the co-editor of two books and is a co-founder of the award-winning Graphic History Collective. He’s a white settler of Italian and Scottish background, and lives on unceded Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territories.
Registration
Registration fees include access to both days for presenters and general audience members. Limited space is available.