Julia Whitney

There’s a popular meme that humans can be divided into two camps: those who embrace change and those who resist it. The first group are the heroes: Enlightened. Set to inherit the future. The second group are petty villains: Narrow-minded, obstructive, and soon to be left behind.

As design and experience leaders, it’s all too easy for us to believe this rhetoric, especially as it’s tempting to see ourselves in the role of the hero. After all, change is what we’re about. We’re naturally gifted at invention, and as agents of digital transformation we’re often change champions; in our own organisations, or our clients’.

But this meme sets up a false dichotomy. It masks is a whole load of complexity, and ultimately, what’s common to us all as humans. Instead we should ask: What part of all of us does change trigger? And what can we hold as our centre as we all flex and stretch: as we observe and iterate ourselves and our teams. As leaders, what choices can we make to effect change for the better, in the working lives of ourselves and those around us?

Andy Budd will lead a Q&A with Julia as part of the end of this session.

Whether you've already been a Head of Design for a few years or are new to the job, stakeholder management is one the biggest factors in your success as a Design Leader. And one of the biggest challenges. In this workshop you'll gain knowledge, skills, and practical tools to address these challenges and turn your relationships with stakeholders into productive and rewarding parts of your role.

You’ll bring your own stakeholder challenge into the workshop, and will leave with a plan that you can put into action as soon as you get back to the office. In the process you’ll learn lessons to bring to stakeholder challenges, whatever your future brings.

Topics covered include: Stakeholder Analysis, Relationship Management, Influencing and Persuading.