How do you realize positive and sustainable change? By better understanding the problems at hand and the people facing them. That’s what makes the design thinking strategy such a natural fit with change management.

To talk about design thinking and how it can be a power for good in your efforts to enact change, Holly Chasan-Young joins me on today’s episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. Holly is the founder and CEO of Wonderbolt Labs and has spent time at Capital One, doing product discovery and design strategy.

Introducing Holly:

Holly’s background (1:16)

Jennifer introduces Holly, who shares her background and philosophy

Using design thinking strategy:

What is design thinking? (5:10)

Holly explains what design thinking strategy is exactly and what it can accomplish.

The human aspect (7:43)

Design thinking pairs beautifully with organizational change, especially in larger organizations. Holly shares why she believes design thinking helps organizational transformation.

The challenges (11:55)

In her experience, Holly believes many companies barrel through a change rather than navigate it purposefully.

Effectively communicating (13:23)

Who addresses and manages change at your organization? Effectively communicating the change and strategy is imperative to having successful change management, according to Holly.

Navigating change with design thinking:

How leaders handled a difficult change (17:07)

With her unique background and experiences, Holly tells Jennifer about a time in which a company faced a difficult change and how the leaders handled it.

Trust (20:05)

Trust is the most essential quality to a successful team, whether the company is struggling or flourishing. Holly dives a little further into how those leaders built trust, despite difficult circumstances.

Implementing change:

How to implement design thinking for growth (21:06)

Holly explains how organizations can implement design thinking’s tools to help them grow and excel.

Survive and Thrive (23:34)

Holly shares three things a leader can do to not just survive change, but thrive in it.