2026
/
Workshop
We all know the feeling: the work is right, yet the room remains unconvinced. For design leaders, true influence isn't just about the craft, it's about the story that frames the work and the relationships that champion it. In this session, we move beyond the pixels to explore the human side of leadership. Learn to weave narratives that guide the room, step into the shoes of cross-functional peers to understand their motivations, and turn necessary friction into a tool for building trust. This is about evolving from a steward of the craft to an influential strategic partner.
Who is it for?
For Design Managers and Directors who understand that extraordinary work is built on extraordinary relationships. It is tailored for leaders who are confident in their craft and eager to amplify their strategic voice and build trusted alliances.
Top 3 Outcomes
#1
Learn to craft a narrative that carries stakeholders along the journey.
#2
Gain insight into the drivers of your peers to build the fluency needed to turn transactional relationships into genuine partnerships.
#3
Navigate hard conversations and pushback with confidence.
Facilitating this session:
Brad is an award-winning design leader who brings a rare blend of design, strategic, and operational thinking—shaping not just the work, but the systems, people, and structures that make great work possible.
At his core, Brad has a passion for storytelling, understanding that great work requires great framing. He thrives on navigating the macro and micro, as passionate about uncovering customer pain points as he is debating the opacity of a drop shadow. For him, the magic lies in the balance: creating deeply intuitive experiences elevated by world-class craft.
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