Kickoff Session

Lisboa

Navigating the journey into design leadership

Day 1

Day 1

Everyone

Everyone

Shifting from an IC role to design leadership is challenging, requiring you to take on business and people responsibilities while stepping back from hands-on craft. This shift often leads to a mid-career identity crisis as you transition from maker to enabler, shaking your confidence. In this session, Andy will explore the “design leadership dip,” share lessons from coaching 120+ leaders, and guide you through activities to define your leadership approach and build confidence in your role.

Andy Polaine
Andy Polaine

Leadership Coach

Who is it for?

Those transitioning from an IC role to management and leadership and those who are already there and wondering whether they're doing it right or struggling.

Top 3 Outcomes

#1

Greater confidence in yourself as a design leader

#1

Greater confidence in yourself as a design leader

#2

Clarity over your own value proposition to the organisation

#2

Clarity over your own value proposition to the organisation

#3

A set of principles and mindsets to help you in your daily work

#3

A set of principles and mindsets to help you in your daily work

Who teaches this course?

Who teaches this course?

Dr. Andy Polaine is a design leadership coach, educator, speaker and writer who helps clients transform their organisations and themselves.

For several years he worked at Fjord where he was global Group Design Director of Client Evolution. He is co-author of the book, Service Design: From Insight to Implementation.

Andy has three decades of experience in design and innovation with clients across a broad range of industries. He holds a PhD from the University of Technology, Sydney and teaches on the MA Service Design at the Hochschule Luzern, Switzerland. He writes a popular newsletter called Doctor’s Note and hosts the Power of Ten podcast.

Andy Polaine
Andy Polaine

Leadership Coach

Leadership Coach

Lisboa, Portugal

April 23-24, 2025

50 Spots

Lisboa, Portugal

April 23-24

50 Spots

Two days to level up
on Design Leadership

Join 70+ early design leaders in two days of training to gain knowledge and skills necessary to manage your team, influence the c-level and carry your vision through across your company.


Pre-register for 2026 and save €120 in your ticket

Two days to level up
on Design Leadership

Join 70+ early design leaders in two days of training to gain knowledge and skills necessary to manage your team, influence the c-level and carry your vision through across your company.


Pre-register for 2026 and save €120 in your ticket

Tickets for 2025 are sold out

Pre-register for 2026 and get €120 off your ticket for next year. Announcements in October.

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Tickets for 2025 are sold out

Pre-register for 2026 and get €120 off your ticket for next year. Announcements in October.

*

*

*

*