Sue Bethanis, CEO of Mariposa Leadership, Inc. leads a talk at the 2013 Products Are Hard Conference about Design Thinking.

1. Leader As Designer
#PAH13
April 2, 2013
Sue Bethanis, CEO
Mariposa Leadership, Inc.
Twitter: @suebethanis
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

2. An idea is only as good as its
usefulness!
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

3. An idea is only as good as its
usefulness
…….eventually!
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

4. How do we optimally go from
idea-to-innovation?
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

5. Breakthrough! 4-Step Model
* Model inspired from the Stanford School of Design’s course “Design Thinking and the Art of Innovation”
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

6. Application
Breakthrough model applies to a variety of
wicked problems
• Products
• Services
• Experiences
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

7. Leader as Designer
As the leader of your team, you play various
roles:
• Visionary
• Relationship Builder
• Coach
• Decision-Maker
• Facilitator….
And you are a Designer!
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

8. Step 1: Empathy
Visceral
understanding of your
Customer’s
Experience
Think of yourself as
an ethnographer: Do
interviews and
observations
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

9. Step 2: Brainstorm
Brainstorm – as an
individual in a small
group, best to crank out
lots of ideas
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

10. Step 3: Prototype
Prototyping is hands-
on and messy; better
to get your idea out
quickly and test
it, then to make it
look/feel pretty
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

11. Step 4: Implement
Determine what works
through refinement and
influence.
Go to market! Put in use!
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

12. Your Team
Think of a team problem you want to explore
in the next 10 minutes.
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

13. Stuck?
Stuck?
Try this one:
How do I help my team stay engaged in their
work?
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

14. Design Doing
• Interview the person sitting next to you. Ask
him/her:
What do you do to keep your team engaged?
• To yourself: Brainstorm more ideas here
• What is the best idea (your breakthrough)?
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

15. Your Prototype
• Think for a moment about how to translate
your idea into a tangible, 3-D form.
• What will you make that is a metaphor or
represents your breakthrough idea?
• Please make a prototype with the materials
in front of you in the next five minutes!
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

16. Implement (Usefulness)
• What will you do with your prototype?
• How will you test out your prototype?
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.

17. Info
Learn more:
www.mariposaleadership.com
Download Executive Guide to Design Thinking
Follow:
@suebethanis
Connect:
sueb@mariposaleadership.com
©2013 Mariposa Leadership, Inc.