Company: True Action Europe
Position: Managing Director
Country: US
State: PA
City: Devon
Cultural Ambassador: yes
Interests: Biomimicry, Cross-Cultural Business, Data Visualization, Design (Visual, Interactive, UXD, Environmental), Executive Coaching, Writing,

Bio:

A new media creative professional looking at how brands, technology and consumers mix.

Company: Ditherati Communications
Position: President
Country: USA
State: CA
City: San Francisco
Cultural Ambassador: N/A
Interests: Cross-Cultural Business, Media, Organizational Design, Sociology of Work, Start-Ups, Technology, Writing

Bio:

I tell stories. If I do it right, you’ll laugh and you’ll learn something.

Company: even more so
Position: complicated
Country: usa
State: CA
City: san francisco
Cultural Ambassador: yes
Interests: Agile and/or Rapid Application Development and Design, Cross-Cultural Business, Design (Visual, Interactive, UXD, Environmental), Executive Coaching, Sustainable models for business, design and development, Start-Ups,

Bio:

I am a classically trained graphic designer who moved into interiors, products, environments, online applications, and eventually to 360 experiences. Today, I am an independent and strategic thinker, designer and researcher.

In March 2012 I branched off on my own. My practice has three focuses. First, helping individuals, small businesses, and entrepreneurs get to the next level – however they define that. Second, I teach classes and build graduate level curricula based on design thinking, mind mapping, innovation, and sustainability. Third, I consult for very small and very large entities (such has Blue Shield, Best Buy, etc.) on a variety of topics and in various disciplines.

Unless you know me this might seem like an unusual practice! I do possess, and thrive on, a rare combination of creative and analytic skill. That said I combine my deep creative and marketing roots with my business and finance chops. To me, full-brained, holistic problem solving, and diversity, is awesome in the true sense of the word. I am curious about almost everything!

Previous to March 2012, I was a Senior Vice President and Creative Director of Wells Fargo Bank for over six years. My career consisted of building several award winning in-house creative teams there, at Bank of America, and Nordstrom. Prior to that I worked for Michael Osborne Design and Pentagram.

Company: MarlaAufmuth.com
Position: Photographer
Country: USA
State: CA
City: San Francisco
Cultural Ambassador: no
Interests: Design (Visual, Interactive, UXD, Environmental),

Bio:

I’m a commercial product, still life and environmental photographer working with a range of clientele in advertising, editorial, and product design.

Hi All,
I want to share what people are saying about our conversations about work:

Thank you so much for our call last week. I really enjoyed our conversation! I left our call energized about the possibilities of exploring OD + design strategy and the application of that skill-set to social innovation/entrepreneurialism and the world beyond traditional product. I was also thrilled to learn more about what’s happening in that realm in the design industry.

And I’d love to learn more about how someone like me could contribute to (client’s name)) design and innovation process. I was moved by the strong social component of (client’s name’s) mission and that it sounds like they’re actively understanding people’s needs around the world. I also loved the idea of (client’s name) group. What I’ve read so far sounds very intriguing and like they are tackling a new business model for entrepreneurialism. Both are very inspiring ideas and help me bring some form to the blurry future. Thank you again for your time and encouragement.– Innovation Strategist and Organizational Design Executive

You see the quality of the person, what is unique in them and this is the coaching piece of what you are doing. Helping people to use this quality and packaging of their background for something completely different. This is really interesting. I have been in the user experience design field for 20 years and innovation in this area is not really great. I have the feeling I am using today all the things I learned 10 years ago. I am using the same models and processes I built then. For many people it is new but for me and my colleagues we are tired of being asked to keep doing the same thing. It is not really innovative for me anymore. I want to think of what I know and what I could do. I am wondering what I could do that would be different for me while using all my skills. This is very valuable. People are fed up about doing always the same –Creative Executive

Your assessment was incredibly valuable. I have worked with design innovation firms and only now understand design thinking as well as how to position myself for the next wave of innovative marketing. –CMO start-ups

The Open Colony assessment is an exercise I can highly recommend. Caitlin’s thorough methodology, her thought provoking questions and her inquisitive nature enable you to do some real soul searching. Not only does her approach get you to define what you are good at, for example through her T-shaped skills report, it forces you to search deep down as to what you really want to achieve in your career and beyond. She had some particularly poignant observations that helped put the spotlight on things I had done and should perhaps reconsider looking into again — for example an e-commerce component to an idea I had. The process also helped me iterate which part of my career in marketing and advertising I enjoy most, what my definition is of great work is, where I feel the industry is going and most importantly where I believe the opportunity lies. An interesting outcome of this process was that it made me realize I was open to roles I might not initially have considered. –CEO and Marketing/Advertising Executive

I think the whole exercise was thought-provoking! My suspicion is most people do not really get a chance to think deeply about their work in that way – it tends to be more ad hoc conversations here and there with colleagues, friends, and family. But most interesting to me were: discussions about horizontals (i.e., what does it really mean to have breadth beyond depth, i.e., what does the top part of the T really mean?) and discussions about weaknesses (mainly because most people don’t really like thinking about weaknesses too much, I think).–Strategy Executive

In fact I have been asking other recruiters for,  different career tracks and frameworks for a variety opportunities and not getting anything helpful. I say, “this is who I am where should I be looking?” I want you to tell me what is out there. –Management Consultant and Design Executive

You helped me understand the industry context and how to present myself. This helped me understand my value and get the offers I received. –Entrepreneur and Creative Executive.

Looking forward to speaking to more of you about your work!

-Caitlin