Design Leadership without Losing Your Soul

Embrace your design leadership! Overcome fears of losing creativity or being overwhelmed. Mario reveals how to thrive and inspire real change in design.

Category

Design Leadership

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One size fits none


In this talk, Mario unpacks why design leadership is a one-size-fits-none role. Introducing where your authentic path to leadership can start or mature. You'll leave equipped with the foundational approaches that are not about surviving being a leader— but rather about thriving through it.

Grow your inner capacity to lead!

Unlock your inner leader and drive real impact in the design world! Many designers avoid leadership roles, preferring to stay in their creative comfort zones. They see leaders as stressed, disconnected, and overwhelmed, fearing the same fate. But stepping up doesn't mean losing your creative spark.


This isn't your typical business strategy or leadership talk. This keynote is tailored for design leaders. Drawing from 30 years of industry expertise, Mario offers insights and practical approaches to see you thrive - not just survive - in design leadership roles.


"Mario’s insights into design leadership were exactly what I needed. His perspective on affirmations and how to lead with a both/and approach has been relevant for me. I’ve often struggled with decision-making and aligning diverse viewpoints, but Mario’s strategies for fostering commitment even in the face of disagreement have been incredibly helpful." — Michael, Entrepreneur and Founder
"Mario’s keynote on design leadership was incredibly inspiring. His breakdown of expectations, conversations, and affirmations provided a clear framework that I’ve already started to implement with my team. The idea that 'you design at the speed of trust' was a powerful takeaway."— Em, Product Lead

"This talk resonated deeply with me. The concept of 'how you design, designs you' was particularly impactful. It reminded me that my approach to design not only shapes my work but also defines who I am as a leader." — James, Creative Director


Also available in one day intensive workshop format

Key Takeaways

🔹 Defining Design Leadership: Gain a clear understanding of what it means to be a true design leader.
🔹 Building Trust: Learn the key elements that build trust and how to cultivate it within your teams.
🔹 Provoking Change: Master conversation techniques that inspire and provoke meaningful change.
🔹 Navigating Power and Authority: Understand the dynamics of power and authority to lead with confidence.

You'll walk away with actionable strategies to lead design without losing your soul. Ready to equip yourself with the skills to lead through the rapid changes in design, technologies, methodologies, and user expectations. Join Mario to set your path to authentic leadership, and drive real change in the world of design.

"The expectation framework and how to apply this - that was a real eye opener for me!" — Senior Designer, Hong Kong
"You have a remarkable skill to communicate and bring the value of design leadership to life. Someone who clearly holds exceptional design leadership and experience, yet combined with a humility that inspires more of us to become catalysts in our organizations." — Co-Founder, Consultancy, Singapore

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Keynote for UXIndia2024, Bangalore, Sept 18-20 - TICKETS AVAILABLE
Keynote at UXLive Design Leaders+ 2024, London November 11 - TICKETS AVAILABLE

Full day Workshop for Singapore Design Week SDW2024, October 4 - TICKETS AVAILABLE

Author

mvdm

With nearly three decades in design, Mario is a visionary leader crafting human-centric design strategies with real business impact. From Europe to Asia Pacific, he has led teams across various industries, focusing on innovation and effective design leadership. As a published author on meaningful innovation, he shares his knowledge and connect with the global  design community.

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