Peter Skillman, Head of Philips Design, discusses lessons learned from a century of design innovation at Philips. He highlights the evolution from consumer electronics to healthcare technology, emphasizing the role of empathy in design. Skillman shares insights on the changing landscape for design leaders, the importance of purpose, and the integration of AI in design workflows. He also recounts a poignant story about a defibrillator's life-saving impact, underscoring the emotional connections in design work and the need for effective leadership.

In this insightful conversation, Audrey Crane, a partner at Design Map and a seasoned Silicon Valley consultant, shares her expertise on the evolving landscape of design. She highlights the changing mandates for design, explaining the unique power consultants have over in-house teams. Audrey discusses the intersection of creativity and constraints, the evolution of design leadership roles, and the urgent need for better collaboration between design and product teams. She also addresses the concerning decline in design investment and its potential industry repercussions.

On this show, Peter and Jesse are joined by Gaurav Mathur, VP of Design for Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart. He'll share with us his perspective on the big issues facing design leaders in India today, including hiring and training for junior designers, as well as design leaders making the case for the business impact of design, and the opportunities for design-led startups in the Indian market.

Leslie Witt, Chief Product and Design Officer at Headspace, brings a wealth of experience from her time at IDEO and Intuit. She discusses her transition from designer to design leader, emphasizing the importance of maintaining creative integrity while meeting business demands. Leslie dives into the ethical responsibilities of design leaders and the challenges of advocating for design in varying organizational cultures. She also touches on the role of empathetic technology in creating deeper human connections, illustrating how design can combat loneliness and foster community.

John Cutler, a veteran product manager and consultant known for his insights in product management, joins the conversation to unravel the complexities of digital product design. He shares his unconventional journey from gaming to product management and discusses the unique challenges product leaders face. The discussion emphasizes the importance of collaboration among design, product, and engineering teams, and critiques the challenges of implementing agile transformations. Cutler highlights how design leaders can effectively advocate for their teams and navigate the disconnect with executive leadership.

Anne Pascual, VP at Zalando, discusses leading design in-house vs. agency, integrating innovation, and building trust at scale. Topics include industry shifts in fashion e-commerce, defining roles in the design process, and implementing hybrid collaboration in design teams.

Koji Pereira, Chief Design Officer of Brazilian fintech Neon, shares insights on balancing speed and quality in design, inclusive design team processes, transitioning between work cultures, and driving innovation through redesigns. Exploring future design specializations and industry shifts.

Vuokko Aro, VP of Design at UK's Monzo, discusses scaling design approach, peer relationship with product leadership, and unity in remote teams. Topics include design evolution, digital banking, product principles, customer experience, team scaling, and building projects.

Explore the challenges of design leadership, from evolving practices to embracing authenticity. Dive into advocacy and diversity struggles in the UX community. Learn about professionalizing UI design and navigating AI integration in design leadership.

Christina Goldschmidt shares her insights on leadership and vulnerability in her new role as VP of product design at Warner Music Group. The podcast explores challenges in navigating new leadership, transforming legacy systems, and fostering safety and stakeholder management. Discussions also touch on embracing a political approach in stakeholder management and strategies for managing growth within scaled organizations.