The Design Of Business | The Business of Design

We’re back with part 2 of our peek behind the curtain of the 2025 Aspen Business & Society Summit. And this time we are asking the big question. In a period of global turmoil, does leadership need a redesign? It’s clear that today’s leaders- whether of a business, a government or a family- require an unprecedented level of courage, vision and integrity. But what exactly does that type of leadership look and feel like? And can you develop the skills needed to be an audacious leader, or do you have to be born with them? These are big, hairy questions. And in this episode of DB|BD, our guests take a stab at them. You will hear excerpts from conversations host Ellen McGirt had with nine different leaders onsite at the Summit. All nine leaders, whose expertise spans across business, law, design, and government, share invaluable wisdom on what it takes to build trust with customers, employees and shareholders in a world where trust itself is scarce.  2025 Edelman Trust Barometer [https://www.edelman.com/trust/2025/trust-barometer] Leaders featured in this episode: * Jim Andrew [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpandrew/], Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo * Heather Higginbottom [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-higginbottom-229568108/], Managing Director, Head of Research, Policy & Insights, Corporate Responsibility, JPMorgan Chase * Trisch Smith [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trisch-smith-9948777/], Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Edelman * Justina Nixon-Saintil [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnixonsaintil/]: Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility & Chief Impact Officer, IBM * Alphonso David [http://linkedin.com/in/alphonso-david/], President & CEO, Global Black Economic Forum  * Rachel Godsil [https://law.rutgers.edu/rachel-godsil]: Co-founder, Perception Institute [https://perception.org/], Distinguished Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Scholar at Rutgers Law School * CécileBeliot [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecile-beliot-zind-9a95864/?originalSubdomain=fr]: CEO, Bel Groupe * SandaOjiambo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandaojiambo/]: Assistant Secretary-General, CEO and Executive DirectorUN Global Compact * Tim Mohin [https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/tim-mohin]: Partner & Director, BCG * WitoldHenisz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/witold-henisz-637584/]: Vice Dean & Faculty Director, Impact, Value and Sustainable Business Initiative, The Wharton School

Every summer, the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program’s annual summit [https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/business-and-society-program/summit/] gathers 200+ leaders from the worlds of business, science, government, design, and the arts at the Institute's Colorado campus. They convene for three days of panels, spontaneous conversations and knowledge sharing- all driven by a shared belief that business can shape and contribute to the health of our world.  The 2025 Summit took place in July. And of course, DB|BD host Ellen McGirt was there. This year she got to do something special. Over the course of a 9-5, Ellen interviewed nine different leaders on mic from the worlds of law, technology, academia, food and the UN. And we are bringing excerpts from all nine of those conversations straight to the DB|BD airwaves. Consider it inside access to this invite-only summit.  Over the next two episodes of DB|BD you will hear from powerhouse leaders on what’s keeping them up at night and how they’re dealing with it.  Today, we’re covering that first part. Times are tough. A hostile administration, unstable geopolitics and shifting technologies are just a few of the changes disrupting the way we live and do business. In this episode, leaders from different countries and industries explain just how their work has been impacted. Leaders featured in this episode: * Justina Nixon-Saintil [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnixonsaintil/]: Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Chief Impact Officer, IBM * JennyYang [https://www.outtengolden.com/insights/media/news/jenny-r-yang-joins-as-partner-eeoc-ofccp/]: Former EEOC Commissioner, Partner, Outten & Golden LLP * Rachel Godsil [https://law.rutgers.edu/rachel-godsil]: Co-founder, Perception Institute [https://perception.org/], Distinguished Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Scholar at Rutgers Law School * CécileBeliot [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecile-beliot-zind-9a95864/?originalSubdomain=fr]: CEO, Bel Groupe * SandaOjiambo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandaojiambo/]: Assistant Secretary-General, CEO and Executive DirectorUN Global Compact * Tim Mohin [https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/tim-mohin]: Partner & Director, BCG * WitoldHenisz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/witold-henisz-637584/]: Vice Dean & Faculty Director, Impact, Value and Sustainable Business Initiative, The Wharton School Before you go! Fill out our survey! We have a short user survey [https://forms.monday.com/forms/da671122e263dd7268bab96dbf2de277?r=use1] in the field, and we would love your take on what you like, what we could be doing better, and how we can continue to be your trusted friend helping you navigate uncertainty. Plus, you’ll be entered to win one of our very cool Redesigner tees [https://www.redbubble.com/people/designobserver/shop?artistUserName=designobserver&iaCode=u-tees]! Please take a few minutes to fill it out by 8/31 using the following link: https://wkf.ms/46yx7UA [https://wkf.ms/46yx7UA]

Instead of our usual episode, we're excited to share a podcast we think you'll love: Say More with Tulaine Montgomery [https://link.chtbl.com/say-more-w-tulaine-montgomery]. In her podcast, Tulaine speaks with people who are deeply committed to making the world a better place, while also taking care of themselves and supporting their communities. In this episode, she puts DB|BD host Ellen McGirt on the other side of the mic!  Ellen and Tulaine talked about many things that matter to Design Observer listeners, including: curiosity as a key to progress, the role big D design can play in creating a better world and how to stay hopeful in a moment that is anything but. Plus, Ellen shares some anecdotes about her career journey never before heard on the DB|BD airwaves! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe to Say More [https://link.chtbl.com/say-more-w-tulaine-montgomery] and listen to more episodes! Follow Tulaine on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tulaine_montgomery/?hl=en] and check out New Profit [https://newprofit.org/people/tulaine-montgomery/] Design Observer’s profile on Mr. P [https://designobserver.com/marshall-aeoemr-pae%C2%9D-pollard-and-the-creative-school/] Tulaine’s conversation with Angela Glover Blackwell [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-have-you-done-with-your-freedom-with-angela/id1707971010?i=1000700857476] Trevor Noah in conversation with Dr. Ruha Benjamin [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rip-d-e-i-with-ruha-benjamin/id1710609544?i=1000691712233] Before you go! Help us make Design Observer even better. We have a short user survey [https://forms.monday.com/forms/da671122e263dd7268bab96dbf2de277?r=use1] in the field, and we would love your take on what you like, what we could be doing better, and how we can continue to be your trusted friend helping you navigate uncertainty. Plus, you’ll be entered to win one of our very cool Redesigner tees [https://www.redbubble.com/people/designobserver/shop?artistUserName=designobserver&iaCode=u-tees]! Please take a few minutes to fill it out by 8/31 using the following link: https://wkf.ms/46yx7UA [https://wkf.ms/46yx7UA]

In a time where it's hard to feel hopeful, a new study has left leaders who value DEI aflutter with tentative optimism. It’s called The Risk of Retreat [https://uat.catalyst.org/insights/2025/risks-of-retreat-path-forward], conducted by Catalyst [https://www.catalyst.org/en-us] and the NYU Meltzer Center of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, it compiled data from surveys of 2,500 employees from across the U.S. on their thoughts about workplaces backtracking from their DEI policies. The study found that retreating from DEI poses significantly MORE business risk than keeping those policies in place.  In this episode of DB|BD, Catalyst’s Head of Knowledge Transformation and Solution Development Alixandra Pollack sits down with host Ellen McGirt to discuss the four categories of risk companies face when retreating from DEI and the study’s recommendations to leaders for a non-reactive approach to maintaining inclusion and trust. Next up, Ellen chats with a design leader who is really living and breathing one of Alix's recommendations "walk the talk and talk the walk."  Doug Powell is a designer, educator, facilitator and host of the podcast This is a Prototype [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-a-prototype/id1699287446]. He pioneered human-design centered practices at big companies like IBM and Expedia. In this conversation, Doug shares with Ellen his experience of learning to be a leader on the job, getting a big company on board with design and why design thinking needs a rebrand.  On this season of DB|BD, we are Designing for the Unknown. Host Ellen McGirt asks visionary designers how they navigate uncertainty- whether it be technological disruption, global crises, or shifting cultural norms. Read The Risk of Retreat [https://uat.catalyst.org/insights/2025/risks-of-retreat-path-forward] in full.  Doug’s website [https://www.dougpowell.design/about] and tune in to his podcast This is a Prototype [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-a-prototype/id1699287446]

In this episode of DB|BD, you’re in for a two for one– or in this case, a double double. First up, host Ellen McGirt sits down with Michael C. Bush, the CEO of Great Place to Work [https://www.greatplacetowork.com/]. Every year, Great Place to Work sends out a survey to 23 million people across 170 countries to ask them how valued and respected they feel at work. Companies that score well on the survey are bestowed with the honor of being- you guessed it- a certified Great Place to Work. Michael talks with Ellen about why Great Place to Work companies are also some of the most profitable, how expectations for workplace culture vary around the world and why consistency is an essential leadership trait. He also shares his thoughts on whether leadership is based in nature or nurture and if DEI was even fully baked to begin with. Later in the episode, Ellen chats with WNBA legend Candace Parker. Candace is a three time WNBA champion and two time Olympic Gold medalist. She is still the only W player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She’s also the author of the new book The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-can-do-mindset-candace-parker/1146877004]. On top of all that, she is a broadcaster, mom, wife and advocate. In this live conversation, recorded on stage at Great Place to Work’s For All Summit, Candace talks about how she got the nickname “can-do”, finding her footing in the W while also nursing her daughter, embracing negativity and why her leadership advice includes signing up for a team sport. On this season of DB|BD, we are Designing for the Unknown. Host Ellen McGirt asks visionary designers how they navigate uncertainty- whether it be technological disruption, global crises, or shifting cultural norms. More on the Great Place to Work Trust Index [https://www.greatplacetowork.com/our-model] Candace Parker’s The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passion [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-can-do-mindset-candace-parker/1146877004] Dr. Richard Cook’s lecture “How Complex Systems Fail” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S0k12uZR14] James Baldwin & William F. Buckley’s 1965 debate [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tek9h3a5wQ]