Our North American Core Team

Sally Lawler Kennedy
Deputy Chairperson

Executive Member

„If you think research takes too long, you should look at the cost of not doing it“


What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about human-centered design, crafting delightful customer experiences, and leveraging technology and data to drive innovation.


What qualities makes you unique?

Focus on bringing together the problem and human experience together with technology.


Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

There are many great ideas, but only a few make it to innovations. Make Innovations Real is about turning ideas into innovations that create better CX. Design at Business focuses on how to make innovation real.


What is your commitment to enable DatB?

Contributing to establishing and then building the Design at Business Association.


Shane Picciotto

Chief Secretary
Executive Member

A testable idea is better than a great idea“


What are you most passionate about?

"Moving the innovation and human centered design closer to a discipline the same way marketing and sales is a discipline."


What qualities makes you unique?

"I've helped accelerate many early maturity product teams think and put into practice human centered design ideals."


Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

"Change is hard and uncomfortable but if you dislike it then you'll dislike being irrelevant even more to roughly" quote Eric Shinseki


What is your commitment to enable DatB?

"Design at Business will grow proportional to the sunlight and water we give it. I commit to giving it at least 2 hours a week to advance our Secretarial goals."


Bill Wittland - Communication Officer

Bill Wittland

Communication Officer

„“


What are you most passionate about?
"
I am passionate about ideas and compelling communications for those ideas. In addition, I am drawn to new insights and new combinations of insights that yield breakthrough thinking and behaviors.

 


What qualities makes you unique?
"I seek to blend and balance the qualities of both brain hemispheres to create persuasive messaging and products, thereby launching new ideas and directions."

Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

"I believe innovation is the engine of progress. I think DatB represents a unique platform for a neglected population of creative design thinkers."


What is your commitment to enable DatB?

"I am prepared to serve DatB as the Communications Officer, as well as contribute as an active member."


Jose dos Santos

Program Lead Skill-Up
Executive Member

We need more designers at the helm!


What are you most passionate about?

"I am passionate about ideas and compelling communications for those ideas. In addition, I am drawn to new insights and new combinations of insights that yield breakthrough thinking and behaviors."

 

 


What qualities makes you unique?

>30 years of experience, passionate and deliberate.


Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

DatB provides a unique forum for innovation because of its focus and global reach.


What is your commitment to enable DatB?

Grow the knowledge on design leadership in large corporations, engage those at the heart of it and discuss ways to improve, document and share within 12 months.


Leo Frishberg

Chapter Lead NA

„“


What are you most passionate about?

"I love making things manifest, by which I mean, creating something in the world that didn’t exist before. With that said, I’m fundamentally a humanist, so making things manifest in service of people’s fundamental needs is important to me."


What qualities makes you unique?

"My super-power is my ability to see the future. Sadly, my kryptonite is that I’m always wrong."


Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

"Innovation is really hard and really risky. When only 1 in 100 ideas make it to a successful launch, organizations are rightfully skeptical of investing in innovation. Because DatB is a community of innovation thought leaders, I see this network as a resource to help any single organization improve their odds."


What is your commitment to enable DatB?

"I’m enthusiastic about building the NA chapter into the powerhouse it has the potential to be! Over my term as NA Chapter Lead, I’m committed to increasing both the number and engagement of the NA members."


Mirela Viersa
Executive Member

„“


What are you most passionate about?

What qualities makes you unique?

Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

 


What is your commitment to enable DatB?

 


Virginia Hamilton

Executive Member 


What are you most passionate about?

Public sector innovation

 


What qualities makes you unique?

I have a background in facilitation, process tools and methods in addition to HCD.


Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

I thrive when I have a network of peers and friends who care about the same work.


What is your commitment to enable DatB?

We need to develop with the community.


Danielle Barisic

Executive Member 

„“


What are you most passionate about?

What qualities makes you unique?

 


Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

What is your commitment to enable DatB?

Deepa Iyer

Executive Member 

„Connect + share + learn“


What are you most passionate about?
  • Design-led organization transformation
  • Connecting with HCD facilitators
  • Learning programs created using a Design approach 

What qualities makes you unique?
  • Leader
  • Collaborator & co-creator
  • Sharing knowledge, experience and best practices

Why is innovation important to you and why do you want to do it here at DatB?

I am passionate about designing learning experiences and spearheading and amplifying communities of practices. DatB provides the environment for doing just that and learning from others on how they lead those efforts.


What is your commitment to enable DatB?
  • Participate and share my lessons learned and experiences
  • Co-create content that support innovation, Design Thinking and design-led transformation in organizations
  • Co-innovate new ways of working across companies