Stephen is currently the Head Design Evangelist at InVision where he works as a strategic partner to 97% of the world’s Fortune 100 brands to elevate the business impact of design through education, coaching, and thought leadership. He previously worked at McCann Erickson, Citi and Starwood Hotels building teams that created award-winning global advertising campaigns, multiple Fortune 100 brands, and innovative digital experiences. His work has received over 150 international awards, his app design has been named as one of the World's 100 Greatest Apps, HOW Magazine named him #17 on the 100 of the most talented and influential creatives working today, Apple has featured his work in 10 keynotes and more. He shares what he has learned through his speaking engagements and The Crazy One podcast which is an in-depth exploration of issues that matter to creatives including leadership, creativity, career development, innovation and more.
Where will you focus your talk at FXD this year? An honest conversation about the barriers that are keeping teams form breaking through and having the real impact they should.
What do you enjoy about the work you are doing in finance? Helping teams elevate the impact of design and creativity to finally find a way to breakthrough and have a larger impact on their company.
What gets you most fired up in terms of a technology, tool, trend, or advancement? That there is an increased focus on the thinking and psychology that is necessary for real creativity to happen consistently.
What do you think the future of financial experience will hold? A move from servicing based experiences to more complex and nuanced relationship based experiences.
What is the biggest obstacle you face in building a culture of design and innovation or putting a focus on wellbeing? Resistance to any change due to the comfort of traditional thinking and processes
How might the industry solve it? Realign the source of truth for work from internal political battles that put the priority on which group is right and move to talking to customers so their unmet needs are the source of truth.
What would you tell your younger self? To not worry so much about who you think you are supposed to be because it will make you miss out on who you really are.
