"Observe and see how things are." 

Steven Panza, Innovation and Design Thinking Lead at Experian, likens design thinkers to anthropologists because the core of what they do is learning from their environment. They observe people around them—their needs, pain points, frustrations, and goals—and then incorporate all those things into the solutions they create. 

A long-time member of the Cultivators Community, Steven’s expertise lies in facilitating design sprints to bring product and people innovation to the marketplace. 

In Episode 2 of “Advancing Ideas: The Cultivators Community Podcast,” Steven introduces us to the world of design thinking and its dynamic nature. He talks about the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and personal engagement in fostering innovation within an organization, in particular: 

• Steven's journey at Experian and the evolution of their design thinking program. 

• Overcoming challenges and pivoting to a 90-day accelerator format. 

• Building trust and providing personalized support to enhance professional journeys. 

Steven’s professional journey highlights the benefits of empowerment within large organizations, particularly in supporting learning, boosting engagement, and driving innovation among its people. 

In his case, Steven is empowered to experiment and take smart risks because he understands his role and capabilities, along with its significance to the company. At the same time, he is in an environment where pivots are celebrated and welcomed. 

This empowering condition allowed Steven and his team to create a more impactful program that allowed the organization to see more tangible actions and results from their design thinking sessions. They were able to transition from providing a classroom-style course, which required huge commitment in terms of time and can be daunting at times, into design sprints, which are more optimized workshops that focus more on addressing specific challenges. 
 
When you and your team are empowered, you are able to look beyond moments of change, learn from setbacks, and see the positive in the ways you changed course. Very much like how Steven overcame challenges and pivoted by turning theories into actions to improve the processes of their team. 

Join us to learn from Steven's experiences and gain valuable insights on advancing your ideas within your organization. Listen to the episode on Spotify. 

Notable Timestamps: 

00:00 Meet Steven Panza 
01:05 Discovering the Unseen Side of Steven 
03:00 The Journey of Implementing Design Thinking at Experian 
04:19 Challenges and Pivots in Design Thinking Training 
11:53 Personal Growth and Managing Setbacks 
13:37 Engaging and Motivating Teams in Design Thinking 
20:39 The Evolution of Training Approaches and Learning from Setbacks 
22:06 Impact on Individuals and the Company Culture 
24:19 Reflecting on the Journey and Advice for Cultivators 

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