Catherine Hills on design trends, developing people and building confidence in creative teams

Naked Ambition Podcast

Catherine Hills is a highly experienced leader of people and practice in design and transformation strategy. With a master’s degree in business research and over 22 years in the tech and design industry, she has extensive experience in capability strategy, design operations, and enablement in a variety of industry contexts both within Australia and internationally. A passionate pioneer of innovation and design strategy, Catherine joins us on the Naked Ambition podcast to discuss: • How our understanding and application of design has changed over the past 20 years and current changes to ways of thinking in the design industry • Why empathy is so important to create better communication and value exchanges for everyone in your system, leading to better outcomes both collectively and individually • How careers in the design space are changing beyond the traditional and the pathway for designers looking to step into the industry or elevate their career • Catherine’s reflections on her own leadership journey and her experience with leading a team strategically, while also tapping into individual motivations and needs • The local aspects of design and how First Nations culture and thinking can be integrated with Australia’s contemporary thought processes In recent years Catherine has been a finalist in the Women Techmakers Scholars Program and Victorian Premier’s Design Awards, has received a Peer Award in Teaching Communication Design Expertise – Digital UX at RMIT, and is a 2020 EMBA Scholarship Recipient at the University of Melbourne. Read more about her work with others in the design community via the links below. Catherine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-hills-96a1b515 Follow us: @_nakedambition www.naked-ambition.com.au A recent article Catherine wrote for Future Shapers UK https://thefutureshapers.com/why-continuous-reflection-provides-cultural-rewards-for-organisations/ Career Architecture by Mags Hanley https://www.magshanley.com/career-architecture-book Transition Leadership Lab with Susanna Carman and Associates https://www.susannacarman.com/learning-lab Human Systems Dynamics at LAST Conference with Ahmed Avais https://www.hsdinstitute.org/ First Knowledges Building on Country by Alison Page and Paul Memmot https://thamesandhudson.com.au/the-first-knowledges-series/ Make Meaningful Work by Dan Szuc and Jo Wong https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/