017 : Weathering Uncertainty by Putting Your People First with Maurice Cherry (The Culture Design Show)

“It’s one thing to have a portfolio full of pretty pictures; but how did you get there? What was the process that you put together to get to this point? Show me your work!” This is what mathematician-turned-entrepreneur Maurice Cherry had to say to those who want to succeed in the field of design. He compares design thinking to the scientific method: a process that requires testing, hypothesizing, and forming logical conclusions. Well-established processes coupled with empathy and leadership from behind, says Maurice, leads to a team that can weather any storm.

Maurice shares how his most recent employer, Glitch, manages to maintain its alignment between employer brand and employee experience, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. A remote-first company, Glitch was able to quickly adapt to limitations imposed by lockdowns across the country. From being 50% remote, they went 100% remote in March of 2020. Since working from home was never a novelty among Glitch’s team members, they were able to communicate clearly and efficiently as they engaged in solution-oriented conversations during those trying months. “As a company, we put our employees first and make sure that who they are is just as important as what they do.”

Steve Chaparro and Maurice discuss how to lead an effective design team. Having been both an employee and a business owner in the design world, Maurice accumulated a number of hard-won lessons. He realized the importance of networking to progress in one’s career, embracing the risks that come with building a team from the ground-up, and nurturing company values that keep teams healthy and inspired for the long-term.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

  • How Maurice applies the thought processes of mathematics to professional design and entrepreneurship

  • Similarities between design thinking and the scientific method

  • What led Maurice to start his own creative agency, Lunch, in 2008.

  • Maurice’s early challenges and lessons learned as an entrepreneur

  • Why Maurice joined Glitch in 2017

  • How Glitch aligned employer brand and employee experience, especially amid COVID-19

  • The story behind Maurice’s award-winning podcast, Revision Path which features the stories and work of black designers.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

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