Innovation driver’s

Building a new area comes with its challenges. Defining a clear purpose and themes is crucial to engage people, provide meaning, and focus on what truly matters. This was exactly what the new leader of the area was seeking when we began this project.

To support this vision, our teams collaborated to design and execute a structured online workshop with senior management and C-level executives. The goal was to identify key themes that would serve as the team’s guiding north star for future projects.

Role and contribution

I collaborated with the innovation leader and two designers from my team to co-create the workshop. I took the lead on designing all visual materials and also served as one of the facilitators during the event.

SKILS: strategic thinking . organization . facilitation . creativity

challenge

The workshop’s primary goal was to define the key themes for future projects in the innovation area.

For me, the real challenge was tackling this question:

How can we meaningfully and productively engage C-level executives and senior management, especially as first-time participants in this type of workshop?

Aproach and process

Project Understanding

Understood the project’s purpose and goals, defined desired outcomes, and participated in initial brainstorming for potential activities.

Trend Research

Assisted with desk research on trends, identified relevant sources, and developed activities to incorporate into the workshop.

Leadership Interviews

Interviewed senior management with a team member, gathering insights into their current perspectives and future outlooks.

Workshop Design

Co-designed the event, including activities, groupings, materials, and a special guest to ensure a memorable experience.

Visual Identity

Developed a cohesive visual concept that was applied consistently across all event materials, from invitations to Miro boards.

Pilot Workshop

The team conducted a pilot with a small group, gathered feedback, and iterated to refine the experience based on the results.

Logistics and Materials

Finalized materials and coordinated logistics, including curated food packages delivered to participants’ homes.

Facilitation and Delivery

Co-facilitated the event, then analyzed the outcomes and delivered a presentation summarizing key findings to the innovation team.

Solution

We created an interactive Miro board, a polished presentation and a coffe that was delivered to the participants home, thinking about the hole experience, not only the workshop. To support that we also had a set of visually engaging deliverables for post-event use. These materials enhanced communication and ensured alignment around the defined themes.

Visual Identity

The visual concept, inspired by the idea of defining paths and exploring new destinations, utilized distinct colors for each category of cards. This system provided clear visual cues throughout the workshop, enhancing navigation and comprehension

Miro board

To enhance participant comfort during long workshop sessions, we designed a dark theme for our Miro board. This not only reduced eye strain but also improved the clarity and flow of activities.

Presentation

We carefully crafted the presentation to deliver a clear narrative and impactful message throughout each stage and day of the workshop.

impact

The workshop achieved full attendance, with 15 senior managers and C-level executives actively participating. Their engagement and feedback highlighted the event’s success in fostering alignment, generating insights, and encouraging collaboration.

Feedback Highlights:

“I like the organization, structure, and format of the event.”

“The facilitation was focused and effective.”

“I valued the openness to new ideas and insights.”

“The curated food package added a personal touch.”

Learning and reflections

Throughout this process, I observed the challenges faced by the leader in building a new area and establishing the team’s credibility. Demonstrating a team’s capabilities is often essential to earning trust, securing budgets, and opening up new opportunities. Limited resources, while challenging, can foster greater creativity, and in these moments, it’s inspiring to see incredible people willing to step in and support the effort.

Facilitating and managing high-stakes events is both challenging and highly fulfilling. Engaging senior management and C-level executives might feel daunting, but with preparation, trust in the process, and confidence in your abilities, it’s entirely achievable. The key is to stay open, embrace the moment, and enjoy the journey.

Finally, reflection is invaluable. Taking time to gather feedback and consider diverse perspectives consistently uncovers meaningful insights that inspire new ideas and guide improvements for future endeavors.