Human-centered design isn’t just for product teams. It’s a tool every leader should have in their back pocket.

In this episode, Emily is joined by Iris McQuillan-Grace—actor-turned-educator-turned-global head of employee experience—to explore how leaders at every level can use human-centered design to unlock better ways of working.

Iris shares how design thinking principles like empathy mapping, design sprints, and employee personas can help managers resolve challenges and reimagine team cultures—this is not about waiting on a full-scale transformation.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the middle—between your team’s needs and your organization’s demands—this episode offers a practical path forward. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just need the right questions.

Timestamps:

• [00:10:47 ] – What Is Human-Centered Design, Really? Iris defines the concept in clear, accessible terms—and explains why many leaders think they’re doing it when they’re actually not.
• [00:13:49 ] – Mapping the Employee Experience: Iris walks through how to map user journeys and build employee personas to design smarter, more inclusive systems.
• [00:20:15 ] – Applying Human-Centered Design as a Manager: Emily and Iris respond to real manager dilemmas—demonstrating how tools like empathy mapping and co-creation can transform disengaged or siloed teams.
• [00:37:14 ] – From Stuck to Empowered: The episode closes with a reflection on agency, empathy, and the simple power of helping people get out of their own way.

Access the episode transcript.

Ready to lead Human-Centered Design Sprints with Your Team? Head to arosegroup.com/resources to grab your free copy of our HCD Design Sprint Guide for Managers. While you're at it, we'll throw in some additional complementary resources because we care about you and your team's success!

Join the Conversation: This year we’re taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we’ll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let’s Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.

Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group’s website.

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