WAIA Case Study | reclingman.com

Applying Design Thinking to Leadership and Business Growth

The “Growing into a Financially Successful Firm: Unlocking Strategies and Mindsets” workshop was designed for the Women’s Leadership Summit 2023 (WLS23) to empower professionals with actionable strategies for business success. The workshop aimed to guide participants through leadership development, talent acquisition, process efficiency, and financial management.

As a co-creator and collaborator, I played a pivotal role in integrating Design Thinking methodologies, crafting learning objectives, and refining content to enhance participant engagement and real-world applicability.

My Roles & Contributions

Integrating Design Thinking for Leadership & Decision-Making
- Developed a structured framework incorporating empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test to foster innovative problem-solving.
- Designed Problem Tree Analysis and Importance & Difficulty Matrix tools to help participants identify challenges and solutions.
- Led the creation of activities that encouraged high-impact decision-making using iterative reflection and real-world business scenarios.
Defining Learning Objectives for Actionable Outcomes
- Designed measurable learning objectives aligned with AIA/CES continuing education standards:
  - Leadership: Enhancing decision-making using design thinking tools.
  - People: Navigating talent acquisition and retention with a structured hiring process.
  - Process: Establishing workflows for efficiency and quality management.
  - Profit: Implementing financial strategies for sustainable business growth.
- Ensured that each session progressed logically, helping attendees connect theoretical concepts with practical applications.
Content Refinement & Workshop Structure
- Collaborated with industry experts to simplify complex business concepts into digestible, interactive modules.
- Developed reflection prompts and breakout session activities to facilitate participant engagement.
- Revised case studies and real-world examples to ensure relevance and inclusivity.

Implementation & Engagement

The workshop included hands-on exercises, such as leadership scenario analysis, business model refinement, and financial OKR planning.
Participants used interactive tools like the Problem Tree Analysis and Importance & Difficulty Matrix to map challenges and prioritize solutions.
The collaborative approach fostered an environment where attendees could apply learning immediately to their professional contexts.

Outcome & Impact

High participant engagement: Attendees actively contributed insights, applied design thinking to real-world business challenges, and shared actionable takeaways.
Increased problem-solving capabilities: The structured framework enabled leaders to approach decision-making with clarity and innovation.
Clear, measurable learning outcomes: Participants left with a roadmap to enhance leadership effectiveness, refine hiring strategies, optimize processes, and improve financial management.