November 12, 2023

[137] Oracle’s Head of Design on Customer-Centricity, Leadership & Team Building w/ Jod Kaftan

56 minutes

Jod Kaftan is the Head of Design at Oracle's renewable energy department, shares his fascinating journey and expertise in organizational design and design thinking. We uncover the crucial role of design in solving customer problems, driving innovation, and transforming organizations. From the importance of empathetic leadership to the emerging field of design strategy, we dive deep into the world of design and its impact on various industries.

We cover all this and more:

[00:02:29] A Journalist Turned Content Strategist's Journey.

[00:04:07] Exploring Servant Leadership, Learning from Mistakes, and Fostering Growth Through Fjord Experience.

[00:09:26] The Common Ground of Design and Journalism: Understanding Problems and Chasing Data Points.

[00:14:00] Navigating a Long Consulting Career, Driving Enterprise Growth, Leading in Design, and Contributing to Climate Change Solutions at Oracle Opower.

[00:16:26] Bridging the Gap: Print and Digital Platforms for Decarbonization.

[00:19:44] Enhancing Energy Efficiency: The Role of Stickers in Reminding Peak Energy Usage.

[00:26:43] Balancing Complexity in Large Organizations: The Challenge of Juggling Revenue and Transformation.

[00:28:29] Customer-Centric Design: The Key to Achieving Success.

[00:33:58] Exploring Design Thinking, Customer-Centricity, and Organizational Priorities.

[00:37:07] How Collaboration Stimulates Effective Problem-Solving.

[00:38:28] The Process of Research, Prototyping, and Validating Parallel Paths.

[00:43:01] How Product Leads Collaborate with Design Teams.

[00:46:50] Embracing a Lifelong Journey of Growth, Learning from Mistakes, and Protecting Your Team While Helping Others.

[00:48:49] The Evolution of Digital Products and the Focus on Personal Growth.

Prepare to be inspired as we elevate the conversation on design and leadership with Jod Kaftan.