Alison Rand has shaped some of the most respected design cultures in tech—from Frog and Hot Studio to SAP—before turning her focus to the intersection of design, humanity, and midlife. Her new book, Finding Sense and Purpose in Design Leadership (MIT Press), explores how personal history, emotion, and cultural systems shape the way we build and lead. She’s also the co-founder of 40|50, a platform and community that brings women together through story, health, and shared experience.

In this episode, Olivia and Alison discuss the invisible systems behind good design and what happens when those systems fail. They examine how leaders can rebuild culture from the inside out and how women can reclaim power in spaces that were never designed for them.

Key Topics

• The evolution of design from visual polish to organizational transformation
  
  
• How to listen, lead, and identify the “signal amid the noise”
  
  
• Why women in midlife need new models of community and belonging
  
  
• The danger of “culture fit” and what inclusion really requires
  
  
• Lessons from Alison’s book on organic intelligence and lived experience
  
  
• How nature and somatic practice inform her work and creativity
  
  

It’s a deeply human conversation about leadership, identity, and finding purpose beyond performance. Alison’s clarity and warmth cut through the noise, offering a grounded view of what it means to build something iconic—without losing yourself in the process.