Michael Leon’s creative vision has played a major role in developing some of the world’s most cherished and relevant brands across many diverse disciplines. From his early experiences in the skateboard industry to creative leadership roles at Patagonia, Nike, Levi’s and Sonos, he’s shaped his core tenets that design is strategy, advocacy beats advertising, and purpose is the future of business. As a leader, he's provided a roadmap for designers who want to chart a career path with intention, and his approach to building brands from the inside out is a powerful leadership strategy for creating the companies of the future.

In this conversation, Karen and Michael discuss the power of design in building brands, the changing landscape of workplace culture and leadership, and how designing for a better world might be the only thing that matters for the businesses of tomorrow.