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CoDesign Conversations:
Creating People-Centered Organizations

Join us on March 26 for our LinkedIn Live conversation series that explores the dynamic intersection of public and private sector innovation.

Closeup of the columsn of a government building

What does it take to design businesses around people—employees, customers, and communities? We’ve changed the way we work and live—from the rapid automation of our homes to the integration of AI in every creative field—but the core of any successful venture remains its human element.

In Episode 8 of CoDesign Conversations, we move beyond the interface to look at the systems behind it. Our speakers will discuss how culture, leadership, and operations support autonomy, trust, and human connection. We will explore the ways people-centered practices drive measurable improvements in retention, creativity, and impact.

Moderated by Amy Heymans, CEO of Beneficent, join us for a conversation about design and business. Guest speakers include:

Sharan Bal has guided executive teams through redesigning the systems that shape how everyday work happens for over ten years, from how decisions are made to how teams collaborate, and how culture shows up beyond the values on a wall. Her approach helps organizations move beyond performative culture change and toward structures that unlock autonomy, trust, and shared ownership. At The Ready, Sharan has helped organizations like the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Sweetgreen, and Navy Federal Credit Union execute in complexity—facilitating cross-functional conversations, redesigning operating models, and aligning strategy, culture, and daily practice. Having grown up across England, Hong Kong, and the United States, Sharan brings a global perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing modern organizations. She believes the future of work calls for intentional design that makes it easier for people across different teams and backgrounds to solve big challenges together.
Mark J. Burrell, PhD, is currently the Director of Experience Design and Research for Mass Digital and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts government. A clinical psychologist by training and at heart, he is focused on improving well-being, enabling discovery, and facilitating progressive change. Mark has spent over 25 years as a practitioner and leader, solving problems,, building teams, and facilitating evolution and adoption of people centered design and research practices across diverse domains (government, health care, education, e-commerce, etc.) and organizations in the private and public sectors (e.g., Sapient, Microsoft, IBM Watson Health, Foundation Medicine, Aledade. etc.). In his current role, Mark is happily focused on improving the ability of government agencies to deliver great constituent service experiences and outcomes by growing and supporting a community of constituent-centered design practitioners, learners, and advocates across the state (e.g., see the Massachusetts government Constituent Experience Center of Excellence).
Joseph Johansen (JJ), is currently a design leader within the corporate banking space for U.S. Bank, and sits on advisory boards focused on the future of experience design and its intersection with AI. With over 20 years of digital design and product innovation leadership experience, Joseph is focused on setting strategic direction and leading effective multi-disciplinary teams in exploring, designing, and implementing best-in-class digital products and tools that meet customer expectations and deliver upon business expectations.

March 26, 2026, 1pm ET / 10am PT | Live on LinkedIn

CoDesign Conversations is presented in partnership with Coforma.