The Current: Avoiding Jargon in Leadership and Innovation

Join us for a virtual lightning talk on April 21 with communications expert Catherine Cruveillier and Parsons student Kanushi Rathore

Tune into another episode of The Current. On April 21, Parsons School of Design student Kanushi Rathore will host Catherine Cruveillier, an expert in operational excellence and leadership development, to explore how the overreliance on jargon in professional spaces obscures clarity, complicates decision-making, and stifles true innovation.

The language of leadership often becomes a barrier rather than a bridge. When we lean on buzzwords, we risk losing the human intent behind our work and alienating the very people we aim to lead. This conversation will unpack the necessity of communicating with intention and the courage it takes to embrace simplicity in complex innovation contexts. Kanushi and Catherine will discuss how stripping away the fluff allows for more transparent leadership, sharper strategic alignment, and deeper connection across teams. Join us to learn how to master the art of plain speaking as a deliberate lever for effective leadership and authentic impact.

Their conversation will delve into:

• How technical and corporate shorthand can create “knowledge silos” and hinder inclusive decision-making.
• Why the most effective leaders are those who can translate complex visions into clear, actionable, and human language.
• Strategies for designers and innovators to advocate for clarity in high-stakes environments.
• How to cultivate an authentic leadership voice that prioritizes understanding over sounding “expert.”

About Kanushi Rathore:
Driven by a passion for strategic foresight and human-centric design, Kanushi Rathore is a student at Parsons School of Design focused on the intersection of innovation and inclusive leadership. With a background in navigating complex organizational structures, Kanushi is dedicated to uncovering how clear communication and intentional design can bridge the gap between high-level strategy and everyday impact. She believes that for innovation to be truly transformative, it must first be understood by those it serves.

About Catherine Cruveillier:
Catherine Cruveillier is an international human development expert and leader with over 40 years of experience, including 11 as a leadership coach. She led projects that measurably transformed entire industries for the better worldwide by making humans adopt practices that create financial value from respecting natural life systems instead of destroying them. She understood that the core factor of success in any endeavor is mindful communication. She now shares her winning recipe through writing and holding “Socratic conferences”, where participants learn and practice the simplest yet most powerful words.