I’m tired of explaining myself I’m tired of the sudden swell of
I’m tired of the sudden swell of
I’m tired of the sudden swell of adrenaline when I sit down beside a new
adrenaline when I sit down beside a new
adrenaline when I sit down beside a new person on a plane or talk to a new
person on a plane or talk to a new
person on a plane or talk to a new friend and they ask that dreaded
friend and they ask that dreaded
friend and they ask that dreaded question now what is it that you do I
question now what is it that you do I
question now what is it that you do I have ten answers to this question I’m an
have ten answers to this question I’m an
have ten answers to this question I’m an innovator I’m a city builder I’m a
innovator I’m a city builder I’m a
innovator I’m a city builder I’m a designer
designer
designer I’m an urbanist I’m a change maker
I’m an urbanist I’m a change maker
I’m an urbanist I’m a change maker having multiple ways of describing what
having multiple ways of describing what
having multiple ways of describing what I do is that one’s empowering and
I do is that one’s empowering and
I do is that one’s empowering and exhausting because we don’t live in a
exhausting because we don’t live in a
exhausting because we don’t live in a world anymore where we stay in jobs for
world anymore where we stay in jobs for
world anymore where we stay in jobs for decades on end the new job is knowing
decades on end the new job is knowing
decades on end the new job is knowing the problem you want to solve my friend
the problem you want to solve my friend
the problem you want to solve my friend rachel advocates for children’s rights
rachel advocates for children’s rights
rachel advocates for children’s rights my friend Cassie helps women understand
my friend Cassie helps women understand
my friend Cassie helps women understand the toxins in their environment my
the toxins in their environment my
the toxins in their environment my friend Kyle helps most creative people
friend Kyle helps most creative people
friend Kyle helps most creative people in the world tell their stories on stage
in the world tell their stories on stage
in the world tell their stories on stage it’s often a signal that you’re talking
it’s often a signal that you’re talking
it’s often a signal that you’re talking to someone interesting when they talk
to someone interesting when they talk
to someone interesting when they talk about what’s changed in the world as a
about what’s changed in the world as a
about what’s changed in the world as a result of their work not the titles or
result of their work not the titles or
result of their work not the titles or the accreditation they’ve held if I want
the accreditation they’ve held if I want
the accreditation they’ve held if I want to increase prosperity for all I might
to increase prosperity for all I might
to increase prosperity for all I might write policy and local government I
write policy and local government I
write policy and local government I might work for a local charity that
might work for a local charity that
might work for a local charity that increases access to local economic
increases access to local economic
increases access to local economic development I might even work for a bank
development I might even work for a bank
development I might even work for a bank to figure out how to get new types of
to figure out how to get new types of
to figure out how to get new types of people checking accounts freeing me from
people checking accounts freeing me from
people checking accounts freeing me from this orientation towards professional
this orientation towards professional
this orientation towards professional titles allows me to be so many things in
titles allows me to be so many things in
titles allows me to be so many things in advancing an important agenda why should
advancing an important agenda why should
advancing an important agenda why should it matter if I do it from inside of a
it matter if I do it from inside of a
it matter if I do it from inside of a charity or inside of a bank why do
charity or inside of a bank why do
charity or inside of a bank why do people even care well it seems to matter
people even care well it seems to matter
people even care well it seems to matter to a lot of people we as humans love to
to a lot of people we as humans love to
to a lot of people we as humans love to credential as each other and it’s not a
credential as each other and it’s not a
credential as each other and it’s not a bad impulse it tries to bring clarity to
bad impulse it tries to bring clarity to
bad impulse it tries to bring clarity to situations that feel murky but it
situations that feel murky but it
situations that feel murky but it becomes a challenge when people get left
becomes a challenge when people get left
becomes a challenge when people get left behind because they don’t have a fan
behind because they don’t have a fan
behind because they don’t have a fan title or credential to participate more
title or credential to participate more
title or credential to participate more often than not if we can’t fit people
often than not if we can’t fit people
often than not if we can’t fit people into a tidy box we don’t give them a
into a tidy box we don’t give them a
into a tidy box we don’t give them a chance I’ve never had that impulse to
chance I’ve never had that impulse to
chance I’ve never had that impulse to chase titles because every time I get
chase titles because every time I get
chase titles because every time I get close to something I think I want I
close to something I think I want I
close to something I think I want I realized that titles come with
realized that titles come with
realized that titles come with preconceived notions of how change
preconceived notions of how change
preconceived notions of how change happens change requires power to lie at
happens change requires power to lie at
happens change requires power to lie at the top change requires an understanding
the top change requires an understanding
the top change requires an understanding of people to come from desk research
of people to come from desk research
of people to come from desk research change requires experts to speak on
change requires experts to speak on
change requires experts to speak on behalf of people whose problems were
behalf of people whose problems were
behalf of people whose problems were trying to solve so let me tell you how I
trying to solve so let me tell you how I
trying to solve so let me tell you how I describe what I do I say that I design
describe what I do I say that I design
describe what I do I say that I design for the public interest and I work to
for the public interest and I work to
for the public interest and I work to design systems that give people power
design systems that give people power
design systems that give people power now when I say this I get one of two
now when I say this I get one of two
now when I say this I get one of two reactions either a blank stare as people
reactions either a blank stare as people
reactions either a blank stare as people try to understand what it is that I mean
try to understand what it is that I mean
try to understand what it is that I mean or they nod voraciously so that I think
or they nod voraciously so that I think
or they nod voraciously so that I think they understand and we can just go on
they understand and we can just go on
they understand and we can just go on talking about something else I’ve worked
talking about something else I’ve worked
talking about something else I’ve worked to give people power by bringing
to give people power by bringing
to give people power by bringing children to policy tables bringing
children to policy tables bringing
children to policy tables bringing newcomers to the center of capital
newcomers to the center of capital
newcomers to the center of capital projects in marginalized communities and
projects in marginalized communities and
projects in marginalized communities and bringing frontline caseworkers into the
bringing frontline caseworkers into the
bringing frontline caseworkers into the design of critical benefits that they
design of critical benefits that they
design of critical benefits that they deliver every day I look for places
deliver every day I look for places
deliver every day I look for places spaces and systems where citizens voices
spaces and systems where citizens voices
spaces and systems where citizens voices aren’t heard because I believe that when
aren’t heard because I believe that when
aren’t heard because I believe that when we engage those closest to the problem
we engage those closest to the problem
we engage those closest to the problem we’re trying to solve we have a better
we’re trying to solve we have a better
we’re trying to solve we have a better chance at designing a solution that
chance at designing a solution that
chance at designing a solution that actually meets their needs and I believe
actually meets their needs and I believe
actually meets their needs and I believe that it is our right to be considered
that it is our right to be considered
that it is our right to be considered and it’s actually maybe even a simpler
and it’s actually maybe even a simpler
and it’s actually maybe even a simpler way of describing what I do that I Pete
way of describing what I do that I Pete
way of describing what I do that I Pete help people understand that we all have
help people understand that we all have
help people understand that we all have a right to be considered for a long time
a right to be considered for a long time
a right to be considered for a long time most of my work was done alongside folks
most of my work was done alongside folks
most of my work was done alongside folks who had dedicated their entire lives and
who had dedicated their entire lives and
who had dedicated their entire lives and careers to making social change happen
careers to making social change happen
careers to making social change happen and social change makers myself included
and social change makers myself included
and social change makers myself included are the worst sometimes because I hear
are the worst sometimes because I hear
are the worst sometimes because I hear this painful orthodoxy all the time this
this painful orthodoxy all the time this
this painful orthodoxy all the time this social sector is good the corporate
social sector is good the corporate
social sector is good the corporate sector is bad this is the accepted and
sector is bad this is the accepted and
sector is bad this is the accepted and unchallenged wisdom around change-making
unchallenged wisdom around change-making
unchallenged wisdom around change-making and it turns out it isn’t true so I
and it turns out it isn’t true so I
and it turns out it isn’t true so I decided to try and experiment a few
decided to try and experiment a few
decided to try and experiment a few years ago I decided that working
years ago I decided that working
years ago I decided that working exclusively in the social sector
exclusively in the social sector
exclusively in the social sector wouldn’t help me scale the impact that I
wouldn’t help me scale the impact that I
wouldn’t help me scale the impact that I want to see happen in the world if we
want to see happen in the world if we
want to see happen in the world if we want to increase access to dignified
want to increase access to dignified
want to increase access to dignified housing we need to work with insurance
housing we need to work with insurance
housing we need to work with insurance companies we need to work with banks
companies we need to work with banks
companies we need to work with banks housing experts perhaps those even in
housing experts perhaps those even in
housing experts perhaps those even in academia if we want cities more like
academia if we want cities more like
academia if we want cities more like what Urbanists jane jacobs envisioned
what Urbanists jane jacobs envisioned
what Urbanists jane jacobs envisioned they would be safe places with eyes on
they would be safe places with eyes on
they would be safe places with eyes on the street like the diverse array of
the street like the diverse array of
the street like the diverse array of commercial and community and
commercial and community and
commercial and community and recreational amenities we need to work
recreational amenities we need to work
recreational amenities we need to work with developers policy officials
with developers policy officials
with developers policy officials community organisations and small
community organisations and small
community organisations and small business owners so I accepted the
business owners so I accepted the
business owners so I accepted the position to lead the Canadian studio of
position to lead the Canadian studio of
position to lead the Canadian studio of the oldest design and innovation firm in
the oldest design and innovation firm in
the oldest design and innovation firm in the world we work to bring together
the world we work to bring together
the world we work to bring together people and organizations in the public
people and organizations in the public
people and organizations in the public and private sector to remind them that
and private sector to remind them that
and private sector to remind them that if they focus less on protecting their
if they focus less on protecting their
if they focus less on protecting their scale their size and their market share
scale their size and their market share
scale their size and their market share and they focus more on building things
and they focus more on building things
and they focus more on building things that are driven from deep and nuanced
that are driven from deep and nuanced
that are driven from deep and nuanced human insights they win and they can
human insights they win and they can
human insights they win and they can still make money I wanted to see if we
still make money I wanted to see if we
still make money I wanted to see if we could have a material impact on the
could have a material impact on the
could have a material impact on the issues that matter by bringing
issues that matter by bringing
issues that matter by bringing billion-dollar organizations into these
billion-dollar organizations into these
billion-dollar organizations into these really cool places the homes the lives
really cool places the homes the lives
really cool places the homes the lives the workplaces and hearts of the people
the workplaces and hearts of the people
the workplaces and hearts of the people that they’re trying to serve essentially
that they’re trying to serve essentially
that they’re trying to serve essentially we teach large organizations how to
we teach large organizations how to
we teach large organizations how to listen and have them confront their
listen and have them confront their
listen and have them confront their organizational egos about how much they
organizational egos about how much they
organizational egos about how much they actually know about the people they’re
actually know about the people they’re
actually know about the people they’re trying to serve so often they orient
trying to serve so often they orient
trying to serve so often they orient themselves towards what’s feasible and
themselves towards what’s feasible and
themselves towards what’s feasible and viable that they completely forget
viable that they completely forget
viable that they completely forget what’s desirable for people now this is
what’s desirable for people now this is
what’s desirable for people now this is not because large organizations are bad
not because large organizations are bad
not because large organizations are bad or because they don’t care it’s because
or because they don’t care it’s because
or because they don’t care it’s because they think that people problems are too
they think that people problems are too
they think that people problems are too small and the problems they’re trying to
small and the problems they’re trying to
small and the problems they’re trying to solve are so big and they forget that
solve are so big and they forget that
solve are so big and they forget that small people problems are their big
small people problems are their big
small people problems are their big problems as an example our studio is
problems as an example our studio is
problems as an example our studio is Reese
Reese
Reese engaged by our federal government in
engaged by our federal government in
engaged by our federal government in Canada to solve the challenge of
Canada to solve the challenge of
Canada to solve the challenge of onboarding seniors to one of the most
onboarding seniors to one of the most
onboarding seniors to one of the most critical benefits programs available to
critical benefits programs available to
critical benefits programs available to them now it should be known that this
them now it should be known that this
them now it should be known that this program has single-handedly contributed
program has single-handedly contributed
program has single-handedly contributed to reducing poverty for seniors living
to reducing poverty for seniors living
to reducing poverty for seniors living in Canada and the federal government had
in Canada and the federal government had
in Canada and the federal government had a hunch that creating digital platforms
a hunch that creating digital platforms
a hunch that creating digital platforms would facilitate and increase access
would facilitate and increase access
would facilitate and increase access they had invested a lot of money against
they had invested a lot of money against
they had invested a lot of money against developing against this hunch and they
developing against this hunch and they
developing against this hunch and they hadn’t gone and talked to people yet so
hadn’t gone and talked to people yet so
hadn’t gone and talked to people yet so we went and talked to people we went and
we went and talked to people we went and
we went and talked to people we went and talked to seniors and social workers
talked to seniors and social workers
talked to seniors and social workers helping seniors and we discussed the
helping seniors and we discussed the
helping seniors and we discussed the experience of Aging and we heard two
experience of Aging and we heard two
experience of Aging and we heard two things one it’s really embarrassing to
things one it’s really embarrassing to
things one it’s really embarrassing to age and feel like you need handouts from
age and feel like you need handouts from
age and feel like you need handouts from the government and two even if you do
the government and two even if you do
the government and two even if you do when your senior you don’t have a Sherpa
when your senior you don’t have a Sherpa
when your senior you don’t have a Sherpa you don’t have someone beside you to
you don’t have someone beside you to
you don’t have someone beside you to help you figure it all out and so we
help you figure it all out and so we
help you figure it all out and so we spent all this time looking for this big
spent all this time looking for this big
spent all this time looking for this big transformational digital innovation and
transformational digital innovation and
transformational digital innovation and really what we needed to create to solve
really what we needed to create to solve
really what we needed to create to solve this very critical problem was a PDF 26
this very critical problem was a PDF 26
this very critical problem was a PDF 26 pages that quickly and simply educate
pages that quickly and simply educate
pages that quickly and simply educate seniors that a it’s a benefit it’s not
seniors that a it’s a benefit it’s not
seniors that a it’s a benefit it’s not welfare it’s just a thank you for being
welfare it’s just a thank you for being
welfare it’s just a thank you for being Canadian and B you can literally trace
Canadian and B you can literally trace
Canadian and B you can literally trace your finger along a decision tree in a
your finger along a decision tree in a
your finger along a decision tree in a few minutes and figure out if you’re
few minutes and figure out if you’re
few minutes and figure out if you’re eligible and as designers our instinct
eligible and as designers our instinct
eligible and as designers our instinct was to make a cool and interactive and
was to make a cool and interactive and
was to make a cool and interactive and we kept getting told by seniors and
we kept getting told by seniors and
we kept getting told by seniors and social workers not to bother because
social workers not to bother because
social workers not to bother because they were just gonna print it out
they were just gonna print it out
they were just gonna print it out anyways we learned that we weren’t in
anyways we learned that we weren’t in
anyways we learned that we weren’t in fact serving a digital mandate but we
fact serving a digital mandate but we
fact serving a digital mandate but we were addressing the shame and opaqueness
were addressing the shame and opaqueness
were addressing the shame and opaqueness of government systems it was a literacy
of government systems it was a literacy
of government systems it was a literacy building exercise not a digital one and
building exercise not a digital one and
building exercise not a digital one and it takes courage to solve for something
it takes courage to solve for something
it takes courage to solve for something that specific like solving for shame but
that specific like solving for shame but
that specific like solving for shame but when we do we save millions of dollars
when we do we save millions of dollars
when we do we save millions of dollars we address a need very quickly the
we address a need very quickly the
we address a need very quickly the solution is now out in the world it’s
solution is now out in the world it’s
solution is now out in the world it’s not caught up in the Machine of
not caught up in the Machine of
not caught up in the Machine of government and we invest in building the
government and we invest in building the
government and we invest in building the right thing once instead of partially
right thing once instead of partially
right thing once instead of partially effective things twice
this work matters in real life it’s not
this work matters in real life it’s not as pithy and involves managing a lot of
as pithy and involves managing a lot of
as pithy and involves managing a lot of anxiety uncertainty and egos it requires
anxiety uncertainty and egos it requires
anxiety uncertainty and egos it requires us to honor and respect systems that
us to honor and respect systems that
us to honor and respect systems that people uphold and then gently and
people uphold and then gently and
people uphold and then gently and simultaneously move them toward
simultaneously move them toward
simultaneously move them toward dismantling those systems so they can
dismantling those systems so they can
dismantling those systems so they can create the impact that they want to have
create the impact that they want to have
create the impact that they want to have in the world now people don’t write
in the world now people don’t write
in the world now people don’t write managing egos anxieties uncertainties in
managing egos anxieties uncertainties in
managing egos anxieties uncertainties in most job descriptions this work helps me
most job descriptions this work helps me
most job descriptions this work helps me achieve my goal of giving people power
achieve my goal of giving people power
achieve my goal of giving people power and supporting people to have power in
and supporting people to have power in
and supporting people to have power in their lives and communities but when
their lives and communities but when
their lives and communities but when people ask me what I do I still don’t
people ask me what I do I still don’t
people ask me what I do I still don’t have the courage to simply say I work
have the courage to simply say I work
have the courage to simply say I work really hard and I try to create systems
really hard and I try to create systems
really hard and I try to create systems that give people voice sometimes I get
that give people voice sometimes I get
that give people voice sometimes I get called a designer sometimes an innovator
called a designer sometimes an innovator
called a designer sometimes an innovator sometimes a consultant and all of those
sometimes a consultant and all of those
sometimes a consultant and all of those titles make me shudder they don’t feel
titles make me shudder they don’t feel
titles make me shudder they don’t feel honest they don’t feel like they really
honest they don’t feel like they really
honest they don’t feel like they really capture what I do so today I challenge
capture what I do so today I challenge
capture what I do so today I challenge the orthodoxy that having a fancy title
the orthodoxy that having a fancy title
the orthodoxy that having a fancy title means that you have power because if I
means that you have power because if I
means that you have power because if I truly believe that kids can build
truly believe that kids can build
truly believe that kids can build buildings and people suffering with
buildings and people suffering with
buildings and people suffering with addiction issues can design the most
addiction issues can design the most
addiction issues can design the most thoughtful healthcare systems and new
thoughtful healthcare systems and new
thoughtful healthcare systems and new moms can design the most envelopment
moms can design the most envelopment
moms can design the most envelopment retail experiences then I have to
retail experiences then I have to
retail experiences then I have to believe that they can do it without
believe that they can do it without
believe that they can do it without credentials without a fancy title that
credentials without a fancy title that
credentials without a fancy title that they can hang their hat on innovating
they can hang their hat on innovating
they can hang their hat on innovating large institutions and big bad companies
large institutions and big bad companies
large institutions and big bad companies meant leaving the social enterprise that
meant leaving the social enterprise that
meant leaving the social enterprise that I built and ran for ten years you know
I built and ran for ten years you know
I built and ran for ten years you know most people know me as a as a thinker
most people know me as a as a thinker
most people know me as a as a thinker and social change and and citizen
and social change and and citizen
and social change and and citizen engagement and civic innovation and here
engagement and civic innovation and here
engagement and civic innovation and here I was going to run a design studio that
I was going to run a design studio that
I was going to run a design studio that had just been purchased by the largest
had just been purchased by the largest
had just been purchased by the largest management consulting firm in the world
management consulting firm in the world
management consulting firm in the world in the minds of most people
in the minds of most people
in the minds of most people I was definitely leaving the world of
I was definitely leaving the world of
I was definitely leaving the world of change making and I heard the word
change making and I heard the word
change making and I heard the word sellout a stint that this was a phase I
sellout a stint that this was a phase I
sellout a stint that this was a phase I was going through and it hurts
was going through and it hurts
was going through and it hurts it felt like it was attacking my
it felt like it was attacking my
it felt like it was attacking my identity at its core and challenging
identity at its core and challenging
identity at its core and challenging what I was actually trying to do it left
what I was actually trying to do it left
what I was actually trying to do it left me feeling judged but these feelings
me feeling judged but these feelings
me feeling judged but these feelings were signals to me there were signals
were signals to me there were signals
were signals to me there were signals that I was pushing up against them
that I was pushing up against them
that I was pushing up against them entrenched orthodoxies about who owns
entrenched orthodoxies about who owns
entrenched orthodoxies about who owns change-making
change-making
change-making I am learning that social change cannot
I am learning that social change cannot
I am learning that social change cannot just be left to those working in the
just be left to those working in the
just be left to those working in the social sector I’m learning that we have
social sector I’m learning that we have
social sector I’m learning that we have to diversify the number of entities that
to diversify the number of entities that
to diversify the number of entities that solve people problems and I’m learning
solve people problems and I’m learning
solve people problems and I’m learning that those entities include both two
that those entities include both two
that those entities include both two person art collaborative and
person art collaborative and
person art collaborative and billion-dollar companies I’ve often
billion-dollar companies I’ve often
billion-dollar companies I’ve often thought that this picks up on the work
thought that this picks up on the work
thought that this picks up on the work that one of my greatest influences Jane
that one of my greatest influences Jane
that one of my greatest influences Jane Jacobs where she left off she wasn’t a
Jacobs where she left off she wasn’t a
Jacobs where she left off she wasn’t a planner or an economist yet she served
planner or an economist yet she served
planner or an economist yet she served as one of the most influential thinkers
as one of the most influential thinkers
as one of the most influential thinkers of our time in both of those spaces and
of our time in both of those spaces and
of our time in both of those spaces and she used her influence to build soap
she used her influence to build soap
she used her influence to build soap boxes for others like her she wanted it
boxes for others like her she wanted it
boxes for others like her she wanted it to be valued that lived experience has
to be valued that lived experience has
to be valued that lived experience has power and that you don’t need to be an
power and that you don’t need to be an
power and that you don’t need to be an expert to make change happen you just
expert to make change happen you just
expert to make change happen you just have to have a willingness to see that
have to have a willingness to see that
have to have a willingness to see that change happens everywhere in the last
change happens everywhere in the last
change happens everywhere in the last line of her seminal book the death and
line of her seminal book the death and
line of her seminal book the death and life of great American cities she so
life of great American cities she so
life of great American cities she so poignantly says that lively diverse
poignantly says that lively diverse
poignantly says that lively diverse intense cities contain the seeds of
intense cities contain the seeds of
intense cities contain the seeds of their own regeneration with energy
their own regeneration with energy
their own regeneration with energy enough to carry over for problems and
enough to carry over for problems and
enough to carry over for problems and needs outside of themselves I believe
needs outside of themselves I believe
needs outside of themselves I believe that when we invest in diversifying who
that when we invest in diversifying who
that when we invest in diversifying who gets to participate in solving wicked
gets to participate in solving wicked
gets to participate in solving wicked problems we to plant the seeds of our
problems we to plant the seeds of our
problems we to plant the seeds of our own regeneration we diversify the types
own regeneration we diversify the types
own regeneration we diversify the types of experiences approaches ideas and
of experiences approaches ideas and
of experiences approaches ideas and expertise they give us a better shot at
expertise they give us a better shot at
expertise they give us a better shot at building solutions that stick resilient
building solutions that stick resilient
building solutions that stick resilient ideas that can adapt as the world
ideas that can adapt as the world
ideas that can adapt as the world changes and evolves so today I challenge
changes and evolves so today I challenge
changes and evolves so today I challenge you talk about what you do without a
you talk about what you do without a
you talk about what you do without a title please stop saying it let I’m just
title please stop saying it let I’m just
title please stop saying it let I’m just I’m just a mom I’m just a volunteer I’m
I’m just a mom I’m just a volunteer I’m
I’m just a mom I’m just a volunteer I’m just a student don’t rest on the name of
just a student don’t rest on the name of
just a student don’t rest on the name of your organization your boss your degree
your organization your boss your degree
your organization your boss your degree your school give your lived experience
your school give your lived experience
your school give your lived experience some power and know that that’s saying I
some power and know that that’s saying I
some power and know that that’s saying I do work that I deeply care about and
do work that I deeply care about and
do work that I deeply care about and it’s good is the best credential you
it’s good is the best credential you
it’s good is the best credential you could ever have
could ever have
could ever have thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment