AMA: Ryan Rumsey teaches business literacy for designers
Wed Sept 3 at 9:30AM PT, 12:30PM ET, 6:30PM GMT
They don't teach business in design school, so it's no surprise that the careers of designers are often constrained by a lack of understanding of how design can and should be supporting business goals. Ryan Rumsey, founder of Second Wave Dive and Chief Design Officer (CDO) School, helps designers at major companies think strategically and in this AMA, he's going to do the same for you. Join us for a conversation with Ryan about how to cultivate literacy in business to realize your potential as a design leader.
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About Ryan Rumsey
Ryan Rumsey is a design leadership coach, consultant, author, and micro-business operator based in rural Vermont. With over 20 years of experience at top-tier companies like Apple, EA, USAA, Nestlé, and Comcast, Ryan brings deep expertise in product design, leadership, and strategic thinking to the table.
He runs Second Wave Dive, a creative studio and holding company from which he publishes a weekly-ish newsletter exploring sustainable independent work, micro-business building, and creative strategy . As founder of Chief Design Officer (CDO) School, he teaches senior designers and design teams how to think strategically in their roles.
Ryan is also the author of two practical and empowering guidebooks—Business Thinking for Designers (teaching designers how to build trust and influence business partners) and Play Up Your Impact (helping creatives effectively communicate their contributions using data and storytelling).
Beyond writing and coaching, he speaks globally—at companies like Google, Zillow, and DocuSign, and at conferences including TEDx, UX London, IxDA Oslo, and Creative Mornings. He’s also worked with universities such as Georgia Tech, UT Austin, and EPFL.