Summary
In her talk, Marina articulates the significance of recognizing the impact of our work on real lives, underscoring that developing technology, whether for communication or healthcare, should always show a commitment to user welfare. She encourages leaders to promote a culture of responsibility by engaging directly with users and fostering meaningful conversations across organizational teams. Drawing upon her experience, Marina reflects on the necessity for long-term commitment to change, specifically within large organizations. She shares insights on the challenges of navigating bureaucratic structures, the role of middle management as potential barriers, and the need for leadership that cultivates an ethical and proactive work environment. Ultimately, she calls for individuals to take ownership of asking critical questions that spur thoughtful action and challenge the status quo.
Key Insights
-
•
Creating a user-first culture is essential for meaningful impact in societal applications.
-
•
Engaging directly with users can illuminate hidden responsibilities of technology creators.
-
•
Bureaucratic processes can resist change, requiring persistence and a strategic approach to overcome.
-
•
Leadership plays a crucial role in fostering an environment that encourages ethical decision-making.
-
•
Being seen as a 'pain' for asking difficult questions can be a sign of a healthy organizational culture.
-
•
Changing the job description can align the motivations of middle management with organizational goals.
-
•
Long-term cultural change is often a gradual process that requires openness to difficult conversations.
-
•
Successful change often requires strategic coalitions with other stakeholders within the organization.
-
•
Meaningful change often starts with individual actions and questions.
-
•
Technology should be a tool for positive change, not a weapon for exploitation.
Notable Quotes
"What we do matters, and it can sometimes mean someone's life or death."
"We need to step up and use our voice in the industry."
"No amount of high-profile sign-offs will create lasting change."
"The only way through it was through it; there are no shortcuts."
"Someone has to be the person to ask the question first."
"You need those pain in the ass people that speak up and stand up."
"It’s about being strategic about when you speak up and how you speak up."
"We need to read the room and understand what drives our colleagues."
"At the end of the day, it comes down to people actually caring about one another."
"It’s your job because no one else is coming."
















More Videos

"The power of followership is pretty amazing."
John MaedaMaking Sense of Enterprise UX
June 9, 2016

"We’re talking about different front ends that vary and respect people's different approaches."
Indi YoungThinking styles: Mend hidden cracks in your market
January 8, 2025

"Collaboration between data teams and design teams can create delightful experiences for customers."
Chris ChapoData Science and Design: A Tale of Two Tribes
May 13, 2015

"Time management in collaboration is more than just meeting deadlines."
Elizabeth ChurchillExploring Cadence: You, Your Team, and Your Enterprise
June 8, 2017

"We really encourage wherever you are because those are great connecting points."
Rusha SopariwalaRemote, Together: Craft and Collaboration Across Disciplines, Borders, Time Zones, and a Design Org of 170+
June 9, 2022

"Human-centered design makes you feel like we're centering on humans, but that is not always true."
George AyeThat Quiet Little Voice: When Design and Ethics Collide
November 16, 2022

"Creating space for us to name the things we were experiencing allows us to unload some emotional weight."
Ariba JahanTeam Resiliency Through a Pandemic
January 8, 2024

"Design can help create a better world by fostering empathy and collaboration."
Julie Gitlin Esther RaiceDesign as an Agent of Digital Transformation at JPMC
June 9, 2021

"It’s important to be transparent so everyone knows what they can see about what they did."
Matteo GrattonCan Data and Ethics Live Together?
October 1, 2021