Rosenverse

This video is only accessible to Gold members. Log in or register for a free Gold Trial Account to watch.

Log in Register

Most conference talks are accessible to Gold members, while community videos are generally available to all logged-in members.

Empowering change: Reigniting purpose, passion and impact in research
Gold
Thursday, March 13, 2025 • Advancing Research 2025
Share the love for this talk
Empowering change: Reigniting purpose, passion and impact in research
Speakers: Maria Giudice
Link:

Summary

Many research professionals are feeling disillusioned due to layoffs, market shifts, and the prioritization of profit over people. Coupled with rapid changes in the field, shifting skill demands, and instances of mistreatment, the current context feels challenging. Despite the ethical imperatives that initially drew them to research, many feel their work lacks agency and purpose. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Our industry is at an inflection point, and the organizational and cultural systems we operate within can be influenced. This session with changemaker Maria Giudice explores how to regain agency, drive change, and balance profit with purpose to reignite a sense of impact, dignity, and value in our work.

Key Insights

  • Design roles have evolved significantly from the mid-1980s until now, influenced by technology and changing demands in the industry.

  • Transition phases—endings, neutral zones, and new beginnings—are key to navigating professional changes.

  • Taking time to grieve and reflect during transitions is crucial for personal and professional growth.

  • Embracing failure as a part of the learning process leads to resilience and strength.

  • Identifying one's 'why' can provide deep motivation and clarity in career decisions.

  • The design profession increasingly values empathy and people-centered approaches as fundamental.

  • Career paths can be viewed as trampolines, emphasizing varied experiences rather than linear progression.

  • Self-awareness about energy sources at work can enhance productivity and happiness.

  • Building a supportive community is vital during feelings of uncertainty.

  • Continuously rethinking and reimagining one's career allows for innovative and fulfilling professional journeys.

Notable Quotes

"Life has a way of working itself out."

"An ending occurs when the reality of your present moment shifts or changes all together."

"Grief isn't linear; it takes what it takes."

"Failure is easy; recovery is hard, but it’s necessary and part of the process."

"What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger."

"You are not alone in how you might be feeling."

"I realize I was put on earth to lift people up, helping them reach their full potential."

"You might want to reapply what you are doing in a new and better way."

"Think bigger, persist, redesign, and thrive."

"Let’s stop limiting ourselves on what we can do and who we can become."

More Videos

Jon Fukuda

"Change is the reason we keep paying attention to stories."

Jon Fukuda

Storytelling for DesignOps

August 17, 2023

Christian Bason

"The design approach is the only way the public sector can be developed in ways that make sense for citizens."

Christian Bason

Innovating With People: Unleashing the Potential of Civic Design

December 8, 2021

B. Pagels-Minor

"Every time someone mentions Harvard, my family brings up how I should have applied."

B. Pagels-Minor

Breaking the Tension: The Power of Enabling Your Employees to Show Up Authentically

June 10, 2022

Louis Rosenfeld

"It's vital to understand the landscape, especially for junior designers who may feel intimidated reaching out for help."

Louis Rosenfeld

GenAI for UXers: A Rosenbot Demo and Discussion

June 11, 2025

Megan Nipe

"This veteran-centric approach gives them a great foundation to continue to grow their reach."

Megan Nipe Lyndsay Booth

Human-Centered Design for Engagement: Maturing from Newsletterville to Personalized, One-to-One Messaging

December 8, 2021

Tim Frick

"If you don't want an accessible website, then maybe don't hire us."

Tim Frick

The journey of building a sustainable design practice

April 23, 2025

Jackie Ajoux

"Being a design ops team of one is automatically set to heart mode."

Jackie Ajoux

Leveling-Up: A Single-Player’s Guide to the DesignOps Team-of-One

January 8, 2024

Deanna Zandt

"If we actually had good healthcare systems, we wouldn't need some of these workarounds."

Deanna Zandt

The Unspoken Complexity of “Self-Care” with Deanna Zandt

July 21, 2022

Dave Malouf

"I'm really jazzed off of the talk that Lisa just gave."

Dave Malouf

Theme 3: Introduction and Provocation

January 8, 2024