Foundations in Creative Leadership Certificate: Program Syllabus
Foundations in Creative Leadership Certificate: Program Syllabus
Foundations in
Creative Leadership
Certificate
Program Syllabus
1
Foundations in Your Instructors,
Teaching Team & Community 03
Creative Leadership
Planning for a Successful
Program Syllabus Learning Experience 07
COURSE 01
Learn the foundations of a leadership style that values creativity
and collaboration to generate, embrace, and execute on new ideas.
Leading for Creativity 08
Develop the leadership skills to engage and motivate others,
especially when the path forward is unclear. Earn the certificate COURSE 02
by completing the Leading for Creativity, Storytelling for Influence,
and Cultivating Creative Collaboration courses. Storytelling for Influence 14
Courses and classes in a certificate program can be taken in any COURSE 03
order. You will receive your program certificate upon completion of
your last course. Cultivating Creative Collaboration 20
Your Instructors, INSTRUCTORS IDEO U courses are taught by IDEO practitioners who have honed
their skills over many years in the field bringing new ideas to market.
Teaching Team They bring real-world case studies and examples into their recorded
video lessons, pulling from IDEO’s 40+ years of work with global
TEACHING TEAM Receive support from a team of design thinking practitioners with
teaching and facilitation expertise. These experienced professionals
A wide range of individuals are stakeholders in your success in learning design are present to guide discussions, foster peer connection, and provide
thinking. As a learner, you’ll interact with... feedback on your assignments.
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MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
4
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
JENN MAER
Storytelling Senior Design Director at IDEO
for Influence
Jenn leads brand strategy and storytelling work with a
diverse group of IDEO clients, including Marriott, Mattel,
ConAgra, and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen
and Unplanned Pregnancy. She previously worked as an
agency Account Planner, Copywriter, and Associate Creative
Director. She’s helped tell the stories of clients like
HP, Oregon Chai, Microsoft, Red Envelope, and Snapple.
Her writing has been recognized by The One Show, Clios,
and others.
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MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
MIKE PENG
Cultivating Creative Partner and Managing Director at IDEO Tokyo
Collaboration
Mike helps oversee IDEO in Japan and greater Asia, leading
key client relationships, guiding projects, and mentoring
design teams. Mike is a visiting lecturer at Copenhagen
Institute of Interaction Design (CIID), Tokyo University, Keio
University, and Kyushu University and previously worked
as an adjunct professor at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate
School of Public Service, teaching public policy, urban
planning, and nonprofit management students how to use
design thinking to solve complex problems.
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Planning for a SCHEDULE TIME
FOR ASSIGNMENTS
Some assignments will require you to engage with others outside
of the course—hosting a brainstorm, for example. It may be helpful
Successful Learning to plan these sessions in advance. Find more information on
assignments and activities in the lesson breakdowns in this syllabus.
Experience PARTICIPATE IN These optional sessions offer the chance to engage with your peers,
VIRTUAL VIDEO CALLS dive deeper into course concepts, and broaden your perspective.
If you can’t attend each week, try to participate in at least one of
these video chats.
The IDEO U learning experience centers on four key ways of engaging, all
designed to help you understand and retain new knowledge. In each lesson
GIVE FEEDBACK We believe that asking for and giving feedback play crucial roles
you have the opportunity to see, try, share, and reflect. This isn’t a passive
in learning. Use our in-course feedback guide to give constructive
experience—to get the most out of each course, we recommend that you plan to
feedback and make valuable connections with your peers and the
engage with your fellow learners and practice your new skills with others
Teaching Team.
in real-world settings.
To be successful in a course, we recommend planning for a minimum of 4 hours MEET DEADLINES Put the deadline for each assignment on your calendar during your
of work per week, including time to watch videos and read articles, complete first week. These deadlines are suggestions to help you stay on track.
assignments, and engage in discussion and reflection. The only hard deadline is the day your course closes, by which time
you must submit all required course work to receive your certificate
of completion.
STAY IN TOUCH Your learning isn’t over vwhen the course closes. Tune in to hear
from today’s leading innovation experts and change makers on the
IDEO U Creative Confidence podcast, get access to our LinkedIn
alumni group, and consider guiding others through their IDEO U
learning experience as an Alumni Coach or Teaching Lead.
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01
Leading for Creativity Week 1
INTRODUCTION Explore how a curious mindset can help challenge assumptions,
inspire others, and unlock creativity.
Course Syllabus LESSON 01 Leading with a strong point of view is about setting a course for an
Week 2 Leading With a Strong inspiring, new direction.
Point of View
COURSE OBJECTIVES
• Unlock the power of questions to inspire others to navigate their work LESSON 02 Leading through culture is about setting new norms that support
with confidence. Week 3 Leading Through creative work.
• Set a new course for your team or organization by crafting a well-framed challenge. Culture
• Design rituals that reinforce the beliefs and behaviors of creative teams
and organizations.
LESSON 03 Leading alongside is about staying present and engaged with the
• Stay present and engaged with the work of your team as they experiment with Week 4
Leading Alongside work of your team.
innovative ideas.
TIME COMMITMENT COURSE Complete a final project to design your leadership plan and commit
• We recommend a minimum of 4 hours per week. Week 5 CONCLUSION to behaviors and mindsets from the course.
Final Project
Learn IDEO’s methods to scale creativity within your team and organization.
Leading for Creativity highlights Tim Brown’s personal leadership philosophy. You’ll
learn how to guide teams into the unknown through the process of experimentation,
break down a bold vision into actionable challenges, and make adjustments to culture
by designing rituals to encourage beliefs and behaviors that support creativity.
VIEW COURSE
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VIDEO This video will introduce you to three leadership approaches:
Getting Started leading with a strong point of view, leading through culture, and
leading alongside.
VIDEO Traditionally, leaders get to where they are by having the right
The Mindset of Curiosity answers. In this video, we want to explore what it means to ask the
right questions.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO In this video, you’ll learn about a startup in China and a large
The Explorer corporation in Peru.
VIDEO Framing a challenge can be tough. But when done right, it inspires
Frame a Challenge others to search for creative solutions.
LESSON 01
ACTIVITY Help a restaurant and retail food space make their purpose and
Hunter Gatherer vision actionable by framing challenges on the fly.
Leading With Leading with a strong point of view isn’t just about framing
a Strong Point
VIDEO
Other Ways to Lead With challenges. It’s about having the confidence to lead others into
the unknown.
of View
a Strong Point of View
REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Explore culture—what people believe and how they act—and how
The Gardener you can nudge it in meaningful ways that support creativity.
VIDEO Take a closer look at what beliefs and behaviors are consistently
Design a Ritual present with creative teams.
VIDEO Rituals are part of our cultural DNA at IDEO. See how they make real
Design a Ritual Part II impact on creative cultures.
Through Culture ARTICLE Get tips from David and Tom Kelley’s book Creative Confidence
More Tips for Nudging Culture to help you design your own office ritual.
In this lesson, you’ll learn to design rituals that reinforce the ASSIGNMENT Design and try out a ritual for your co-workers, family, or friends.
beliefs and behaviors of creative teams and organizations.
Leading Through Culture
PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Take a closer look at what it means to lead alongside during the
The Coach process of experimentation.
VIDEO Hear from a Design Director at IDEO and the leader of one of the
Guide an Experiment world’s most innovative museums.
Leading Alongside Other Ways to Lead Alongside discusses how he coaches others through career navigation.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to stay present and engaged with
the work of your team as they experiment with innovative ideas. PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Hear from Tim about applying these three leadership approaches in
Go Lead for Creativity different contexts.
Course ASSIGNMENT Design your leadership plan and commit to behaviors and mindsets
from the course.
Conclusion
Final Project
PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
Hear parting thoughts from Tim Brown and complete a final REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
project to design your leadership plan and commit to behaviors
and mindsets from the course.
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02
Storytelling Week 1
GETTING
STARTED
Get a brief course overview, explore the science of storytelling,
and choose your story theme.
for Influence Zero in on your audience, their needs, and the most powerful way
LESSON 01
Week 2 to move them.
Develop Your Blueprint
Course Syllabus LESSON 02 Start building, sharing, and reflecting on your story.
Week 3 Build Storytelling
COURSE OBJECTIVES Prototypes
• Identify what really matters to your end users.
• Identify your target audience, their needs, and your big idea. LESSON 03 Increase your ability to inspire others through the development of
• Share your stories with others to invite feedback. Week 4 tone, style, and timing.
Design for Impact
• Explore techniques to motivate your audience towards action.
TIME COMMITMENT COURSE Complete a final project to bring your story to life.
VIEW COURSE
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VIDEO Get acquainted with the design of the course and learn from some
How this Course Works of our favorite stories.
VIDEO If you want to motivate people toward change, you need to invite them
The Power of Storytelling to imagine something different. That means telling stories that feel
and sound unmistakably human.
VIDEO Stories have a funny way of making us feel and think about things in
The Science of Storytelling different ways. And the cool thing is, they literally stick in our brains.
Science proves it.
ASSIGNMENT Choose a theme and a related story you want to tell. These
Getting Started Identify the Story You will provide the basic building blocks for your work throughout
Want to Tell the course.
ARTICLE Get tips from David and Tom Kelley’s book Creative Confidence
More Tips for Nudging Culture to help you design your own office ritual.
Get a brief course overview, explore the science of storytelling,
and choose your story theme.
PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
JOIN A LEARNING Your Learning Circle is a place to connect with a smaller community
CIRCLE of peers working on the same theme as you. Learning Circles are
peer-led, and provide an opportunity to discuss assignments, gain
inspiration, and dive deeper into course content. Join a group with
those who will inspire and push your thinking. Note: Joining a
Learning Circle is optional and you may also create your own.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Before you set out to craft your story, design a brief to serve as your
The Brief blueprint for storytelling success.
VIDEO Ask yourself what this story is really about before crafting any
The Big Idea narrative, presentation, or pitch.
LESSON 01
VIDEO Before you begin crafting your story, consider what medium will
The Medium make the story shine.
Develop Your CHECKPOINT QUIZ Evaluate your learnings so far in this lesson.
Blueprint Now that you’ve chosen your story topic, think about your audience,
ASSIGNMENT
Develop Your Blueprint their needs, and the best way to tell them your story.
REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Explore how to apply prototyping to storytelling.
Build Storytelling Prototypes
VIDEO See low-risk ways to share your story to help you think and move
LESSON 02 Ways to Prototype & Build your ideas forward.
Your Story
Build Storytelling VIDEO Explore how to invite constructive feedback to get a sense of what
works and what doesn’t.
Prototypes
Invite Feedback to Strengthen
Your Story
Start building, sharing, and reflecting on your story. Get your story out of your head and into the hands (and minds)
ASSIGNMENT
Prototype Your Story of others for feedback and buy-in.
PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Examine how tone impacts the way a story is received.
Setting the Right Tone
ACTIVITY This activity will help you strike the right tone for the right audience
Dear Queen of England and increase the impact of your story.
Design for Impact VIDEO Learn how to take your story to the next level and really make it sing.
6 Tips for Story Impact
PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Jenn shares guidance for practicing and perfecting your storytelling
Go Create Impact skills and motivating people toward your vision.
Final Project PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your
peers’ assignments.
Hear parting thoughts from Jenn and complete a final REFLECT & DISCUSS Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ll apply it.
project to
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03
Cultivating Creative Week 1
INTRODUCTION Learn how creative collaboration harnesses the power of diverse
perspectives and creative thinking to develop innovative solutions.
Collaboration
Creative Collaboration
Course Syllabus LESSON 02 Set the conditions for creative thinking with an intentionally
Week 3 designed creative process.
Choreograph the Work
COURSE OBJECTIVES
• Establish the cultural conditions that teams with diverse perspectives Embrace tension as an opportunity to evolve ideas, team dynamics,
LESSON 03
need to thrive. Week 4 and 1:1 feedback.
• Design and guide the creative process, cycling through iterative phases Tackle the Hard Stuff
of divergence and convergence to home in on solutions.
• Greet tension and conflict as an opportunity for evolution around ideas, COURSE Empower others to grow their own skills and spread the energy
in the team dynamic, and in 1 on 1 feedback. Week 5 CONCLUSION of creative collaboration.
• Get to innovative solutions by sourcing a diversity of perspectives.
Activate Others
TIME COMMITMENT
• We recommend a minimum of 4 hours per week.
In this course, gain the skills and techniques you need to foster creative
collaboration and unleash the potential of a team. You’ll learn IDEO’s
methods for guiding others through uncertainty, encouraging them to forge
ahead into new territory by intentionally designing for moments where ideas
can be shared, built on, and evaluated in a safe space.
VIEW COURSE
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VIDEO Learn how creative collaboration is a way of working that
What is Creative helps teams navigate ambiguity and bring innovative solutions
Collaboration? to the world.
INTRODUCTION
VIDEO IDEO’s Sr. Global Director of Learning & Development, Heather
Mentor Moment Currier Hunt, talks about the extra considerations that leaders with
Creative formal authority will have to make if they hope to encourage the
optimal conditions for creative collaboration.
Collaboration MEET YOUR During week one you will be assigned to a small group of peers
LEARNING LAB with a Teaching Team facilitator. This will be your go-to group for
discussion and reflection throughout the course.
In this lesson, you will: Before you start to shift the behaviors towards creative
ASSIGNMENT
• Learn about the different types of collaboration and the collaboration, take a moment to take stock of your current
situations that call for creative collaboration. Take Stock of
Current Conditions team conditions.
• Get an introduction to the meaning of collaboration and
the key elements that define it.
• Build an understanding of the optimal behaviors for PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
collaborative teams. assignments.
DISCUSSION GROUP Join a video chat discussion session with your Learning Lab peers,
hosted by a Teaching Team member.
EXPLORE MORE Read and watch additional resources for more tips, tricks, and
perspective.
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VIDEO All too often, teams dive right into the work without taking the time
Align the Team to create alignment on the expected norms and behaviors.
GALLERY See the other tools that IDEO uses to help teams get off to a great
Tools for Project Kick-Off start at the beginning of a project.
VIDEO IDEO’s experience director, Chris Draz, shares her tips on designing
Mentor Moment rituals for belonging.
EXPLORE MORE Additional resources with more tips, tricks, and perspective.
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VIDEO Getting your team to go beyond small, incremental changes to get
The Creative Process to the truly innovative requires a disciplined process.
ARTICLE Get tips and techniques for guiding your team through divergence
Five Key Elements and convergence.
of Any Meeting
VIDEO Divergence is the first step that teams take into the unknown.
Design for Divergence
LESSON 02 ARTICLE When it comes to creative, collaborative teams, the main activity
Better Brainstorms for divergence is brainstorming.
DISCUSSION GROUP Join a video chat discussion session with your Learning Lab peers,
hosted by a Teaching Team member.
EXPLORE MORE Join a video chat discussion session with your Learning Lab peers,
hosted by a Teaching Team member.
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VIDEO Learn techniques to provoke and manage tensions around ideas
Diverse Perspectives with your team.
and Tension
Hard Stuff
and their growth.
ARTICLE This framework is a tool you can use to guide your interactions and
More on Radical Candor help you gauge the nature of your criticism and praise.
PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
EXPLORE MORE Read and watch additional resources for more tips, tricks,
and perspective.
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VIDEO Think about how you can pass on what you’ve learned and empower
Pass It On others to deepen the team’s commitment to this new way of working.
ASSIGNMENT Reflect on all you have tried with your team and make a plan for
Final Reflection continued practice in the behaviors, skills, and mindsets you’ve been
Activate Others PEER FEEDBACK Provide feedback on the work of at least two of your peers’
assignments.
DISCUSSION GROUP Join a video chat discussion session with your Learning Lab peers,
In this lesson, you will: hosted by a Teaching Team member.
• Understand how to activate others to guide creative collaboration.
• Learn what it means to “lead from the back.” Read and watch additional resources for more tips, tricks,
EXPLORE MORE
• Reflect on what you’ve learned and plan for the next steps in and perspective.
your journey.
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“Creativity is what keeps organizations
ahead in the marketplace. That means
you, as a leader, need to empower your
team to generate and execute bold ideas.”
TIM BROWN
CEO of IDEO
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