Lisa Danno
EXPERIENCE DESIGNER for innovation
About
Summary
My deepest passion lies in learning and exploring in order to connect people and ideas, so that we can inspire each other to courageously make the world a better place.
People like me help unravel complex problems. We break them down into small chunks. We research. We prototype. We often fail, go back to the drawing board, and try again and again until a usable design emerges that often drives large or small innovations for companies. Because nothing happens in a vacuum, it takes authentic human experiences and ideas to design veritable interactions and help groundbreaking ideas emerge, so I steal like all great artists from my own experiences interacting with and observing other brands, constantly learning, and allowing myself to move out of my comfort zone, always pushing for greater understanding. It's why some of my personal hobbies have always been traveling the globe, learning new languages, reading daily, and playing 18 years of competitive volleyball. I love being able to connect with people and connect dots, because it's through greater empathy and understanding that we can design and achieve an improved quality of life and planet.
People like me help unravel complex problems. We break them down into small chunks. We research. We prototype. We often fail, go back to the drawing board, and try again and again until a usable design emerges that often drives large or small innovations for companies. Because nothing happens in a vacuum, it takes authentic human experiences and ideas to design veritable interactions and help groundbreaking ideas emerge, so I steal like all great artists from my own experiences interacting with and observing other brands, constantly learning, and allowing myself to move out of my comfort zone, always pushing for greater understanding. It's why some of my personal hobbies have always been traveling the globe, learning new languages, reading daily, and playing 18 years of competitive volleyball. I love being able to connect with people and connect dots, because it's through greater empathy and understanding that we can design and achieve an improved quality of life and planet.
We must look within to draw empathy for others. We must look outside ourselves to generate ideas, and we must view trials and errors as stepping stones to progress.
@michstmanda lol! That is valid! When I used to work in weddings, couples dealt with that all the time. One couple… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Proudest Accomplishment
Leading and designing a $2M experience based startup business full of Fortune 500 clients at age 28.
Experience Highlights
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Running a startup in Workspring
HELPING PEOPLE HAVE THEIR BEST WORKDAY while learning & improving the biz was incredibly rewarding.
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Using design thinking to lead to innovation and drive strategy at Steelcase
WORKSPRING'S LEARNINGS & ITERATIONS IMPACTED STEELCASE'S STRATEGY & GENERATED NEW business models.
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Reigniting the value proposition at the Hotel Monaco Chicago
i BROUGHT UP THE VALUE OF OUR OFFERING, IMPROVED BRAND IDENTITY, & THE REVENUE FOllowed.
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Living in Europe
lived in spain and portugal for 5 months learning, exploring, improving, sharing, & ideating.
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Helping an insurance client role out their new company vision statement
Led the workshop that helped the client inspire a new and empowering corporate culture.
Causes
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Broad College of Business Mentor
I mentor 2 sophomores a year at my alma mater in business, career design, and transition.
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Citizens Climate Lobby Member
I aid communication with local businesses and congress to support changes to improve our planet.
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Heartland Alliance Teacher
Taught refugees and immigrants the basics on how to enter into the hospitality industry.
Interests
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Environmental Work
My volunteer passion project has always revolved around saving our precious planet.
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Competitive Volleyball
I've been playing since age 10 and won multiple championships including a national championship.
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World Travel
I've visited 30 countries & 38 states since age 7. always eager to jet off to learn a new culture!
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Learning New Cultures
Whether it's learning languages, trying cuisines, meeting people, i'm always in what's different.
Timeline
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Became an Innovation Designer & Facilitator, EY
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Moved to Seattle
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Lived in Europe and Nicaragua and Europe, Unsettled
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Became Operations Manager, Workspring by Steelcase
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Promoted to Catering Manager, Hotel Monaco Chicago, a Kimpton Hotel
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Promoted to Sales Catering and Service Manager, Hotel Burnham, a Kimpton Hotel
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Promoted to Assistant Executive Housekeeper, Hotel Palomar Chicago, a Kimpton Hotel
Led the opening team for the Hotel Palomar Chicago.
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Manager in Training, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants
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Graduated with 2 BAs and with Honors, Michigan State University
BA in Hospitality Business
BA in Spanish Lanaguage
Results
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92%
nps scores -
27%
average annual revenue increase -
8,600
accomplished guests served per year at workspring
Achievements
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Always seeking to curate a network of thought leaders and professionals from various backgrounds and
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Earned 2 Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Hospitality Business and Spanish Language
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Considered an authority in experience design
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Has led workshops on leadership and managing teams
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Received one or more promotions
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Endorsed by co-workers and clients
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Spoken in front of an audience about customer experience, diversity, as well as leadership.
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Been leading a strong and committed team of professionals in every role since age 22.
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Volunteer with Heartland Alliance, Launch U, and the Citizens Climate Lobby
Skills
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personal mission statement
What I Believe:
I will never stop learning via experience and human connections
Why?
In order to share ideas and connect more deeply with others
So What?
Because that's the fun of life and makes the world a little smaller.
Resources
Images of success
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At Workspring, we created a whole studio dedicated to innovation! -
Analyze phase of innovation. -
Me leading an internal insights workshop -
Ideating in a Design Thinking model -
What Workspring helped clients achieve -
Iterating on Workspring's slogan as we evolved
see where i've delighted thousands of customers!
Files
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Workspring food and beverage design and philosophy
pdf, 1,083.71 KB
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My point of view on hiring our Experience Team
pdf, 61.37 KB
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My Learning Cycle on Hiring
pdf, 24.83 KB
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Results of my learning cycle on hiring
pdf, 47.84 KB
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Things to think about for our clients going into a session design conversation
pdf, 632.66 KB
