The Problem

The market for pleasure toys (aka sex toys) is highly targeted to traditional genders. Sex shops largely cater to “binary” customer segments. This doesn’t represent future trends, which suggest heterocentricity is fading fast. Customers today want pleasure toys that transcend identity labels, along with a shopping experience that feels comfortable and inclusive.

The Solution

Together with a team in the Design Strategy program at California College of the Arts, I researched, prototyped, and designed a pop up shop for the future of pleasure toys.

Navigating an uncertain future with strategy design and scenario planning

The Problem

With COVID restrictions and lock downs, Jewish nonprofit leaders immediately had to consider what it would mean for their future. How could organizations dependent on gathering to build community continue to thrive?

With no one clear road ahead, the best option is to consider and plan for multiple possibilities, using foresight tools such as scenario planning.

The Solution

In collaboration with scenario planning expert Matt Ranen, I strategized, developed, and facilitated a suite of materials and workshops for Jewish communal organizations to continue to thrive well beyond the COVID disruptions. …

A rainbow represents an optimistic future. And at some point the arc launches from the ground. That’s why the rainbow is the perfect symbol for the work I do and a key to leadership in general. I call it: grounded optimism.

Here are 3 values of grounded optimism that guide my work.

#1 Follow YOUR rainbow.

Believe you’re in control of your own destiny

Do you believe your own choices shape your success in life? In psychology terms, this is called an internal locus of control. That’s a fancy way of saying that rather than blaming others, you’re in charge of your own path…

Who knows exactly what they want to be at 21 years old? I certainly thought I did. After undergrad, I embarked on a 7+ year career in publishing, where I was instrumental in managing, improving, and delivering world-class learning solutions to college students. But after many years in this meaningful field, I needed a change.

Iterating is key to improving a strategy, service, or experience. My career journey has been no different. In 2018 I began a great pivot to get closer to my passion: to partner with leaders to co-design transformative strategies.

I now have a new name for…

My four-year-old and I play a little game. We take turns coming up with as many ways we can to do something, like “think of all the ways we could get to the moon.” Sure, our first ideas are the obvious ones, like “rockets” and “space shuttles.” But as the game goes we keep getting more creative, like “jump really high,” “build a giant ladder,” or “grow wings,” until we exhaust the list of the somewhat probable(ish) ideas.

As a mother, I have a secret agenda with the game that can also benefit business leaders: There is always more than…

One of the most valuable lessons I learned during my MBA in Design Strategy at CCA wasn’t found in a spreadsheet (sorry, finance). And surprisingly it wasn’t found in a deck either. I discovered the greatest lessons with my classmates, in learning how to co-exist as an individual on a team.

By opening my mind to others I learned to listen and welcome their ideas. By looking inward I began to understand my strengths and know when to rely on the strengths of teammates. These lessons are important now more than ever. …

There are a lot of socioeconomic inequalities in the United States. States with lower GDP tend to have higher unemployment, greater poverty, and lower rates of college attendance. The problems stemming from a wealth gap go on and on.

But on a statewide level, there’s one statistic that doesn’t match with whether you come from somewhere richer or poorer. And that’s the percentage of state cases of coronavirus.

Bernal Heights, Quaint Town

Bernal Heights is a little neighborhood gem in San Francisco. Cortland Avenue, one of Bernal’s most prominent commercial strips, nestles amongst quaint Victorian homes. There’s a local grocer, barber, and fancy plant shop.

I’ve lived in Bernal for the last 8 years, and it has always maintained a very local feel. Whenever I walk down Cortland, I’m bound to bump into someone familiar, whether it’s a neighbor or shop owner.

Recently, though, several prominent storefronts have closed. The most notable was the much beloved stationery and home goods store Heartfelt. …