In this episode, Bonnie Mooney, Head of Design at McMillan Shakespeare, shares her journey from hospitality to leading design in large enterprise environments. We dive deep into how designers can bridge the gap between customer needs and business goals. Bonnie discusses how to earn trust, secure funding, and prove design’s strategic value — even in high-stakes environments. Plus, insights into building a mixed team, aligning design with business needs, and leading teams to think like business leaders.   🔑 Key Themes   Bridging business goals with customer outcomes   Earning trust and securing budget for design   Building a team that works cross-functionally   Proving design's strategic value in high-stakes environments   The importance of educating stakeholders on design   Navigating design’s role during budget restrictions   Designing for customers and internal teams   How to get a seat at the table as a designer   Using design to help teams achieve business goals   Designing for impact, not just aesthetics   🔗 Resources — Connect with Bonnie Mooney on LinkedIn:      / bonniemooney     — Connect with Joe Woodham on LinkedIn:      / joe-woodham-torii-uxdesign     ⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 - Intro: Bonnie Mooney’s Design Journey 10:39 - Choosing the Right Project to Pitch for Design Impact 14:13 - Aligning Design with Business Goals for Greater Impact 19:26 - Securing Funding and Understanding Business Needs 22:29 - The Key to Sustaining Design in Challenging Times 24:11 - Balancing Design Quality with Business Constraints 29:54 - Designing for Both Customers and Internal Teams 34:11 - Upskilling and Empowering Designers for Success 40:25 - Building Trust and Relationships to Drive Successful Design Projects 48:25 - Empowering Teams to Champion Design 51:20 - Turning Design into a Strategic Asset 53:23 - Where to Connect with Bonnie Mooney   📌 Tags design leadership, design strategy, business design, design in business, product design, customer-centric design, design thinking, business outcomes, design education, cross-functional design teams, design for business success, design value, design mindset, stakeholder engagement, design for impact, design and business alignment, enterprise design, Bonnie Mooney, McMillan Shakespeare design, business goals, design for customer experience, enterprise design thinking