We are at a moment of tremendous change – a change in the way we live, work and relate to one another. We are living in the fourth industrial revolution. The demand for human-centered innovation goes hand in hand with the extraordinary technological advances taking place/available today. With this new chapter in human development, are you or your business ready to step into an inclusive, human-centered future? Welcome to Human-Centered Innovation with Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz, a podcast that empowers you to find your voice, embrace a range of perspectives, and create meaningful change. An experienced business executive, Lisa Marceau is an expert in leading diverse teams and in guiding collaborations between research and technology. She is a thought leader focused on addressing the profound changes in health, related to the digital native generations. By both understanding the emerging health and healthcare challenges and listening to what digital generations want, she creates meaningful change by addressing important questions about how we will engage with, and modify, healthcare in concept and in practice. Her perspective and research focus are built on over 25 years of conducting and supporting health services and clinical research and producing evidence-based digital tools and programs. Her extensive experience is enhanced by leadership in strategic growth, organizational change, innovative approaches, and operations management. Kristine Merz has a passion for helping clients at significant points of change. Her unique approach entails centering human voices and lived experiences to create clarity, define purpose, and determine a clear path forward. As an entrepreneur and founder of Orange Square, she is on a mission to make brands meaningful by using proven tools that center the audience at every step in the process. She believes in defining value from a customer point of view and in combining research, design, and visualization to create shared understanding and meaning. With a focus on healthcare and education, Orange Square builds business value by creating and managing integrated brand experiences across all touchpoints. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Kristine is eager to partner and grow with clients with complex problems who are driven by purpose. With the unprecedented changes we are facing, a lot is at stake for both business and employees. Get that clarity so you can identify the right problem and not solve the wrong one. Tune in to Human-Centered Innovation with Lisa and Kristine and discover how you can accelerate the right way to move forward.
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We are at a moment of tremendous change – a change in the way we live, work and relate to one another. We are living in the fourth industrial revolution. The demand for human-centered innovation goes hand in hand with the extraordinary technological advances taking place/available today. With this new chapter in human development, are you or your business ready to step into an inclusive, human-centered future? Welcome to Human-Centered Innovation with Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz, a podcast that empowers you to find your voice, embrace a range of perspectives, and create meaningful change. An experienced business executive, Lisa Marceau is an expert in leading diverse teams and in guiding collaborations between research and technology. She is a thought leader focused on addressing the profound changes in health, related to the digital native generations. By both understanding the emerging health and healthcare challenges and listening to what digital generations want, she creates meaningful change by addressing important questions about how we will engage with, and modify, healthcare in concept and in practice. Her perspective and research focus are built on over 25 years of conducting and supporting health services and clinical research and producing evidence-based digital tools and programs. Her extensive experience is enhanced by leadership in strategic growth, organizational change, innovative approaches, and operations management. Kristine Merz has a passion for helping clients at significant points of change. Her unique approach entails centering human voices and lived experiences to create clarity, define purpose, and determine a clear path forward. As an entrepreneur and founder of Orange Square, she is on a mission to make brands meaningful by using proven tools that center the audience at every step in the process. She believes in defining value from a customer point of view and in combining research, design, and visualization to create shared understanding and meaning. With a focus on healthcare and education, Orange Square builds business value by creating and managing integrated brand experiences across all touchpoints. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Kristine is eager to partner and grow with clients with complex problems who are driven by purpose. With the unprecedented changes we are facing, a lot is at stake for both business and employees. Get that clarity so you can identify the right problem and not solve the wrong one. Tune in to Human-Centered Innovation with Lisa and Kristine and discover how you can accelerate the right way to move forward.
We’ve heard a lot of discussions on the impact of mergers and acquisitions but the vast majority of those would involve two companies. What happens when in a really big merge – one that involves, say, four or 10 companies? Save yourself the strain of imagining what the impact would be as Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz bring in Juli Leonard to share her expertise on this matter. In this two-part conversation, Juli discusses everything that goes into such big mergers. This episode is part one, and we get to hear about things like the importance of a well-defined integration plan, the role of leadership in navigating the complexities of merging distinct organizational cultures, and the significance of transparent and effective communication. They also touch on crucial factors such as training and development, feedback mechanisms, and the art of balancing diverse audience needs while staying true to a core message. Tune in for more!For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/
This is Part 2 of Lisa and Kristine’s conversation with Juli Leonard on multi-company mergers. In Part 1 we heard about importance of a well-defined integration plan, the role of leadership in navigating the complexities of merging distinct organizational cultures, and the significance of transparent and effective communication. This time, we get into the nitty-gritty of culture and values issues related to these big merges. We explore the impact of culture on employee morale, talent retention, customer experience, operational synergies, and decision-making, and the potential for innovation in the post-merger landscape. Tune in!
Undergoing a brand change is a complicated and tedious process. Without proper internal and external communication, everything will become messy and people with be left in the dark. Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz discuss how to secure M&A success by clearly communicating every significant change within a brand and how they impact an organization's culture. The two talk about the dangers of keeping back channels and why everyone should be on the same page no matter how beautiful or chaotic the situation. Lisa and Kristine also explain how to match your communication depending on your target audience and make your brand change easy to digest when holding trade shows.For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
A brand strategy often begins with designing the logo or determining the target audience. But sometimes, it is a good idea to use competition as a starting point. Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz discuss how to look into other businesses within your chosen niche to develop a strong brand identity. They break down strategies in choosing the right business colors and establishing a strong personality that will appeal to people's emotions. Lisa and Kristine also explain how deeply understanding your brand can lead to a fruitful collaboration with a professional designer should you hire one.For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
When companies merge in the acquisition process, it is more than just two entities coming together. These companies carry with them the people in that transition, and often, the people aspect gets overlooked. In this episode, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz call for a human-centered approach to redefining services in a merger. They talk about how leaders should keep in mind their employees as they overcome changes in culture, sharing the card-sorting method to help them define and identify their services better. So join this conversation and learn the opportunities you can grab from building a human-centered mindset as you go through a big organizational change.For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Starting a brand requires a strategy and clarity, but when two brands become one, it is essential to think about rebranding because it creates an impact on both companies. Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz discuss how rebranding works out during mergers and acquisitions. When merging two companies, it is essential for employees to understand and be clear about their expertise and perspective. Lisa and Kristine also explain that companies need great employees, so they must hold onto the ones they have because, in this transition point, employees must also empower themselves to figure out how they’re going to fit, while leaders must learn to communicate the opportunities to advancements. To understand the underlying guidelines in making two brands become one, tune in now on Human-Centered Innovation!For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Company values. Mission and vision. Competitive strategy. Brand challenges. These are all familiar terms to employees, employers, and anyone involved in organizations. But how deep really is your comprehension of these terms? Do we understand their value to the company? Do we actually know “why” our companies do what it does? In today’s episode, we have an in-depth discussion about the importance of establishing organizational clarity and how it actually puts value in the company itself. Join us in learning how to uncover the deeper “whys” of a brand and ultimately magnify your brand’s value! For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Rebranding is a marketing strategy that is important in any business. Continuing the previous episode’s discussion, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz dive into the process of creating the NERI rebrand and citing the importance of different factors such as strategy, communication, and addressing issues to develop a successful rebrand. They also highlight how the significance of helping your client understand the reason for the changes is mainly because the market is also changing. For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
It’s normal to shift your focus and rebrand as a company - in fact, it’s often necessary for growth over time. Many big companies like Dropbox or Uber underwent rebranding. Whether it was a fresh change in their design and color scheme to be current, or a change in vision for the organization, rebranding has done wonders for these companies. However, if rebranding goes wrong, it could do more harm to your company than good. Join your hosts, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz as they talk about the second rebranding of NERI, and how human-centered innovation helped drive the process to avoid common pitfalls.For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
In our previous episode, Kristine Merz and Lisa Marceau talked about their first meeting during the rebrand of NERI in 2004. Today, they continue their deep dive into what a company needs to do for a successful rebranding. They talk about how a human-centered approach can help create the fit and help the new brand identity resonate with people. They also discuss the importance of considering your employees’ perspectives so that they are champions of the rebrand. Join this second of a two-part episode on brand identity and transformation.For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Rebranding and evolving a brand identity to something new isn’t an easy task. Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz talk about their first meeting during the rebranding of the New England Research Institutes (NERI). They discuss their first encounter and how they learned to ask the hard questions that need to be asked during rebranding. They talk about how rebranding affects the people who sustain a company and what leaders need to understand about these sentiments. They then share their insights on how a human-centered approach can make the rebranding process easier and how it meshes with design. All of these are in the first of a two-part series.For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
People need to find the "human" in human-centered research. They are so focused on the "doing" part of their hypothesis that they forget about the participant. Let them participate more. Listen to your audience to find out what barriers they may have. Join Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz as they talk about the human side of clinical trials. Learn how to bring things down to a study level of branding. Become more human-centric today!For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Building your brand identity can be a difficult task. Maybe it’s time to consider taking a human-centered approach towards your brand identity? Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz discuss their approach towards building brand identity and what you need to consider when taking the human-centered approach. They also discuss the need for organizational clarity, core values and culture, and their impact on brand identity.For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
An approach to problem-solving that involves the human perspective in all steps of the process, human-centered innovation is steadily gaining traction in the work environment. But how do you achieve it? Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz both agree it’s through research and design. Picking up from the last episode’s discussion about the importance of research, Lisa and Kristine turn their conversation to their definition of research and dig into the concept a little more deeply. They also tackle the importance of design as part of the research process and how combining research and design lets you innovate in more impactful ways than you've ever imagined.For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Before pursuing a goal, you must first determine why you want to achieve it. The same goes with research and science; before you can appreciate the results, you must first know the importance of where you’re going. What is the purpose of what you're trying to achieve, and have you thought about your audience as you develop your path forward? Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz think talk these questions through as they embark on the final stages of their rebranding process. Listen in as the duo share their insights on the importance of making sure you understand your goal before you dive in.For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Having a brand is foundational for any business. But how many organizations make an effort to establish a brand structure? In this episode, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz define and break down brand structure, a.k.a. brand architecture, to explain how it impacts your business, especially for merger acquisitions. They discuss the three types: master brand structure, endorsed brand structure, and invisible brand structure. Listen in as they cite industry examples of how each type affects a company’s image to the public. Stay tuned!For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Whether it is your first or last acquisition, understanding all the layers affected is essential to a successful venture. Mergers and acquisitions are the most disruptive thing any organization can go through. It's important to build a trusting and transparent environment for everyone involved. Remember, you're not just bringing in another company, you're bringing in a whole new culture. Building that internal and external relationship across the company is very important. Join Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz as they talk all about mergers and acquisitions today!For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
An acquisition is when one company purchases another one outright. In contrast, a merger is a combination of two firms that subsequently forms a new legal entity under the banner of one corporate name. These two changes can be challenging for both the leader and their team. How exactly does a company navigate this shift in management? Join our hosts, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz, as they tackle this topic in a whole new series. Lisa and Kristine take on a refreshing perspective on human-centered leadership and its impact on brand identity and organizational clarity. Tune in and learn more as they dive deep into managing the disruptive changes brought about by mergers and acquisitions.For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
Research and design can come across as two very different fields of discipline. It can be a real challenge to reconcile them in such a way that good design is achieved without disrespecting the science behind research. This is one of the prominent themes that defined the period when Lisa Marceau started working with Kristine Merz. Continuing with the story of how their partnership started to form, they recall how Kristine came in as a real problem-solver, not just someone who executes on what her client wants her to do. What started out as a simple need for Lisa’s organization to bring in someone who can build a website for her organization turned into a branding initiative that would lead to years of fruitful collaboration. Join in and learn more about the makings of this partnership that would put human-centered innovation at the forefront of the space where research and design intersect.For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
We often overlook the importance of research in shaping everything from what we eat, to how we interact, and of course how we approach health. For millennia, research has been the thread that has held the fabric of society—from successes and innovations, even to failures that inform us what does and doesn’t work. There is no more current example than the impact of research on the COVID-19 pandemic. Picking up from the last episode's discussion, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz dive deep into their work in research, how they are working together, and where it intersects with design. They also talk about the different types of research, looking into observational research, clinical trials, and, most importantly, how human-centered innovation connects the dots. Going further, Lisa and Kristine then discuss some of the steps involved in research, why they are important, and where failures can occur if human-centered perspectives are ignored. For more information, visit: https://chocolateandpeanutbutter.com/For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com
We are at a moment of tremendous change – a change in the way we live, work and relate to one another. We are living in the fourth industrial revolution. The demand for human-centered innovation goes hand in hand with the extraordinary technological advances taking place/available today. With this new chapter in human development, are you or your business ready to step into an inclusive, human-centered future? Welcome to Human-Centered Innovation with Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz, a podcast that empowers you to find your voice, embrace a range of perspectives, and create meaningful change. An experienced business executive, Lisa Marceau is an expert in leading diverse teams and in guiding collaborations between research and technology. She is a thought leader focused on addressing the profound changes in health, related to the digital native generations. By both understanding the emerging health and healthcare challenges and listening to what digital generations want, she creates meaningful change by addressing important questions about how we will engage with, and modify, healthcare in concept and in practice. Her perspective and research focus are built on over 25 years of conducting and supporting health services and clinical research and producing evidence-based digital tools and programs. Her extensive experience is enhanced by leadership in strategic growth, organizational change, innovative approaches, and operations management. Kristine Merz has a passion for helping clients at significant points of change. Her unique approach entails centering human voices and lived experiences to create clarity, define purpose, and determine a clear path forward. As an entrepreneur and founder of Orange Square, she is on a mission to make brands meaningful by using proven tools that center the audience at every step in the process. She believes in defining value from a customer point of view and in combining research, design, and visualization to create shared understanding and meaning. With a focus on healthcare and education, Orange Square builds business value by creating and managing integrated brand experiences across all touchpoints. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Kristine is eager to partner and grow with clients with complex problems who are driven by purpose. With the unprecedented changes we are facing, a lot is at stake for both business and employees. Get that clarity so you can identify the right problem and not solve the wrong one. Tune in to Human-Centered Innovation with Lisa and Kristine and discover how you can accelerate the right way to move forward.
