Debra Gelman
Debra Gelman is a leader, strategist, author, and practitioner in the digital design and user experience space. Throughout her 20-year career, Deb has used customer behavior to drive the design of experiences for the telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, education, and publishing industries. Currently, as AVP of Digital Design & User Experience at AT&T Business, she leads a team responsible for designing innovative digital products for AT&T’s Enterprise and Small Business customers. Deb is the author of Design for Kids; Digital Products for Playing and Learning.
A Philadelphia native newly relocated to Dallas, Deb spends her free time exploring her new home state with husband Josh and daughter Samantha.
For more, keep up with Debra on Twitter as @dgelman.
Presentations
Leadership By Design 2018
DESIGN BOSS: Leading UX in the Enterprise
Leading design in a large organization is more than just “doing design with more people.” Anyone who tells you otherwise has yet to spend their time untangling a myriad of non-design-related issues so that design work can get done. Huge teams, competing priorities, personal agendas, and outdated methodologies can make innovation seem impossible, and can discourage even the most optimistic practitioners.
Some planning, some data, and a whole lot of patience will help you develop strong relationships with your product, marketing, and technology partners, create advocates across the organization, and communicate the value your team brings to the organization. If only that were all there is to the job!
Yes, design leader, it’s entirely possible to inspire teams, drive change, and create meaningful digital experiences in an enterprise environment. It’s not always easy, and there’s no single path to success–let’s start with what I’ve learned to point you in the right direction.
