podcast 027: when leadership becomes a creative practice
In today’s episode, Deb sits down with longtime collaborator and design strategist Andrew Benedict Nelson for a conversation that quietly reframes how we think about leadership altogether. This isn’t a discussion about becoming a “better boss” or adopting the latest leadership framework. It’s about something more foundational: realizing that most of what we experience at work was designed—and therefore, can be redesigned.
“The crust is doing the job you’ve been hired for. The toppings are the elements of your change over time.” – Gretchen Miller
Drawing from decades of work across healthcare, social systems, and some of the world’s most complex institutions, Andrew introduces a powerful idea: leadership isn’t a personality trait or a fixed role. It’s a creative, human-centered practice—one that can evolve as the people and systems around us change. Together, Deb and Andrew explore how design thinking offers leaders something many feel they’ve lost inside rigid systems: agency. Not perfection. Not certainty. But the freedom to experiment, learn, and lead with integrity in the face of uncertainty.
Key Highlights
Why many leaders aren’t distressed by the problems they face—but by being unable to address them with integrity
How human-centered design reframes leadership as a creative, iterative practice rather than a static role
A surprising reframe on performance reviews—and why “surprise” is often weaponized in unhealthy systems
The concept of leadership as inherited “software,” and how to consciously redesign it
Three practical steps leaders can take in the next 30 days to lead more humanly, without blowing up their systems
About Our Guest:
Andrew Benedict Nelson is a strategist, consultant, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of human-centered design, leadership development, and systems change. His career spans work with institutions ranging from healthcare organizations to national and cultural institutions, helping leaders navigate complexity with creativity, integrity, and agency.
About The HX Collective:
The HX Collective is a movement to elevate the human experience—at work, in relationships, and with ourselves. Through honest conversations and strategic insight, we explore how connection, context, and compassion can create a more flourishing world, starting right where we are.
