Corwyn Strout
LEES SUMMIT,MO
Summary
Visionary Strategic Director with a strong focus on innovation, utilizing emotional intelligence and Design-Thinking principles to align user experience, technology, and business objectives. Proven track record in implementing Human-Centered Design methodologies to create impactful product solutions while leading high-performing teams in design, research, and strategy functions. Adept at operational strategy and financial oversight, with demonstrated skills in communication, problem-solving, and adaptability that drive organizational success.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Head of Human-Centered Design & Research
Employers Insurance Group
Kansas City, MO
06.2022 - 09.2024
- Driving the digital product vision and strategy for many employee- and customer-facing digital experiences
- Responsible for developing the strategic roadmap and 12-month rolling research and design strategy for WX and CX
- Mentored and led a diverse team of designers, researchers, and product owners in a matrix environment
- Pioneered EIG’s first HCD team (design, research, and strategy) and a very collaborative co-creation process, increasing GTM time
- Developed and implemented a Human-Centered Design framework to modernize Workers’ Compensation user experience
- Fast-tracked EIGs first digital claims portal, hitting 46% adoption in 3 months towards an EOY KPI of 40%
- Led and created HCD/Design-Thinking training for the entire organization to align with the voice of the customer
- Coached and led Product and Agile teams to stay human and outcomes-focused to deliver incremental and disruptive value
- Monitored industry, tech, and design trends to fuel yearly roadmap and strategic visioning within the TMO
Director Experience Strategy
VMLY&R
Kansas City, MO
04.2020 - 06.2022
- Clients: Sherwin-Williams, United Rentals, Walgreens, Ford, Google, Thrivent
- Led Customer Experience and Innovation Strategist on the Google Devices and Services account, bringing CX and UX together
- Managing a team of direct reports and client stakeholders, researching, Omnichannel planning, creating an innovation pipeline, and facilitating design-thinking workshops
- Acts as the voice of the customer, translating insights into action to fuel brand and digital strategic work
- Providing thought leadership by authoring foresight work related to industry/technology trends on all clients I managed
- Grew United Rentals account by 22% in 2021 while building out (hiring) a research and strategy team to meet the workload
- Led a cross-functional team to align global customer experience for Google-branded devices, Nest, and Pixel
- Client and Account Team awards for Customer Experience Strategy for account leadership, client impact, and business growth
- 2021 Bronze Cannes for digital ecosystem innovation for United Rentals, the Digital Tool Belt
Consultant/Chief Strategist (Design, Research, and Innovation)
Hinge Innovation
Kansas City, MO
01.2012 - 02.2020
- Clients: Campbell’s, Coca-Cola, Land O’ Lakes, Exall Corporation, HCA Midwest Health System, Aratana Pharmaceuticals (Nocita), AALife Insurance in New Zealand, TEVA Oncology, Bayer Animal Health, Sanofi
- Innovation consultant developing digital, product, and packaging strategies through Human-Centered Design methodologies
- Drove 130% sales growth in one year for AALife (New Zealand) by creating a sales (QBF) portal and digital product development strategy through in-country ethnographic user, social, and behavioral research
- CMO and equity partner to create patented infant-feeding device BabooBottle.com for licensing to brand owner, responsible for all development and marketing activities
- Partnered with Coca-Cola and Exal Corporation to identify emergent trends in the Ready to Drink category
- Global research specializing in ethnography and actionable insights for design intent and strategy
- Brand foresight work for Campbells Soup and brand positioning research and strategy for Land O’ Lakes
Leverage Creative Director
R&D/Leverage
Lees Summit, MO
02.2007 - 01.2012
- Clients: Bausch+Lomb, Abbott Nutrition (Similac, Ensure, Pediasure), Colgate-Palmolive, Henkel-Dial, Dr
- Pepper Snapple Group, Tom’s of Maine, P&G - Old Spice, PepsiCo – Lipton, Campbell’s
- Led the creation of an innovation business unit (Leverage Studio), including all leadership, management, and hiring
- Drove Leverage business unit to $2M direct revenue while contributing (up to) +$8M indirect revenue annually to parent firm through branding, marketplace awareness, rebranding, and new service offerings
- Implemented the Idea-to-Tool NPD process, based on commercialization and design-thinking principles to connect project teams, increasing speed-to-market for all client projects
- Championed a new structural branding business unit to position R&D as a global innovator while managing all creative activities, deliverables, and budgets against business cases for clients
- Increased Dr.PepperKeurig market share by 39% of all single-serve beverage portfolios
- Ensured that Heinz Dip n’ Squeeze would not lose design intent through the development process on-site at HNAs Cranberry Township Pennsylvania innovation center
- Innovation speaker at global events ranging from Plastics News Executive Forum to K Show in Germany
Education
MS - Marketing & Innovation
Northeastern University
BFA - Industrial Design, Minor in Design Research
Cleveland Institute of Art
Skills
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Innovative research
- Strategy
- Design
- Product management
- Customer experience
- Design thinking
- Workshop methodologies
- Jobs to Be Done framework
- User Experience Research
- Co-creation methodologies
- Project management
- Jira
- Agile
- SAFe
- UX program leadership
- Strategic roadmap creation
- Team leadership
- Culture of innovation
- Guest lecturing
- Strategic planning
- People management
Websites
Certification
- SAFe Agile 6 / Agile Leadership Certification
- CSPO - Certified Scrum Product Owner
- CPSI - Creative Problem Solving Institute - Creative Leadership
- Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies - Performance Management Certificate
- SBS / Hiring and Building High-Performing Teams
- LSP / Lego Serious Play Workshop Leader Certificate
Accomplishments
- 2021 Cannes Lion / Creative Business Transformation Award
- 2011 Penta Design Award
Timeline
Director, Head of Human-Centered Design & Research
Employers Insurance Group
06.2022 - 09.2024
Director Experience Strategy
VMLY&R
04.2020 - 06.2022
Consultant/Chief Strategist (Design, Research, and Innovation)
Hinge Innovation
01.2012 - 02.2020
Leverage Creative Director
R&D/Leverage
02.2007 - 01.2012
MS - Marketing & Innovation
Northeastern University
BFA - Industrial Design, Minor in Design Research
Cleveland Institute of Art
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