Subscribe here:
Communication and Collaboration for the New Rhythm of Work
In Season 10, Episode 5 of Design Nerds Anonymous, host Amanda Schneider turns to two of the most pressing realities of modern work: communication and collaboration. She’s joined by Dr. JJ Petersen, former head of StoryBrand and a leading voice in modern messaging, and Gideon Spitzer-Williams, who leads global experiential marketing for Canva’s B2B organization. Together, they explore why more communication does not automatically create clarity, how AI should amplify wisdom rather than replace it, and what it takes to design communication systems that create momentum instead of noise.
In this episode:
Why most companies misunderstand purpose and confuse it with vague, performative statements that employees don’t believe
A simple framework for making purpose actionable: we believe this, so we do this, by doing this
How team-level agreements translate purpose into everyday behaviors and accountability
Why informal moments, mentorship, and shared learning are critical to culture—especially across generations
The future if we get this right: organizations where people feel fulfilled because they understand how their work contributes to something bigger
Links Mentioned:
Grab your copy of Work for What's Next.
Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to keep up with industry trends.
Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more workplace insights.
Book Amanda for a speaking engagement.
Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.
Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, THE MART + NeoCon, Mannington Commercial, and The Mav Group – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward.
Want to sponsor an episode?
Design Nerds Anonymous is the only podcast of its kind – holding an engaged audience of architects, designers, CRE leaders, and end users – and delivering the most insights per minute on the forces shaping the built environment. With over 100K+ downloads, the show features industry powerhouses from brands like Chick-fil-A, Hilton, and StoryBrand, having bold conversations on what’s next in business and design—market shifts, process innovation, and the hidden dynamics driving change.
Learn more about becoming a sponsor.