Having spent 20+ years as a shoe design lead on global, cross-functional teams, I now focus on using design skills and creativity for personal and professional growth. As a mentor, I'm passionate about supporting leaders, founders & entrepreneurs through the complex demands of their roles, fostering business growth, championing creativity, nurturing well-being, and leveraging innovation to help build better businesses.
What I offer
Mentor to Founders and Entrepreneurs
Empowering startup founders and entrepreneurs using business-focussed design expertise, I equip clients with the essential tools and confidence to conquer the challenges ahead. Adept at navigating intricate cross-functional dynamics, I'm here to help you prioritise, focus, test and grow.
Think Like a Designer: Design thinking & innovation workshops for career, product & venture growth. Demonstrating the use of design thinking techniques when setting goals & troubleshooting roadblocks for founders, professionals & entrepreneurs from all industries and functions.
Working with a variety of start-up footwear brands and established apparel brands as they enter the footwear market. Services include technical and aesthetic design and creative direction, sourcing and development. Critical path and supply chain management, design team management and mentoring.
Higher education lecturer & guest speaker, subjects include Fashion Retail Management, Professional Strategies, Emerging Technologies, Contemporary Design Culture & Final Major Project Tutor @ The Fashion Retail Academy & Ravensbourne University in London and The University of Limerick.
Discussing:
Why the designer skill set is most like the CEO skill set
Why the Design Thinking process, as described in business books, isn't enough to understand what designers really do
How to balance competing demands: what to do when customers, investors, and sales teams all want different things
Charles Jeffrey Loverboy: Footwear Design & Development Consultant
Design, development and commercialisation of the signature Moggies Claw Shoe. Working closely with the founder and creative team to bring the creative vision to life. Provided introductions to factory and supply base in Italy and overseeing all product creation from initial concept to production.
University of Limerick, Ireland: Contemporary Design Culture Workshop
Designing for Brands: Balancing Brand Identity, Creative Direction, Consumer Profile and Brief. I designed this interactive workshop for the Bachelor of Science, Product Design Year 2 students. The session runs annually and introduces the professional practice of design in a cross-functional team.
THE B!G iDEA - Ireland: Startup Volunteer - Grants and Mentoring
As a volunteer at The Big Idea, I took on grant applications, mentoring students, and supporting the founder. We nailed the grants, watched students blossom, and kept the momentum going. It was an incredible experience championing creativity and design thinking in the Irish education system.
Working closely with the fantastic Stephanie Dotto I wrote a short piece for TPC about my experience in establishing my portfolio career and beginning to work with startups back in 2021.
Automotive Accessories Startup: Co-Founder & Head of Design
In 2021 I worked with an automotive accessories startup. It is now a digital holding space, however the time spent as head of design and briefly as co-founder, was formative in establishing my understanding of the startup and founder experience and was an excellent crash course in what not to do!
Timberland, A VF Company : Senior Designer, Women's Shoes
Led the women's design team through the product creation process. Liaised with teams across the UK, Switzerland/EU, US and Asia. Full responsibility for seasonal trend, colour and material selection as well as design and development of product. Designed several best-selling lines across all regions.
I'm a bit of a bookworm in my spare time - and a wannabe writer! After (only 😆) a decade, I've hit 30,000 words on my novel. Slow progress, but joining writing groups and workshops has brought amazing friends and so much inspiration into my world. Sometimes we even write too 🤗 📝✨