Sandy Speicher is the CEO of IDEO, a global design firm. She also serves on the Thought Leadership Council for Khan Academy and has taught at Washington University in St. Louis and Stanford University's Design School. As a practicing designer and educator, Sandy has gained global recognition for her expertise in designing large-scale systems. Sandy’s vision for the future of our world, core values, and human-centered perspective are inspiring.
Sandy always had a big imagination and reached for the stars. She knew she wanted to create an impact but never sought out a specific job title. When she stumbled upon complex issues, her first instinct was always to figure out how she could make a difference. Her mindset has helped her unlock several doors and create innovative solutions to help build a stronger world.
Who is your role model?
Michelle Obama is one of my greatest role models. She uses her confidence to help others find their own confidence. She understands that by being an example, she possesses the power to help others discover more about themselves.
When was a time you failed, and what did you gain from the experience?
I cannot recall a specific time, as I really believe in iterations. You want to fail all the time so that you can try again and apply what you learned. A while ago, I had to write an article, and I was anxious. I decided to just try and fail on purpose, so I could eliminate my fear of failure. Along the way, I knew my writing wasn’t perfect, but I was able to revise it and identify what was great. Fifteen versions later, I feel really proud of what I wrote. I know I have failed a lot. Every single day, I feel like I have small failures, but that’s how you learn and grow.
What advice do you have for others who aspire to be like you?
The only way to have a job like mine is to create it. It does not get defined for you. I had to be so relentlessly driven to create something that the job just came out of it. Even five years ago, I had no idea that I could be doing what I am doing. I just saw a problem, and I wondered how I could fix it. Then, I saw another problem, and I wondered how I could fix it. Do excellent work and understand your values. Do not get sidetracked by what others are telling you. Keep doing you. Do not chase the game.
What is your personal recipe for confidence?
I constantly remind myself that everyone is always learning. So, when I am feeling a lack of confidence, I remind myself that I am learning and I have to accept that I do not know everything. It's a mantra that I live by.
If you did not have to worry about money, how would you choose to spend your life?
I love the work I am doing right now. Through my work, I have spent a lot of time in India and Peru. I do not speak the languages of those places, but there is something so generous in just connecting with people as human beings, when no one really knows you or what you do. You get to learn from one another. So far, I have been to India 21 times and I would love to keep having more experiences like that.
What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
As soon as I graduated from college, I decided to move to San Francisco. I did not have a job lined up, but I knew there was something I wanted to learn from this city. A second instance is when I was asked to work on a project in India, and I had never been there before. A part of me was very nervous. It challenged me more than anything else has ever challenged me, and I loved it so much. India expands my understanding of humanity. I was scared, and I jumped in with both feet regardless.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You have no idea what you don't yet know. It sounds very critical, but I mean it with joy. It is so exciting to discover how much there still is to know.
What is one dream you have yet to accomplish?
At IDEO, we have talked to a lot of students from different backgrounds across the nation, and we consistently find that the majority of students head into college doing what they have been told to do. We, as adults, rarely help them understand what they love and care about. We are trying to develop something to help high school students find their sense of purpose. In American culture, there is this message that you should know what your purpose is. If you don’t, people think you are missing something. In actuality, purpose evolves as you go through life and have different experiences. Not only do you have to take action, you have to reflect and analyze your life experiences. Life is a journey. It is challenging to understand what you are meant to do, but it is important that you continue to try.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I would love our education systems to better meet the needs of people within them. It is a seemingly impossible challenge, as people are really complex and their needs are really diverse. It is not that our schools have failed, but they have not kept pace with who people are and what people care about. The design is misaligned.
What are your hopes for the next generation?
Our systems are not working for everyone. And these systems that work well for some and not for others didn’t get that way by accident—they were designed to advantage some people and disadvantage others. If we aren’t purposeful about changing them, they can get reinforced. I hope your generation builds the skills to comprehend what is happening and design new answers. We need new systems that work for everyone. It is crucial that you believe you have a role in shaping the world. So many people leave it to someone else to do. I hope your generation grows up believing that they can impact the world.
How do you define the word “success”?
Success is the resting place for our ambitions. You can take a break there for a while and keep going.
