Laura Wesiss
Master of Architecture from Yale University (1988), MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Associate Partner at IDEO, INC (1998-2008), President at Kao & Company, LLC (2008)
| Headline: | Service Provider |
| Skills: | Architecture, Business, Design, Entrepreneurship, Languages, Law, Leadership, Management, Marketing, Negotiation, Product design, Public Relations, Public speaking |
| Groups: | Women 2.0 |
| Interested in: | Consulting opportunities, Meeting new people, Offering Expertise, Professional opportunities, Providing services to startups |
| Schools: | Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University |
WORK EXPERIENCE
| Employer: | IDEO, INC, Palo Alto and San Francisco, CA |
| Position: | Associate Partner/ Practice Director, Global Service Design and Innovation (SDI) |
| Time period: | January 2004 - December 2008 |
| Description: | Co-founded new practice area within the world‟s leading design and innovation consulting firm. In 2006 merged Bay Area SDI resources with IDEO‟s Software Experiences (SX) practice. Played a leadership role in all aspects of practice operations, including development of the offer, development of new business, contract negotiation, program planning and content design, advising clients, and mentoring team members. Overall impact on IDEO‟s business includes:
*Growth of SDI from $3m to $7.5m business in first two years with consistently profitable programs. *Development of portfolio approach to managing growth of SX, a $9m business. *Recognition for service innovation thought leadership through speaking engagements and seminar facilitation at major business schools and corporate offsite events. |
| Employer: | IDEO, INC, Palo Alto and San Francisco, CA |
| Position: | Discipline Director, Business Factors |
| Time period: | January 1999 - December 2004 |
| Description: | Established and led the emergent Business Factors discipline to integrate strategic thinking into IDEO‟s core design process. Responsible for developing tools, hiring new talent, and inter-disciplinary project leadership. Sample projects in which design methodologies were applied to solve business challenges include the following: Worked with one of the earliest internet banks to identify an underserved market and develop a new online experience and credit card offering. Generated more than $100 million in credit card receivables and 50,000 accounts in less than two months of operation. Explored growth opportunities to reverse declining revenues and shrinking margins for core business of a leading manufacturer of contract furniture. Identified new market segment and sales channel with a potential value of $95m. Helped a major wireless data services provider migrate from an early adopter to mass market via a consumer experience that was also profitable for its strategic partners. Resulted in a 15% increase in page views per user visit, a 30% increase in m-commerce transactions and 95% partner compliance within two months post-launch. |
| Employer: | INTEGRAL, INC, Cambridge, MA (now part of Analysis Group, Inc.) |
| Position: | Management Consultant – Management of Innovation and New Product Development Practice |
| Time period: | January 1997 - December 1999 |
| Description: | *Worked with the corporate head office of a major UK bank to define its role in implementing group-wide project portfolio management. Developed original tools and collaborated with client on implementation strategy across multiple business units. Overall effort resulted in investment savings of £30m.
*Worked with a leading beverage company to develop a strategy for adopting a new bottling technology. Required knowledge of industry and understanding of company‟s product performance and marketing objectives. Adoption of prescribed strategy resulted in expanded product innovations. *Worked with a manufacturer of medical diagnostic devices to evaluate the effectiveness of its corporate design department and make recommendations for improved economic and operational efficiencies. *Worked with a leading manufacturer of building construction products to assess its project portfolio and improve the alignment of its corporate R&D activities with the strategic objectives of its business units. Resulted in improved utilization of resources and an optimized product development process. |
| Employer: | GRAHAM GUND ARCHITECTS, Cambridge, MA |
| Position: | Licensed Architect + Project Manager |
| Time period: | January 1994 - December 1995 |
| Description: | Led internal team in designing the Young Israel of Brookline Synagogue with a $3 million construction budget. Coordinated a team of ten external project consultants, and supervised overall project scheduling including schematic design, design development, and construction document phases. Individually responsible for design and detailing of all interior millwork. |
| Employer: | ANN BEHA ASSOCIATES, Boston, MA |
| Position: | Architect + Associate |
| Time period: | January 1991 - December 1994 |
| Description: | *Designed and managed the development of a $1 million addition to educational facilities at Temple Isaiah in Lexington, MA, handling all client communications, consultant coordination and construction document production. Instrumental in winning the commission for the firm.
*Served as Interim Project Manager and Designer for the $8 million renovation of historic Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, coordinating client and team consultant activities. |
| Employer: | JUNG/BRANNEN ASSOCIATES, Boston, MA |
| Position: | Architectural Designer |
| Time period: | January 1988 - December 1991 |
| Description: | *Assisted in production of construction documents for the $35 million Biomedical Research Laboratories at Massachusetts General Hospital.
*Won the competition and commission for the design and fabrication of a new public telephone station for the headquarters of the former New England Telephone; installed in 1991. |
| Employer: | KAO & COMPANY, LLC, San Francisco, CA |
| Position: | President |
| Time period: | December 2008 |
| Description: | Boutique Innovation Advisory Firm: Responsible for overall start-up operations, development and management of client relationships, alliances with business partners, and creation of new products, services, and ventures for large-scale innovation within public and private sector organizations. Advised the CEO on the following:
*Strategic focus and brand evolution for Kao & Co. consulting services. *Marketing communications messaging and materials for Kao & Co. consulting services. *Business plan and marketing communications materials for “Forging the Future”, a senior leadership development program for executives leading enterprise-wide innovation initiatives. |
| Employer: | The Environments Group |
| Position: | Studio Intern |
| Time period: | December 1996 |
| Description: | Guided new business strategy and market research for the development of a new studio discipline. Identified emerging trends and key players in five distinct industry groups and developed strategies for leveraging existing client base. Collaborated with multi-disciplinary staff to create internal and external marketing collateral. |
| Employer: | UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA |
| Position: | Lecturer in Architecture |
| Time period: | December 1993 |
| Description: | Invited to teach fourth year undergraduate design studio that explored issues of program and context in two unique urban settings. Created course curriculum, led critique discussions and issued grades. |
EDUCATION
| University: | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Time period: | 1997 |
| Degree: | MBA |
| University: | Yale University |
| Time period: | 1988 |
| Degree: | Master of Architecture |
| University: | Cornell University |
| Time period: | 1986 |
| Degree: | Bachelor of Architecture |
PUBLICATIONS
| Articles: | “Innovate – and plan your own economic stimulus”, commentary for The San Francisco Chronicle, January 27, 2009.
“Developing Tangible Strategies”, Design Management Journal (Winter 2002) and Building Design Strategy, an anthology of leading DMI articles published by Allworth Press in 2008. A District Courthouse for Essex County, Cornell thesis project featured in The Cornell Journal of Architecture 3 (Rizzoli: 1988) and ARCHITECTURE Magazine (American Institute of Architects: August 1986). Holocaust Museum for Berlin, Yale graduate studio project featured in ARCHITECTURE Magazine (American Institute of Architects: August 1988). |
INFORMATION
| Sports: | Avid cyclist, hiker. |
| Hobbies: | Urban explorer. |
| Clubs: | Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
Co-Founder & Coordinator, Post-Professional Symposium Series(Yale University) Representative, Sloan Senate (MIT) |
| Memberships: | Board of Directors, Public Architecture (2009 - )
Legislative Advocate, Women Impacting Public Policy (2009 - ) Mentor, Marin Education Fund (2009) Regional Director, Association of Yale Alumni Day of Service (2009) Member, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs & Executives (2008 - ) Member, Women in Consulting (2008 - ) Member, Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2008) Board of Governors, Association of Yale Alumni (1999-2002) Representative to the Association of Yale Alumni (1996-1999) |
| Awards: | The Alpha Rho Chi Medal
The Charles Goodwin Sands Memorial Medal Recipient of Eidlitz Traveling Fellowship, Summer 1990 |
