The art of corporate collaboration: A conversation with Murphy Freelen

In this episode of Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Murphy Freelen, Senior Director of Strategy at Launch by NTT DATA. Murphy has held roles at world-renowned companies like frog design, Accenture, and Fjord, where she’s built innovation practices and connected products teams from the ground up. Throughout her career, Murphy has focused on helping creative teams translate their vision into business impact while ensuring they don’t lose sight of what makes their work meaningful.

Tammy and Murphy discuss listening in leadership, negotiating compromise and connecting the dots in large organizations.

Highlights from the episode include:

• The magic when creative meets commercial. Designers want to improve the world. Businesses want results. The best outcomes happen when you honor both. Human needs can drive strong business outcomes when teams stay aligned on the goal.
• Human centered AI starts with humans. Murphy and Tammy discuss AI as a tool that speeds up thinking but cannot replace diverse perspectives or lived experience. Garbage in, garbage out still applies. People give the work meaning.
• The next wave of tech should feel seamless. From autonomous vehicles to redesigned planes, Murphy is excited about technology that reduces friction in everyday life. The future can be smarter and easier if we design for real human needs.

Check out the full episode to hear more about Murphy’s journey from media to design to strategy and why she believes the glue between disciplines is what drives innovation.

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Please note that the views expressed in this episode may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.