Owen Sanderson

Owen Sanderson is an experienced professional in the field of human-centered design and innovation strategy. Owen has held various roles throughout their career, working with leading organizations and consulting firms.

Starting in 2008, Sanderson worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as a Program Coordinator, where they focused on promoting long-range strategic thinking on the future of US foreign policy.

In 2010, Sanderson joined Deloitte as an Analyst in their Emerging Markets practice, and later became a Consultant. Owen specialized in failed and fragile states, supporting research and assisting with brand management and communication.

Sanderson then transitioned to a position at iHub Nairobi, serving as a Summer Fellow for Ushahidi. During this time, they focused on supporting tech entrepreneurs and conducting research on Kenya's innovation and technology ecosystem.

In 2015, Sanderson became a Business Designer and design researcher for IDEO.org's Amplify program, where they worked on making international aid more collaborative and human-centered.

Sanderson continued their work with IDEO, joining IDEO as a Business Designer, and later becoming a Senior Business Designer. In this role, they helped startups and corporates understand their customers through UX research and led cross-disciplinary design teams.

Sanderson then moved to Unum, a Fortune 500 financial services company, where they served as a Director and focused on driving a human-centered approach to new venture development.

In 2020, Sanderson joined MaineHealth as the Manager of Innovation, where they played a pivotal role in launching the company's first-ever innovation lab and developing innovation programs for their 23,000 employees.

In 2021, Sanderson started their own company, Islander Creative LLC, where they provided freelance design thinking and innovation strategy services to various clients, including IA Collaborative, Roux Institute at Northeastern University, University of New England, and Van Alen Institute.

Most recently, in 2022, Sanderson joined IA Collaborative as the Director of Research & Design Strategy, where they focus on developing user-centered offerings through ethnographic research and design strategy, as well as managing projects, clients, and team members.

Overall, Sanderson's work experience showcases their expertise in human-centered design, innovation strategy, and research, as well as their ability to lead and manage teams.

Owen Sanderson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Georgetown University between 2005 and 2008. Owen then pursued a Master's degree in International Affairs at The Fletcher School at Tufts University from 2013 to 2015.