Episode 15: Rachel Young - Designing cultures of learning

Rachel brings a design approach and a sensibility of empowerment to everything she does. She explores the pivotal moments that chart her beautiful path through education and design and make her a creator for cultures of learning across the world.

Rachel Young has a powerful and wonderful imagination. She’s followed the curiosity that feeds her imagination to career stops as a teacher, storyteller, writer, and product manager. At the moment, she is tackling digital literacy, education, the future of women in the workplace, and the future of work itself as Senior Design Lead at the brilliant IDEO - a global design and innovation firm that is world renown and regarded. You will quickly realize that Rachel is endlessly energetic about any project that can bring positive change to lives. 

At IDEO she is redefining ‘designing for humans.’ And comes from a unique background that empowers her to do it. 

After graduating from Wells College in New York as a first generation college student, she joined Teach For America and subsequently spent six years with the Knowledge is Power Program, KIPP. 

She has applied her imagination to provide social, emotional, and academic support to young people ("Dreamers") from under-resourced communities at the “I Have a Dream” Foundation and as Director of Engagement at the non-profit ‘Character Lab.’

She now spends her time creating change through some of the coolest projects you will hear about at IDEO. We are extremely fortunate to have Rachel on Origins, and for the opportunity for each of us to examine our own mindsets from her fascinating perspective.