“Ben is nothing less than a magician. You'll see terms like 'writer' and 'content strategist' and 'innovation consultant' above and elsewhere, and they're all accurate: he is all of those things, and more. But they don't begin to fully describe the range of Ben's wondrous gifts. He, as much as anyone I've ever encountered, has the power and spirit to unlock creativity and play in others; to transform complexity and abstraction into emotionally resonant narratives and experiences; and to bring focus and clarity to ambiguity. I recommend him wholeheartedly, without reservation, and in the hope that you find yourself lucky enough to work with him.”

— Alex Gallafent / Design Director / IDEO

“Ben represents a mature and diplomatic point of view that I only see in seasoned IDEOers. He doesn't center himself and take oxygen from others. He is thoughtful and his contributions to the strategy and design work have always been timely, creative, and elegant.

He has a strong point of view and intuitive sense of when to challenge and stand up for those views in service of strengthening the work. He radiates approachability and humility, allowing for peers to seek advice and help without fear or intimidation. He consistently provides clarity and calm to ambiguous (and sometimes tense) moments in the design process. Ben takes the time to think before he speaks and that creates an expectation of intent listening from those around him because we know that what he has to say is going to be constructive, balanced, generative, and additive. He brings polish and utility to insights that allow our clients to quickly understand the issues and focus on ways forward.”

— Judy Hsu / Senior Design Lead / IDEO

“Ben’s work is so powerful that it made our clients cry. He crafted such an emotional story that our very seasoned main client described the work as ‘the best of my professional career.’ He built trust with our research participants in a way that got them to open up but also feel respected and protected (incredibly difficult to do). Ben was key to the core vision and deliverables. When Ben shared the first drafts of the stories it was like magic. We simply couldn’t have done it without him.”

— Tom Kershaw / Senior Design Lead / IDEO

“Ben’s superpower is knowing that he can make the world a better place, but also that he can’t do it alone. He sees the potential in a problem and the untapped magic in other people. He nurtures the creative ember in everyone, whether client or teammate, and always manages to pin down the ephemeral alchemy among business, strategy, and play. He is a generous leader, a gentle mentor, a sharp strategist, and an egoless maker. He has been one of my most favorite and inspiring leaders and collaborators at IDEO, and he has undoubtedly helped me become a better designer.”

— Njoki Gitahi / Design Director / IDEO