Why Parsons Executive Education

Parsons Executive Education operates at the intersection of design and the global socioeconomic trends transforming our organizations and communities. Our programs are designed for industry leaders and entrepreneurs who have the courage to engage in high-impact learning—those who come at challenges differently, celebrate creativity, and are capable of acting in the face of continuous change. While most curricula focus on ROI, our courses take you on a journey that delivers Return on Design (ROD)—improved performance, increased resilience, dynamic new customer experiences, and maximum growth. As the #1 design school in the United States, an institution that is leading the thinking and output of industries the world over, we offer a high-impact learning environment that will enable you to:

• Practice approaches to problem solving that will maximize your ability to adapt to change
  • Create multilevel impact by employing systems thinking and ecosystem business models, an approach well suited to the new era of complexity
    • Create multilevel impact by employing systems thinking and ecosystem business models, an approach well suited to the new era of complexity
• Acquire human-centered methods that will help you effect organizational transformation and create memorable experiences for your audience
• Harness new sources of value for building successful products and services while designing risk out of the process
• Master the art of prototyping and making ideas tangible to maximize stakeholder and customer buy-in
• Create multilevel impact by employing systems thinking and ecosystem business models, an approach well suited to the new era of complexity

Design as Method and Mindset

Design is a discipline and an approach, not just an output. It is a business tool and a competency that promotes a holistic view amid the ambiguity and chaos of today’s complexity. In Parsons Executive Education programs, we introduce you to techniques and methods that expand your ability to connect multiple perspectives and see the full range of opportunities available to create business, environmental, and social value that generates positive change.

Design as the Catalyst for Strategy

Design is about the whole user experience and is thus an essential part of business strategy. As one of the world’s leading design schools, we are experts in instilling a design mindset that allows you to focus on large-scale challenges in a comprehensive way and gives you the tools you need to identify the issues that matter most. Our programs expand your ability to see “the architecture of the problem” for any situation or challenge.

Design as the Driver of Transformation

Our curriculum goes far beyond the now commoditized notion of design thinking. We provide intentional, disciplined instruction in creative problem-solving techniques and practices. With courses that introduce applied methods for ideation, experimentation, discovery, and reflective action, we help teams consistently produce desired outcomes and effect change.

Design as the Solution to Complexity

The need to transcend the siloed boundaries of “business as usual” contexts has never been greater. We teach you skills that allow you to perceive and seize opportunities while navigating the fundamental tensions that arise from organizational dilemmas. We invite you to embrace the interconnectedness of systems. And we give you the tools you need to unlock change with clarity and simplicity.

Our programs are developed and taught by a diverse community of academics and industry leaders with hands-on, real-world experience in the innovation space in a full range of industries. These subject-matter experts engage with participants from around the world—working in sessions, facilitating hands-on opportunities, and diving deep into participant research and solutions. Special guest speakers are also invited to bring fresh research and applied perspectives into the classroom, further enriching the interactive and networking experience.

More than a century ago, The New School was founded on the promise of a more relevant model of education—one in which scholars, creators, and activists would be free to address the challenges facing our society to make a positive mark on the world. Our continued commitment to social purpose and world-changing ideas not only reflects the times we live in but enables our community anticipate what is next.

Get in touch with our team to learn more about Parsons Executive Education.