Creativity is the Job of the Future

About Creativity is the Job of the Future

Let's Talk About the Real Job Skill of the Future: Creativity. According to the World Economic Forum, creativity is one of the most essential skills for the future of work. As technology and life move faster than ever, how do we keep up—and stand out? One word: CREATIVITY. Creative thinking isn't just for artists. It's about seeing new possibilities, challenging assumptions, and reimagining what's possible. In each episode, Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker explore how people unlock their creative thinking superpowers to tackle complex challenges, uncover unexpected paths to success, and adapt to rapid change. You'll hear from an inspiring mix of guests: experienced designers, storytelling architects, ultramarathoners, chess club pioneers, culture shapers, tech recruiters, and more. Join our community of curious minds and discover how creative thinking can reshape your work—and your life.

Publisher

Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Apr 2025

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Wycliffe Barasa: Creative Forgiveness

   In this moving conversation, we explore what happens when a childhood spent surviving the streets becomes the blueprint for a life's work. Wycliffe Barasa, CEO and co-founder of Kosi Africa, joins us to discuss how loss, a grandmother's wisdom, and the pain of being overlooked shaped a youth-led organization dedicated to empowering communities through education, mentorship, and the environment. From being labeled a "curse" after losing his parents, to living on the streets of Uganda from age five to twelve, where street children weren't even counted in the national census, Wycliffe shares how reuniting with his grandmother changed everything. She taught him about resilience, impact, and inspired the name for Kosi Africa. Kosi means "go." We dig into Kosi Africa's approach of working with communities rather than for them, from resource auditing in schools to EduGreen, a project where students raise and sell indigenous tree seedlings to fund scholarships. Wycliffe also reflects on failure as fuel for creativity, and the extraordinary act of forgiving the man who shot his father, then putting that man's children through school. Whether you're drawn to stories of resilience or the future of education, this episode shows why a candle loses nothing by lighting another. Topics covered: youth education in Africa, prevention over cure in social impact, community-led design, mentorship and leadership, failure and creativity, forgiveness and healing, and sustainable models for nonprofit funding. More about Wycliffe: Kosi Africa Website: https://www.kosiafrica.org/ Wycliffe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wycliffe-barasa/ Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/

2. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Jiwon Park: Creative Thinking and Creative Doing

   In this candid conversation, we explore what happens when a design professor decides real change requires stepping outside the university. Jiwon Park, founder and CEO of SAIB & Co., joins us to discuss how a classroom experience forced a re-evaluation of her cultural bias and sparked a product idea to empower women, and dismantle sexual stigma in South Korea. From growing up in a conservative, patriarchal society in South Korea, where sexual naivety was taught as a virtue for a "good girl," to becoming a design professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Jiwon shares how a student's condom-based art installation became the unexpected spark for SAIB, and why she believes the real solution to women's sexual health isn't just information, but empowerment. We dig into what it took to launch a condom brand in a country with one of the lowest female condom-purchase rates in the world, the misogyny and online harassment she faced as a controversial founder thrust into the public eye, and how SAIB had to build an entirely new customer by educating women before it could sell them anything. Whether you're drawn to stories of reinvention or the future of women's health, this episode challenges you to rethink who gets to talk about sex. Topics covered: femtech and sexual wellness, cultural taboo and stigma, entrepreneurship under conservative social norms, online harassment and resilience, design as a tool for social change, and building a market from scratch. More about Jiwon: SAIB & Co. Website: https://www.saib.co/ Jiwon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkjiwon/ Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/

3. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Umaimah Mendhro: Creating Change-Makers

   In this eye-opening discussion, we explore what happens when access to opportunity is treated as a birthright instead of a privilege. Umaimah Mendhro, founder and president of One League, joins us to discuss how a childhood spent in exile led her to rebuild access to elite education from the ground up. From fleeing a military coup in Pakistan as a toddler, to growing up in a village that doesn't appear on any map, to Cornell and Harvard Business School, Umaimah shares how nearly failing out of Harvard sent her back to build a school in her father's village first, and why she believes education, not talent, is the real bottleneck to opportunity. We dig into what it took to convince Harvard's outgoing dean to hand over the entire MBA curriculum, the risk of reinforcing the very privilege the institution was built to break, and what changes when the people solving the world's hardest problems have actually lived them. Whether you're drawn to stories of reinvention or the future of higher education, this episode challenges you to rethink who gets a seat at the table. Topics covered: exile and displacement, access to elite education, entrepreneurship, building institutions from scratch, generative AI in the Global South, community-rooted leadership, and redefining who gets to be a change-maker. More about Umaimah: One League Website: https://one-league.org/ Umaimah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umaimah/ Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/

4. 

   15 Jun 2026

   Hartmut Esslinger & Patricia Roller: The Head and the Heart of Creativity

   In this expansive conversation, we explore what it really means to build something true and why honesty, passion, and the courage to be seen matter more in creative work than ever. Hartmut Esslinger, founder of frog design and the industrial designer behind Apple's iconic Snow White design language, and Patricia Roller, frog's longtime co-CEO and founder of Vidlet, join Doreen and Michael to challenge comfortable assumptions about creativity, talent, and what society owes to the people who have it. From Hartmut navigating a political minefield inside Apple to Patricia's admission that she felt like an imposter among designers for decades, only discovering her own creativity when she built Vidlet from the ground up, both guests share hard-won wisdom about what it takes to do meaningful work. Hartmut argues that if you're talented and not diligent enough to deserve it, that's a crime. Patricia shares that recognizing your own form of creativity may take a lifetime and look nothing like what you expect. They dig into the corporate chaos behind the Snow White years at Apple, why AI keeps recycling the past instead of imagining the future, how Vidlet is forcing companies to face the unedited truth of their customers' real experiences, and what design education dangerously gets wrong. Whether you work in a creative field or lead one, this episode challenges you to ask: are you being honest about what you can do — and what you owe the world for being able to do it? Topics covered: creativity vs. talent, the Apple years and Snow White design language, design education, AI and design, customer research and truth-telling, frog design culture, Vidlet, industrial design vs. art, and the obligation of passion. More about Hartmut and Patricia: Vidlet: https://www.vidlet.com frog design: https://www.frog.co frog50 Munich – A Conversation with Hartmut Esslinger and Patricia Roller: https://www.frog.co/designmind/frog50-munich-conversation-hartmut-esslinger-patrica-roller Hartmut Esslinger on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartmut_Esslinger Patricia Roller, Authority Magazine: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/inspirational-women-leaders-of-tech-patricia-roller-of-vidlet-on-the-five-things-you-need-to-know-6c89dc1c9b6b A Fine Line by Hartmut Esslinger (Jossey-Bass, 2009) Keep It Simple by Hartmut Esslinger (Arnoldsche, 2014) Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy

5. 

   7 May 2026

   Harper Reed: Identity and Purpose in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

   In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore what happens when AI accelerates everything, including our doubts about the future. Harper Reed, entrepreneur and technologist from Chicago, joins us to discuss how AI is fundamentally changing the nature of work, creativity, and identity. From his early days learning to code at five years old to founding companies in the age of large language models, Harper shares his unconventional philosophy on building products, the importance of taste and discernment, and why the real threat to our future isn't AI, it's the lack of social infrastructure. We dig into the "conviction collapse" of rapid AI iteration, the role of creativity in solving existential problems, and what it really means to be human in a world where machines can generate code, art, and even humor. Whether you're worried about AI taking your job or excited about what's possible, this episode challenges you to look inward at what you're really afraid of losing. Topics covered: AI and coding, entrepreneurship, creativity vs. automation, social safety nets, environmental concerns, generational perspectives on the future, and finding joy in uncertain times. More about Harper: Harper's Website: https://harperreed.com/ Harper's Blog: https://harper.blog/ Harper on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harperreed Harper on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harper_Reed Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy

6. 

   1 Jan 2026

   Season 1 Wrap: Harnessing the Power of Creativity

   Hosts Doreen Lorenzo, Michael Baker, and Rebecca McInroy reflect on Season 1, highlighting how guests Fri Forjindam to Baratunde Thurston use creativity to overcome challenges and adapt to change in various fields.

7. 

   3 Nov 2025

   Baratunde Thurston: Creative Connection

   Baratunde Thurston discusses with Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker how creativity combats AI-driven mediocrity, emphasizing the risk of humans becoming robotic through industrialized thought in this interview.

8. 

   29 Sept 2025

   Marion Leary: The Creative Future of Nursing

   Marion Leary discusses with hosts Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker how creative tools and human-centered design revolutionize nursing education and transform healthcare from the inside out in this interview.

9. 

   1 Sept 2025

   Gray Garmon: Playing with Creativity

   Doreen Lorenzo interviews Gray Garmon, founding director of UT Austin's Center for Integrated Design, about how board games teach design fundamentals and democratize creative problem-solving.

10. 

    4 Aug 2025

    Skye Hilton & Troy Whittington: Creative Recovery

    Skye Hilton and Troy Whittington explore how artistic expression aids recovery from substance use disorder, offering a creative pathway toward sobriety in this interview.

11. 

    14 Jul 2025

    Luna Malbroux and A.J. Haynes: Channeling Joy

    Hosts Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker interview Luna Malbroux and A.J. Haynes about using creativity, play, and storytelling to transform organizational cultures and promote equity, drawing from their Louisiana roots and artistic backgrounds.

12. 

    2 Jun 2025

    Paul Propster: The Story of a Story Architect

    Paul Propster, NASA's Chief Story Architect, discusses narrative thinking and its ability to transform complex ideas into compelling, human-centered stories that inspire action in an interview with Doreen Lorenzo, Michael Baker, and Rebecca McInroy.

13. 

    19 May 2025

    Ed Shelton: Death Races and Monday Problems

    Ultramarathon runner Ed Shelton talks with Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker about running over 200-mile races without a support crew, embracing discomfort, and using creativity as a survival skill. A business analyst by day and ultra-endurance athlete by passion, Ed shares how his early love of patterns, comfort with solitude, and commitment fuel his ability to adapt under extreme conditions. From hallucinations to hypothermia to blindness, Ed breaks down how staying calm, solving problems with what's available, and trusting yourself can carry you through the toughest challenges—on the trail and in life. More about Ed Shelton: Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edshelton/ Ed’s blog: https://fox-runner.com/ Ed’s running stats: https://ultrasignup.com/m_results_participant.aspx?fname=Ed&lname=Shelton Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/ed-shelton Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/)Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy

14. 

    5 May 2025

    Fri Forjindam: Curiosity and Creative Courage

    Fri Forjindam (https://mycotoo.com/fri-forjindam/) talks with hosts Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker about her journey from Cameroon to becoming a global voice in experience design and her philosophy that creativity is both a civic responsibility and an economic driver. Her story exemplifies the power of living with curiosity and developing creative courage. Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/fri-forjindam Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy

15. 

    21 Apr 2025

    Season 1 Trailer

    As we stare into the abyss of uncertainty, how do we find direction, and guidance? What tools will help us? One word: CREATIVITY. Creative thinking is THE most essential skill in an uncertain world. In a new podcast hosted by Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker, launching May 5th, We discover why Creativity is the Job of the Future. Join Doreen and Michael for in-depth conversations with ultramarathon runners, designers, story architects, recovery coaches, and other unconventional creatives as we explore how they use creativity to tackle complex challenges, uncover unexpected paths to success, and adapt to rapid change.

Who has been a guest on Creativity is the Job of the Future

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Fri Forjindam
• Baratunde Thurston
• Marion Leary
• Gray Garmon
• Skye Hilton

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

152

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

29

Social presence

0

YouTube

64

Engagement

32

Contact Creativity is the Job of the Future

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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