Kathleen (Kat) Chiechi Flores, MBA

Children in the child welfare system face unique educational challenges that traditional schools simply are not equipped to deal with. Repeated moves from one foster home to another often mean a change in schools. For those who have been victims of abuse, normal interaction with adults requires special sensitivity. Issues like poor nutrition, a lack of health care, and absent or incarcerated parents affect every aspect of the lives of these children and the level of support they need at… Show more

Children in the child welfare system face unique educational challenges that traditional schools simply are not equipped to deal with. Repeated moves from one foster home to another often mean a change in schools. For those who have been victims of abuse, normal interaction with adults requires special sensitivity. Issues like poor nutrition, a lack of health care, and absent or incarcerated parents affect every aspect of the lives of these children and the level of support they need at school.

To begin to address these issues, The Foundling sponsored the first charter school of its kind in the nation, with two-thirds of its student body consisting of children actively in the child welfare system. Mott Haven Academy Charter School, more commonly known as Haven Academy, now serves 232 children in kindergarten to fifth grade and is able to provide its students with a full array of The Foundling’s services, all under one roof. The curriculum and full-scale support for students provides a unique understanding of their problems, and focuses on getting each of them ready to learn so that they can be successful. The school’s specially trained and highly committed teachers are able to call upon resources such as social workers who know the child’s family situation, healthcare and nutritional services and social services support for entire families when necessary.

The rigorous academic program also exposes the children to art, culture and expression – at the same time providing social services that support the entire child – as we work to ensure that our scholars will be resilient, resourceful and well-equipped to reach their full potential. Show less

Human-centered design approaches are at the heart of creative leadership. Today's leading firms are applying immersive empathy approaches to break through the clutter and connect with customers in new, unexpected ways. There is never a greater need for this creative approach to leading firms than in today's digital economy.

Demand and Opportunity
With the increasing use of social media by sophisticated customers sharing their experiences and accessing a growing set of choices… Show more

Human-centered design approaches are at the heart of creative leadership. Today's leading firms are applying immersive empathy approaches to break through the clutter and connect with customers in new, unexpected ways. There is never a greater need for this creative approach to leading firms than in today's digital economy.

Demand and Opportunity
With the increasing use of social media by sophisticated customers sharing their experiences and accessing a growing set of choices, Design Thinking principles are more important than ever. The demand for professionals who can generate creative solutions to intractable problems continues to rise. Firms that use design thinking to deliver extraordinary customer experience out compete other firms who too often delivery me-too products or services.

Design Thinking Certificate Program
As firms create new nimble divisions to integrate innovation throughout the organization, the job market is expected to explode for Professionals with Design Thinking skills over the next several years. According to Gartner, 50 percent of consumer product investments will be redirected to innovation by 2017. Functions and roles that were traditionally done by marketing, sales, IT, and operations will be shifting toward these new interdisciplinary divisions that require design thinking skills.

Education and Training
Our project-based, interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to train and develop professionals with the technical and analytical skills and Design Thinking leadership insights needed to move innovation initiatives forward within organizations. Participants in this program will receive hands-on training that prepares them to ask relevant questions, manage and lead others, and to communicate innovation value to senior management. Participants will also leave with a Professional Design Thinking Capstone Portfolio of tools and resources to apply back at their organization. Show less