How to Build Trust, Secure Funding & Prove Design’s Value in Business | Bonnie Mooney

 

In this episode, Bonnie Mooney, Head of Design at McMillan Shakespeare, shares her journey from hospitality to leading design in large enterprise environments. We dive deep into how designers can bridge the gap between customer needs and business goals. Bonnie discusses how to earn trust, secure funding, and prove design’s strategic value — even in high-stakes environments. Plus, insights into building a mixed team, aligning design with business needs, and leading teams to think like business leaders.

 

🔑 Key Themes

 

Bridging business goals with customer outcomes

 

Earning trust and securing budget for design

 

Building a team that works cross-functionally

 

Proving design's strategic value in high-stakes environments

 

The importance of educating stakeholders on design

 

Navigating design’s role during budget restrictions

 

Designing for customers and internal teams

 

How to get a seat at the table as a designer

 

Using design to help teams achieve business goals

 

Designing for impact, not just aesthetics

 

🔗 Resources

— Connect with Bonnie Mooney on LinkedIn:

 

 

 / bonniemooney  

 

— Connect with Joe Woodham on LinkedIn:

 

 

 / joe-woodham-torii-uxdesign  

 

⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 - Intro: Bonnie Mooney’s Design Journey

10:39 - Choosing the Right Project to Pitch for Design Impact

14:13 - Aligning Design with Business Goals for Greater Impact

19:26 - Securing Funding and Understanding Business Needs

22:29 - The Key to Sustaining Design in Challenging Times

24:11 - Balancing Design Quality with Business Constraints

29:54 - Designing for Both Customers and Internal Teams

34:11 - Upskilling and Empowering Designers for Success

40:25 - Building Trust and Relationships to Drive Successful Design Projects

48:25 - Empowering Teams to Champion Design

51:20 - Turning Design into a Strategic Asset

53:23 - Where to Connect with Bonnie Mooney

 

📌 Tags

design leadership, design strategy, business design, design in business, product design, customer-centric design, design thinking, business outcomes, design education, cross-functional design teams, design for business success, design value, design mindset, stakeholder engagement, design for impact, design and business alignment, enterprise design, Bonnie Mooney, McMillan Shakespeare design, business goals, design for customer experience, enterprise design thinking