Design Matters Podcast Summary

Episode: Best of Design Matters: Frances Frei and Anne Morriss
Release Date: May 5, 2025
Hosts: Debbie Millman, Frances Frei, Anne Morriss
Production: Design Matters Media, TED Audio Collective

Introduction

In this special "Best of" episode of Design Matters, host Debbie Millman welcomes Frances Frei and Anne Morriss, a dynamic duo renowned for their expertise in organizational transformation and leadership. Originally aired in May 2024, this episode delves deep into their personal journeys, professional insights, and collaborative endeavors, including their bestselling book, Move Fast and Fix Things: The Trusted Leader's Guide to Solving Hard Problems.

Early Life and Background

Frances Frei recounts her challenging childhood, highlighting her birth complications and upbringing as the youngest of six siblings in Long Island, during a single-parent household in Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Frances Frei [05:10]: "A bacon sandwich."

She shares anecdotes about her mother's unconventional parenting methods, such as using spoons as toys, which Frances interpreted as signs of neglect. Frances also touches on her father's legacy as a constitutional law teacher and his rebellious nature, which influenced her own drive to challenge the status quo.

• Frances Frei [16:16]: "I think the idea of not accepting the status quo as static... I definitely took that away from the story of his life."

Anne Morriss discusses her upbringing in a similarly large family on Long Island and her early experiences volunteering in Latin America through organizations like Amigos, where she developed a passion for economic development and supporting entrepreneurs.

• Anne Morriss [25:33]: "I was a little bit older... I did a bit older."

Career Paths and Collaboration

Frances and Anne detail their divergent career paths that eventually intersected, leading to a powerful collaboration in leadership coaching and organizational transformation.

Frances Frei shares her academic journey, including her time at Brandeis University, transferring to Penn, and ultimately earning a Ph.D. in Operations Management from Harvard Business School. Her transition from aspiring basketball coach to passionate educator and author is vividly described.

• Frances Frei [34:52]: "I studied service operations... questioning conventional wisdom."

Anne Morriss explains her shift from public health to economic development, focusing on creating environments conducive to entrepreneurial success in regions not inherently designed for such growth.

• Anne Morriss [38:04]: "I knew then that I could turn into this other person."

Their partnership is underscored by mutual respect and complementary skills, with Frances handling the analytical and strategic aspects while Anne excels in communication and storytelling.

Leadership Philosophy and Book Insights

The heart of their discussion centers around their book, Move Fast and Fix Things, which challenges the popular Silicon Valley mantra "Move fast and break things." Frances criticizes this approach, arguing that it fosters a culture of speed over substance and undermines trust within organizations.

• Frances Frei [60:54]: "The deep harm is that it gave speed a bad name... trust is breaking things."

Anne concurs, emphasizing the detrimental effects of valuing speed over thoughtful, trust-building actions.

• Anne Morriss [63:09]: "Leadership is the practice of imperfect humans leading imperfect humans."

Their leadership model advocates for continuous improvement, authentic communication, and empathetic interactions to foster resilient and thriving organizations.

• Frances Frei [63:28]: "We know that rate of improvement matters so much more than wherever you are today."

The Five-Day Plan for Solving Problems

Frances and Anne introduce their innovative five-day framework for tackling organizational challenges, corresponding to each weekday:

1. Monday: Identify the Real Problem

   • Frances Frei [68:38]: "The presenting problem is never the problem you have to solve."

2. Tuesday: Develop a “Good Enough” Plan

   • Focus on rebuilding trust and creating actionable steps without overcomplicating the process.

3. Wednesday: Make New Friends

   • Engage with stakeholders who haven't been previously involved to gain fresh perspectives.
   • Frances Frei [72:12]: "Wednesday is the invite everybody to the table that you haven't yet."

4. Thursday: Tell a Story

   • Utilize storytelling to align the organization’s vision and motivate collective action.
   • Frances Frei [73:39]: "Storytelling is underutilized... it's a way to activate the entire organization."

5. Friday: Go Fast

   • Implement the plan swiftly while maintaining quality and trust.
   • Frances Frei [73:53]: "Friday is about putting into play all of the things... it's the best day of the week."

This structured approach aims to streamline problem-solving processes, enhance collaboration, and accelerate organizational progress.

Work on DEI and Organizational Change

Frances and Anne discuss their perspectives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), highlighting its importance in removing artificial obstacles that hinder underrepresented leaders. They express frustration with misconceptions that DEI aims to provide unfair advantages rather than leveling the playing field.

• Frances Frei [57:04]: “DEI exists because there were demographic tendencies associated with who thrived... removing unfair disadvantage.”

Their work focuses on fostering environments where diverse talents can flourish, emphasizing the removal of systemic barriers and the cultivation of inclusive organizational cultures.

Personal Stories and Experiences

Throughout the episode, Frances and Anne share personal anecdotes that illustrate their resilience and commitment to leadership excellence. Frances speaks candidly about her son's health challenges and how these experiences shaped her approach to problem-solving and perseverance.

• Frances Frei [46:05]: "I don't ever let the decisions of others influence my life's trajectory."

Anne recounts the pivotal moment when she received a distressing call about her newborn son's health, which catalyzed her entrepreneurial journey to improve donor sperm screening processes.

• Anne Morriss [50:31]: "We had a little boy... now he's 16 and doing extraordinarily well."

Their stories underscore the importance of adaptability, empathy, and relentless pursuit of meaningful change both personally and professionally.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Frances and Anne reflecting on their collaborative efforts and the impact of their work on leadership and organizational transformation. They emphasize the necessity of courage, trust, and continuous improvement in building effective and resilient organizations.

• Frances Frei [79:22]: "It's a privilege to help people get out of their own way."

Debbie Millman wraps up the conversation by acknowledging the invaluable contributions of Frances Frei and Anne Morriss to the field of design and leadership, inviting listeners to explore their work further through their book and podcast, Fixable.

Notable Quotes

• Frances Frei [05:10]: "A bacon sandwich."
• Frances Frei [16:16]: "I think the idea of not accepting the status quo as static... I definitely took that away from the story of his life."
• Frances Frei [63:28]: "We know that rate of improvement matters so much more than wherever you are today."
• Frances Frei [68:38]: "The presenting problem is never the problem you have to solve."
• Frances Frei [72:12]: "Wednesday is the invite everybody to the table that you haven't yet."
• Frances Frei [73:39]: "Storytelling is underutilized... it's a way to activate the entire organization."
• Frances Frei [73:53]: "Friday is about putting into play all of the things... it's the best day of the week."
• Frances Frei [79:22]: "It's a privilege to help people get out of their own way."

Listen to the full episode on Acast or visit Design Matters for more information.