Adam Fry-Pierce

“Let’s start off with the facts. Adam has built the Design Leadership Forum to 3,000+ members, from scratch, by purposefully designing every aspect of the community based upon a “member-first” principle. I've had the opportunity to co-host DLF events with Adam and they have always left a positive impact on the participants. I've seen them leave inspired to go deeper with their teams and with each other on some of the most vulnerable and challenging topics that design leaders face today. Separately, I've had the opportunity to partner with Adam and support his desire to approach the DLF as a product by applying product design and product management thinking to his vision for the community. He has a very curious mind and has been extremely open to coaching advice and questions that might challenge his current reality. Through those conversations, I've seen Adam digest the discussion points and take action on the most relevant ones—always leading to a beneficial impact for the DLF community. Adam is wise beyond his years and I think he's arrived there due to unwavering humility, curiosity, and attention to detail. Don’t sleep on an opportunity to work with him. ”

“Dynamic community builder, strategic partner, and expert program director, Adam brings a core set of skills to high-growth teams. In a world of brand and marketing noise, Adam has delivered a highly coveted gift to InVision and the design community - a cohort of raving fans. Navigating a complex environment, Adam successfully built an industry-leading community and then pivoted during the pandemic to create even more value for the members and for InVision. His resilience, adaptability, and optimism are the characteristics that make him a valued leader and partner. Working alongside Adam has taught me so much and he continues to open my mind to new opportunities, both professional and personal.”

“Adam is a talented program creator, community builder, and big thinker. He envisions ambitious ideas and brings them to life from the ground up. He’s a consummate connector and an expert in bringing people together—be they design leaders from around the world for candid conversations and networking, or internal stakeholders for ideation and feedback sessions. I worked with Adam on two of his most visible programs, the Design Leadership Forum and DesignBetter.Co workshops. I experienced firsthand the vision and strategy with which he approaches every project. His decisions are research-driven; the outcomes he delivers have impact. He also has a heart of gold and a genuine curiosity for and love of life, which is just a joy to be around. I can't wait for our paths to cross again very soon.”

“Adam applies his zest for life, continuous curiosity to his work. His energy is infectious and often helps set the tone for the workday. He is a constant student—always reading and seeking conversations that drive a deeper understanding and learning about user problems. An incredibly balanced director, Adam loves spending time on new ideas, but he's quick to prioritize managing the business outcomes and practical needs of his people. He has this sixth sense of what the business needed to drive his excellent operational skills. Anytime the leadership came to our group with a surprise request, Adam was ready and already prepared to respond. He's the best director I have worked with to date at the Enterprise level. Lastly, Adam is well-loved and respected by the design leadership community-at-large, and his network is incredibly deep and wide.”

“Adam has been an awesome partner in working together on the xCHANGE series. He's detail oriented, works towards deadlines and approaches our challenges creatively. I look forward to continuing to work on this program and work together on new solutions to fit the evolving needs of our businesses.”

“I have had the pleasure of attending Fulcrum’s InHouse xChange for the past three years in Los Angeles, thanks to Adam! I have been particularly impressed by Adam's ability to organize such an inspiring event, in fantastic locations, with incredible guest speakers, an educational itinerary and of course an audience with some of Los Angeles’s top design professions.  Adam is clearly is a rockstar in my book and I will continue to attend these events for years to come.”

“Adam has always been nothing but a pleasure to work with. He and I partnered while I was running partnerships for General Assembly, and we hosted many of his xCHANGE events on various GA campuses across the US. He's fantastic at developing creative strategic partnerships, and is one of those people who can hear an idea you throw out and immediately jump on it and make it 10x's better. He was never self-serving in his partnership asks; it was always "how can we make this amazing for you too". Top notch guy, all-around!”

“I have worked with Adam on various projects over the years and have always found his enthusiasm to be infections and help to drive projects in great ways. Since becoming the Conference Director for In-House xCHANGE Adam has set himself apart by always finding creative ways to help elevate the conferences in the best possible ways.”

“I've had the great pleasure of partnering with Adam on a number of InHouse xCHANGE micro-conferences on the subject of Creativity and the Value of Design in organizations. For these events, Adam has played maestro to all moving parts - from macro to micro. Highly professional and personable, he brings style to structure (and vice versa) along with an infectious enthusiasm (read: he is thoughtful, organized and fun to work with!). Event orchestration is in and of itself, an art form - the design of an overall experience. I continue to be impressed with Adam's approach to his art: innovative, adaptable collaborative and with impassioned curiosity!”

“Adam is exactly what you look for in a vendor partner: he's shown himself to be a tireless worker, a true leader and a smart and adaptable person. He has earned the respect of our team by understanding our business objectives and going above and beyond to exceed expectations. Personally, Adam has been a pleasure to work with - his enthusiasm, dedication, and ability to think creatively ensure results. ”

“I was lucky enough to have Adam as my manager at Kotis Design while I attended the University of Oregon. I was a little intimidated at the prospect of work and school at the same time, but Adam was extremely supportive and down to earth. Despite having a long distance working relationship, he excelled at motivating me and provided an extremely positive experience while working at Kotis. It does not surprise me in the least that he has gone on to co-found a company. It will surprise me even less when the company takes off. I can definitely recommend working for Adam as an innovative, intelligent, and down to earth manager.”

“I worked as the Program Coordinator for Associated Students of Washington State University while Adam served as the Vice President. Adam is a pleasure to work with. He is a hard worker and very dedicated. He treats people fairly and shows great respect, even when his opinion is different from others. Adam is team oriented and a great leader. I would definitely recommend him for any position that requires a hard working and passionate person who is great with people.”