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Heather Boesch
Designing the Future at IDEO
Heather Boesch is a Partner at IDEO based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.13 She is an Executive Director of Consumer Products & Retail at IDEO, where she leads a team of senior directors imagining new futures for various industries and advising executive teams on transformation through customer-centered, digitally-enabled innovation.3
Career at IDEO
Boesch has held several leadership positions at IDEO:
- Executive Director, Consumer Products & Retail (March 2021 - Present)
- Senior Portfolio Director, Customer Experience Strategy (2019 - 2021)
- Director, Business Operations (2014 - 2018)
- Business Operations Lead (2011 - 2014)
Expertise and Achievements
Heather Boesch is known for:
- Building trusted partnerships and high-performing, inspired teams to imagine new futures1
- Creating transformative products, experiences, and businesses3
- Contributing to the creation of one of the most utilized digital services on the internet and three unicorn startups2
Education
- Harvard Business School: Private Equity and Venture Capital Program (2016)
- Harvard University Graduate School of Design: Master of Architecture (2005 - 2009)
- Harvard University: Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Economics (1998 - 2002)
Boesch's background in architecture and economics, combined with her experience in design and innovation, has shaped her unique approach to leadership and problem-solving at IDEO.3
Highlights
Cervical cancer screening dramatically reduces deaths from the disease, yet the percentage of women in the US without an up-to-date screening has been increasing–from 14% in 2005 to 24% in 2019.
Last week Teal Health, an IDEO Ventures collaboration near and dear to my heart, launched the first FDA-approved at-home cervical cancer test, tackling the issue with the respect, compassion and great design often lacking in women's health, thanks to Kara Egan's visionary leadership.
This launch has me reflecting on all the IDEO-backed ventures launched by trailblazing female founders that I've had the pleasure of collaborating with over the last few years. From Deepika Padukone's 82°E producing white-cast free daily sunscreen for Southeast Asian women, to the mother-daughter duo Dr. Helen and Rebecca Egger behind Little Otter building a digital platform to support the mental health of families, it has been such an honor–and so much FUN–to help bring these companies to the world.
Much love and gratitude to these inspiring women--let's do more of this in 2023!
