The Response_Albe Futures (ResFut) programme recently hosted a high-impact, two-day masterclass on Design Leadership led by the distinguished Dr. Ir. Karlheinz Samenjo. The session prompted a profound intellectual shift among our Masters students, moving the conversation beyond the mechanics of design thinking to the core qualities required for achieving sustained systemic change—particularly within complex environments like healthcare.

As one student, Mohamed Adkaich, articulated, the critical insight was a clear distinction between innovation and leadership: "The real test isn't creating the perfect artifact; it’s sustaining the change." A successful Design Sprint may yield a brilliant prototype, but true impact demands a "Design Marathon." Leadership, in this context, is the relentless, patient service required to embed the solution into a resistant system until it becomes the "new, invisible reality" for every end-user.

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Influence, Service, and the Value of Social Capital

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Students, including Lucas Mota, synthesized the key tenets of this approach, emphasizing that effective design leadership is fundamentally about influence and service. The leader is a servant, focused on people and the commitment to stay the course until the desired change is realized.
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"Ignorance is costly. Learning, listening, and caring are investments in impact." - Lucas Mota

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This requires leaders in design for healthcare to speak the language of their collaborators, a commitment that may take significant time but is essential for meaningful impact.

Ramisha Imam reinforced this idea by connecting leadership to the cultivation of professional relationships. The success of a designer, she noted, is not solely measured by a portfolio or title, but by the richness of their social capital. "Real richness lies in the relationships we build who challenge us, collaborate with us, and help us grow." True leadership, therefore, is not built alone, but built together—leading with care and creating space for others.

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Leadership as a Skill and a Continuous Journey
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The masterclass challenged the notion that leadership is an inherent trait. Camila Solis's reflection underscored the idea that leadership is a skill that grows through practice, reflection, and empathy. For many, embracing this responsibility can feel like stepping into a 'crisis'—not of overwhelming difficulty, but of profound commitment and vulnerability. ResFut students are not just learning design tools; they are actively developing the resilience and purpose-driven mindset necessary to guide others toward a shared, impactful vision. They recognize that potential must be coupled with continuous development: "developing my skills, expanding my knowledge, and strengthening my sense of responsibility and purpose."

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The ResFut; MFA in Design and Health_Care programme continues to provide a vital space where students can learn from diverse global perspectives and evolve through constructive difference, preparing a new generation of design leaders equipped for the long-term work of systemic change.

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