Steinar Valade-Amland has been independent consultant since 2012, helping organizations unlock their potential. He is dedicated to improving organizational performance and innovation capacity through stakeholder engagement strategies and design thinking and through building strong brands and vibrant organizational cultures. He has held leading export, product, and marketing management positions in the private sector-primarily in design-based manufacturing companies, followed by positions as account director and CEO of a leading brand design agency-until 2000, where he took on the position of CEO of the Association of Danish Designers, held until 2012. He works for the EU as an expert evaluator of research and innovation initiatives supported by DG Research & Innovation, DG Connect and Research Executive Agency. Besides being a sought-after conference speaker, panelist and moderator, workshop facilitator, and columnist, he has contributed to several books, including the Bloomsbury Encyclopaedia of Design.