November 17, 2023

Why Design is Essential to a Thriving Business

On this episode of the Gross Profit Podcast, James Kennedy sits down with Pete Sena, the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Digital Surgeons, and a renowned figure in the intersection of design, technology, and consumer behavior.
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Gross Profit Podcast
Why Design is Essential to a Thriving Business
Loading
/

Show Notes

In this episode of the Gross Profit Podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with Pete Sena, the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Digital Surgeons, and a renowned figure in the intersection of design, technology, and consumer behavior.

In our conversation, Pete dives into why design is not just an aesthetic choice but a crucial element in driving business growth and innovation. He shares his expert insights on how design shapes customer experiences, influences market trends, and is pivotal to establishing a thriving business in today’s competitive landscape.

What You’ll Learn:

  1. The Role of Design in Business Success: Understanding how design goes beyond visuals to impact strategy, customer experience, and market positioning.
  2. Design Thinking for Innovation: How design thinking can unlock creativity and lead to innovative solutions in business.
  3. The “1080/10 Formula” and Its Design Implications: Pete’s approach to scaling businesses with design at the forefront.
  4. Integrating Design with Business Goals: Strategies for aligning design with business objectives to drive growth and customer engagement.
  5. Common Misconceptions in Business Design: Pete addresses the typical misunderstandings about the role of design in business and how to approach it effectively.

Episode Highlights:

  • “Pete, how do you see design playing a role in the overall success of a business?”
  • “Can you elaborate on how design thinking fosters innovation within an organization?”
  • “What’s your perspective on aligning design with business growth strategies?”
  • “How does the ‘1080/10 formula’ incorporate design principles for scaling businesses?”
  • “What are some common misconceptions about design in the business world, and how do you address them?”

Pete Sena’s extensive experience as a leader in creative strategy and digital experience design makes him the perfect guest to explore this topic. His achievements with Digital Surgeons and his impact on numerous prominent brands highlight his deep understanding of how design and business strategy intersect to create success.

Tune in to this episode of the Gross Profit Podcast for an enlightening discussion with Pete Sena on why design is essential to a thriving business, and gain actionable insights into integrating design effectively into your business strategy.

The Gross Profit Podcast

More Episodes

Merushka Chetty

Martin Mellor – The One Hire That Changes Everything

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with fractional CFO Martin Mellor to unpack what it really looks like to shepherd a customer through a live M&A journey – straight from the trenches (Q2 2025). Martin shares how a managed service provider (MSP) can shift from “comfortable lifestyle business” to a serious exit opportunity, what buyers care about (EBITDA multiples, recurring revenue, and quality of earnings), and how CFO-grade clarity turns a fuzzy growth plan into a focused value-creation roadmap. Along the way, they dig into target-setting (including Martin’s memorable “6-3-3” framework), leading vs lagging indicators, and how to translate finance-speak into operational decisions that actually move enterprise value.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Austin Moffat – Fractional CFO Empire: AI Tools + Family Legacy

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Austin Moffat, founder of DSO CFO, to unpack how Austin built a thriving fractional CFO firm for dentistry – despite taking a non-traditional route (no CPA). Austin shares how high-level competitive soccer shaped his business IQ, how an early “trial by fire” accounting role accelerated his learning, and why the dental industry urgently needs simple, decision-ready financial clarity. They also dig into dental-specific KPIs, the rise of DSOs and private equity in dentistry, and the practical AI/tech stack Austin is using to run a modern accounting firm.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Wendy Laxton – Fund Accounting Explained: Why Grant Money Gets Spent Wrong

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Wendy Laxton, founder of Laxton CFO Services, to unpack the “modern” version of fund accounting – how nonprofits manage restricted vs. unrestricted funds, align grant requirements with real-world operations, and avoid credibility-killing misallocations. Wendy shares how the 2008 recession unexpectedly led her into fractional CFO work, why niching down to nonprofits was a defining move, and what she’s learned from guiding organizations through system complexity – from overbuilt ERPs to intentionally “resetting” in QuickBooks and rebuilding structure over time.

Listen Now »