Hi!

I’m Chuck Ruud.

I’m a strategy leader, creative problem-solver, and lifelong design thinker who thrives at the intersection of customer experience, innovation, and transformation.

I help organizations remove friction, align teams, and design for what matters most: real people. Whether I’m advising federal agencies, scaling new CX programs, or launching global footwear collections, my work is rooted in one goal: making experiences better so businesses and people can thrive.

From the Design Studio to the Strategy Room

My journey started in product design, creating footwear collections for Timberland, Tretorn, and New Balance. I led creative teams, balanced form and function, and proved how thoughtful design can drive demand, loyalty, and growth.

Over time, my canvas expanded. I moved into strategy consulting, working with public, private, and nonprofit organizations to lead complex transformations. I’ve helped modernize government services, reimagine healthcare operations, and improve field tools for global NGOs.

No matter the setting, my approach remains the same. I don’t just direct strategy, I design it. That means sensing what’s needed, empathizing with users, and co-creating the future with the people who will live and work in it.

My Approach

Real transformation happens when we:

• Design, not just direct
  True change isn’t just top-down. It starts with empathy, listening, and co-creating new possibilities with those closest to the work.

• Curate experiences, not just manage outcomes
  Especially for employees. Exceptional customer experiences start with engaged, empowered teams.

• Imagine beyond the current state
  I use storytelling to help teams move beyond what is and picture what could be — a future that’s clear, inspiring, and achievable.

What I Do Best

• Customer Experience Strategy & Service Innovation
  Designing journeys, services, and systems that put people first and deliver measurable results.

• Organizational and Digital Transformation
  Leading enterprise change that aligns operations with evolving customer and employee needs.

• Product and Experience Design
  Creating physical and digital experiences that are intuitive, efficient, and engaging.

• Cross-Functional Program Leadership
  Bringing structure to complexity by managing large teams and multimillion-dollar initiatives with clarity and momentum.

• Customer and Market Research
  Turning insights into strategies that are both human-centered and results-driven.

A Few Things That Guide Me

• Great experiences aren’t accidental. They’re designed.
  The best results happen when design, operations, and technology speak the same language.

• Customer friction is a revenue problem.
  I help organizations connect small experience issues to big business outcomes and solve for both.

• Mission matters.
  I’m drawn to work that drives real, lasting change for customers, communities, and systems that need it most.

Overall, my experience has taught me how to drive innovation, strategy, and business design across an organization. If you're looking for a partner who can think systemically, lead cross-functionally, and design what’s next, let’s connect.

Outside of work, I’m a committed dad, weekend chef, mountain-lover, and explorer of all things creative. I bring that same curiosity and energy into every challenge I take on.

SKILLS

Publications

• Awarded a grant from Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health and the white paper was published in Dec 2018.

Lectures

• Guest lectured at NYC Net Impact events, SCAD, Parsons School of Design, and Pratt Institute.

Keynotes & Workshops

• Mad*Pow’s Tenth Annual Health Experience Design Conference, April 14-15, 2020 in Boston: Achieving Care Integration for Children with Medical Complexity: The Human-Centered Design Approach to Care Coordinatio

• Facilitated a Design thinking workshop for NYHRPS; Understanding of how and why to introduce design thinking in your organization and HR teams. May 2019; Ruud, C; Lupushor, S; Garcia, C.

• Facilitated a workshop on applying design thinking & systems thinking into Care Coordination at the New York State Public Health Association & NYSACHO annual conference, April 2019; Ruud C. Tahara D.

• Poster presentation: Pediatric Academic Societies May 5-8, 2018. Toronto, Canada. The Range of Care Coordination Needs of Children with Medical Complexity. Kuo, D. Ruud, C. and Tahara, D.

Other Stuff

• Net Impact NYC chapter - Service Corp’s pro-bono consulting committee member, Consultant trainer, Mentor & Consultant.

• Co-Founded and was the chapter President of Pratt Institute's Net Impact Chapter (2015-16).

• At Pratt; I was part of a team that won a business plan competition for a new service experience that was presented to a venture capitalist.

• Shoes Master Magazine published an interview with my about my designs for the Japanese market while at Timberland.

Some of the things I love to do outside of work; World traveler, Hiker, Snowboarder, Cyclist, Hockey goalie and more...