John Cardone
Brand Strategist & Innovation Facilitator

About Me
I help people unlock their true potential. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business leader, career-changer–you name it–if I can talk to you, I can help you get unstuck.
In 2016 I co-founded Being Design Inc, a brand, strategy, and innovation consultancy that helps entrepreneurs and leaders build impactful businesses for the digital era. Since then, we’ve led dozens of clients through proven processes to help them gain clarity, harness their creativity, and take action on their most ambitious goals.
When not working with clients, I write and speak about how we can use mindful communication and the power of stories to create positive change. I’m a veteran facilitator, and I give frequent workshops on Design Thinking, Innovation, Branding, and Consensus building.
Outside of work, you will most likely find me at a local coffee shop, or taking long walks through the city with my wife and 1 year old daughter. In my spare time, I co-facilitate a small group for young families, as well as a semi-annual retreat to prepare engaged couples for healthy marriages.
Experience
2016 - Present
Being Design Inc.
Founder & Principal
As the founder of Being Design Inc, I manage a diverse team of creative specialists, matching them with projects where they make the most impact for our clients.
As the principal consultant at Being Design Inc, I act as an advocate for my clients, helping them break down complex problems and build actionable roadmaps to meet their business goals.
I also plan and facilitate workshops on Human Centered Design Thinking, Digital Strategy, and the Creative Process.
2014 - 2015
Freelance
Web Consultant
From September 2014 until December 2015, I worked as a freelance web designer and web consultant, helping small business owners and bloggers build and maintain their online presence. Projects included web design, social media & email marketing campaigns.
2014
Syracuse University
Adjunct Professor
In the Spring semester of 2014, I wrote and co-taught a course on urbanism and civic systems for the Syracuse University Honors Program. The class included 12 weekly panel discussions, each addressing a different sector of the urban affairs from the perspectives of both public and private players.
2013 - 2014
Artist in Residence
SALT Quarters, Syracuse NY
For 12 months I served as the local artist in residence for the City of Syracuse, charged with making two large scale socially conscious public art pieces focusing on a historically impoverished and blighted urban neighborhood called “The Near West Side.”
2010 - 2013
601 Tully, Center for Art & Education
Program Manager
Managed and coordinated arts & education programming to serve local public school students, Syracuse University students, local art community, and an international artist in residence.
Education
2013
Imagining America Fellowship
Engaged Scholar, at Syracuse Univeristy
2012
Syracuse University
BFA, Sculpture & Creative Writing
2011
School for International Training
Cultural Identity & the Arts
Through a partnership between SIT and the Université de Cheik Anta Diop, I lived for 6 months in Dakar Senegal, studying cultural identity and the arts. During my stay, I also completed a 5 week independent study on Multi-Lingual Education.
Volunteer Activity
2018 - Present
Pre-Cana Marriage Prep Program
Co-coordinator and facilitator
My wife and I–along with another couple–serve as co-coordinators of a 5 week online course, followed by a full day retreat which we co-facilitate. After the retreat, we also facilitate couples dialogue sessions through the FOCCUS framework, for which we are certified facilitators.
2018 - 2019
Soloist Collective
President of South Philly Chapter
I served as the president of the South Philadelphia Chapter of the Soloists Collective, a networking & support community for independent professionals.
2015 - 2017
SPOKE Magazine
Digital Director
For just over 2 years, I served as web designer and developer for a widely read volunteer-produced quarterly publication focusing on transportation and mobility in the Greater Philadelphia region.
2013 - 2014
The Play Perch
Materials Coordinator
For 12 months I managed the sourcing of local materials and fabricators, contributing to the design and construction of a first-of-its-kind wheelchair-accessible treehouse classroom for the Jowonio School, an inclusive education institution in Syracuse, NY. View the project here.
2010 - 2012
Nottingham Tutors
Founder & Coordinator
In my second year of college, I founded a tutoring program matching university art students with local high school students who had recently arrived in the US as either migrants or refugees. By utilizing their visual communication skills, art students were adept at providing multi-subject after-school tutoring across language barriers.
Skills
Workshops
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Consensus Building Facilitator
On The Goga, Philadelphia, PA, January 2020
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From Story to Product: Biz Design Facilitator
University of Kuwait, School of Art, Kuwait City, March 2019
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Design Thinking for Impact Co-Facilitator
1776.vc, Philadelphia, PA, August 2018
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Ideation for Social Enterprise Co-Facilitator
Youth Assembly at the UN, New York, NY, August 2018
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Intro to Design Thinking Co-Facilitator
Philly Tech Week, Philadelphia, PA, August 2017
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Design Thinking for Social Impact Facilitator
Philadelphia, PA, August 2018
Speaking Engagements
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Meditation & Leadership Guest Speaker
Georgetown University, McDonogh School of Business, Washington, DC, October 2019
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Human Centered Futures: DialogueX Speaker
University of Kuwait, School of Architecture, Kuwait City, March 2019
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Philadelphia Futurism Keynote Speaker
Philly Tech Week, Philadelphia, PA, May 2018
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GiveBack Hack Keynote Speaker
Philadelphia, PA, October 2017
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Modular Web Design Speaker
Epicodus Academy , Philadelphia, PA, April 2017
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The Creative Process Speaker
Creative Writing Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, February 2014
Contact
Kathryn Wessling, Ph.D.
WesslingDT@gmail.com
Thomas Bershad
tombershad@gmail.com
Briji Waterfield
briji.waterfield@gmail.com
Greg Robison
robisongf@hotmail.com