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

Public Speaking
Facilitation & Training
Design Thinking
Branding
Digital Strategy

Workshops

Speaking Engagements

Contact

References

Kathryn Wessling, Ph.D.

WesslingDT@gmail.com

Thomas Bershad

tombershad@gmail.com

Briji Waterfield

briji.waterfield@gmail.com

Greg Robison

robisongf@hotmail.com