James Wieselman Schulman Email & Phone Number

An integral leader within the Disruptive Solution Design Team, I transform the way teams work and solve problems by helping them strategically use human-centered design to think and do differently and better. Acting as a catalyst for change across all parts of the organization, I serve as a go-to engine for sparking, fueling, and nurturing innovative ideas, concepts, and technologies that will move Cigna and Evernorth. With a particular focus on developing a culture and driving a practice of design and innovation, I build emerging capabilities and better integrating innovation practice across the entire global enterprise. To that end, incorporating established human-centered design methods and tools, particularly around discovery, prototyping, and early-stage concept development to drive front-end innovation. I excel at building strategic connections internally throughout the organization as well as externally with through deep partnerships with incubators and startups in order to drive the development and deployment of new concepts, services, and solutions. . My work has spanned behavioral health for young adults, new diabetes solutions, dental innovation, the future of utilization management, and I am currently building a design consulting model to drive client innovation. I am a skilled facilitator, mentor, and advisor, helping healthtech startups integrate the payer perspective and human-centered design thinking into their solutions.

Antwerp, Flemish Region, Belgium

Working within the International Markets business to leverage my expertise in human-centered design and innovation to support the growth of the newly formed International Innovation Team. With a particular focus on developing a culture of innovation in the International Markets business, I am building out emerging capabilities and better integrating innovation practice across the entire global enterprise. To that end, I am incorporating established human-centered design methods and tools, particularly around ideation, prototyping, and early-stage concept development to spark front-end innovation. Extending design thinking and innovation training and development in collaboration with the US-based Innovation COE, I continue to build strategic connections throughout the organization as well as externally with startups, partners, and vendors.

I joined Cigna in 2013 as the organization’s first in-house user-centered designer. In this role, I lead a range of discovery programs specifically crafted to help the organization gain a deeper understanding of stakeholders and consumers in the complex eco-system of healthcare. Leveraging my strength and experience in user-centered design thinking, I facilitate the translation of knowledge into powerful insights that lead to new solutions and growth strategies. I am currently leading efforts in key areas around health engagement and the future of retail models as they could apply to healthcare.

Greater Chicago Area

art + style + ideas modern abstract fine art & living canvas art objects (along with the occasional written work and creative collab)vivid & intense statement pieces that push boundaries with color, contrast, and texturerethinkreframe mixed-media studio

Manage research and strategic development programs for clients establishing themselves in new markets, expanding their innovation toolkits through the use of ethnographic research, and realigning with the changing needs of their users. Define strategic project scope, develop research plans, conduct in-context research with potential users, and analyze data to uncover key insights to drive strategic direction. Facilitate innovation workshops with clients to share findings and develop go-to-market strategies centering on growing product portfolios and brands.Major clients: Halverson Group, Razorfish; Herbst LaZar Bell Inc; Infinium, LLC.; Avenue-A|Razorfish; RTC; Steelcase; Saatchi & Saatchi X

Private caterer and event planner for a range of events from intimate dinners to 50-person cocktail parties. End-to-end event management from planning and sourcing through execution. Teach private cooking classes to individuals, couples, and small groups.Held a range of positions in professional kitchens, sit-down restaurants, and fast-food and QSR venues. Managed day-to-day restaurant operations, staff, and inventory. Participated as invited food expert to multi-day brainstorming and innovation sessions for several CPG and food service brands.Active trendwatcher, food blogger (http://jamesschulman.blogspot.com/, http://blackberrymom.com, @jamesschulman), and student of the Slow Food Movement. Passionate about recipe and menu development, culinary education, and building a philosophy of food and eating based on local, whole, and clean foods. Member of the Slow Food Movement, Chicago Chapter.

Manage new product development projects including scoping and planning, contracting consultants, overseeing research initiatives, and facilitating ideation for new markets and new categories.Drive implementation of user-centered design methods to help understand the long-range needs of the US market. Propose, design, and run research studies; build frameworks, generate insights, and uncover and translate user needs into new product opportunities. Present findings and early concepts to Research, Design, and Development directors and senior-level executives.Perform market analysis and collaborate with the International Director of Design to inform new directions for future product development in the US market.Facilitate internal design and innovation workshops focusing on brainstorming and prototyping skills.

Manage product development process for the design of containers for the take-out food market. Collaborate with both the Marketing and Engineering groups in order to research and design a new line of products. Conduct in-context research, analyze data, and establish design criteria. Design and build functional and aesthetic prototypes.

Collaborated with Director of Design to build virtual and physical working prototypes for several consumer product projects.

Designed product and tooling for thermoformed plastic.Managed Corporate Quality Laboratory including: researching and recommending testing and measurement equipment, developing instructional materials, and teaching statistical process control to quality personnel to improve workfl ow effi ciency. Initiated the development of product specifi cations for plastic products with the goal of instituting more stringent production guidelines.

Mdes, Product Design

Activities and Societies: Vignelli Fellow; Teaching Assistant Economics of Product Development; Chair Student Activities Board Final.

Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Activities and Societies: VP ASME Student Chapter, Tau Beta Phi Managed senior design project by facilitating collaboration.

Education record

This is the original semester in wilderness education. NOLS is the inventor of the outdoor semester, and this course is where it all.