Technology alone won't accelerate innovation.
We have to invest in learning experiences for people.

KEYNOTE

Designing Schools:
From Trust to Transformation with Design Thinking

Cultures of innovation begin with a culture of empathy.  When we start with people, not products, we listen and learn to each other's challenges, motivations, fears, and curiosities. We discover the gaps that become the opportunities to design change.
  
Being vulnerable in sharing builds trust. 
Trust makes us feel safe.
Feeling safe empowers us to take risks and be creative. Being creative reveals the answers to the change you want to see. 
 
Sabba shares findings from her research about how design thinking practices that can be used to create and nurture a culture of trust and psychological safety in schools to develop the mindset and skills to navigate change. 

workshops

NAVIGATING AI in education

Social media for leaders

digital portfolios with linkedin

I wanted to move our faculty from the 20th to 21st century. Sabba helped translate our vision and dreams for the future into something that was pragmatic and possible.
Sabba changed the DNA of our program.

KEVIN LOHENRY, PHD, PA-C
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Dr. Sabba Quidwai is the epitome of a learner-centered leader who develops shared purpose through inclusive collaboration. She asks inspiring questions and she is relentless in her curiosity to find better ways to effectively address meaningful challenges. Dr. Quidwai's insights that connect vulnerability, trust, collaboration, and design thinking are now paving the way to a brighter future. 

Devin Vodicka, EdD
CEO Learner-centered collaborative

As my reverse mentor Sabba is a trusted advisor with her research in strategic planning and technology she has helped our organization create a culture of innovation that empowers people about the future. Her diverse network has allowed me to expand my network to limit by blind spots when I make decisions for a large urban school district. 

jerry almendarez, superintendent
santa ana unified school district

Sabba has an incredible ability to relate with district leaders of all sorts, from small rural districts to large urban districts across California. She expertly draws on her personal history in the classroom, scholarly research and deep understanding of education to help advance technology integration. 

matthew schuring
apple Inc.

“When I first met Sabba, I was immediately drawn to her passion for transforming education. Nearly ten years later, I am inspired by how she continues to accelerate how leaders design schools.”

leighangela brady, edd
superintendent | national school district

Workshops and Courses

Below are the top requested workshops.
To learn more about designing a custom experience book a call with Sabba here. 

AI is rapidly advancing and it's easy to feel overwhelmed, let alone have the time to learn on your own. In 4-weeks you'll confidently embrace generative AI along with innovative problem-solving techniques for how to apply it. No matter your background or experience level, you'll gain invaluable insights and develop the skills needed to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI.

The AI Bootcamp: A Design Sprint to go from Curious to Confident about Learning and Leading in the Age of AI

Learn More About the Course

Every learner should graduate ready to adapt and compete in a global economy. With testing requirements being removed, and the rise of artificial intelligence, students have a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and strengths to universities and employers beyond the traditional measures.

When we support early career exploration, we save them time, money, and anxiety as they design their future. In this workshop you'll learn the four competencies to help students feel confident and curious about what's next. 

Become College and Career Ready in the Age of AI: A Course for High School Students and Their Parents

Learn more about the workshop experience

Learn more about the workshop experience

Leadership and Social Influence:
Build Trust, Encourage Creativity and Recognize Accomplishments

The World Economic Forum now ranks “Leadership and Social Influence” as one of the top ten trending skills. Social media isn't about being on every platform. It's about understanding how to encourage creativity, recognize accomplishments, and build trust to inspire a collective vision within your organization. 

Sabba shares how leveraging stories across social media platforms can empower leaders as role models for the beliefs and values they want to see others adopt.  Sabba also shares how social media transformed her learning experience in graduate school, and as a researcher. And why now is the time to teach this skill to students as well so that they can differentiate between personal and professional use. 

REMEMBER:

It’s never too late
to change the
where
culture
everypne
feels 
empowered to make a
difference

let's work together

MY REALLY OFFICIAL BIO, the TL:DR VERSION

Sabba believes cultures of innovation begin with a culture of empathy. Her journey took her from being a high school teacher to education executive at Apple. Dr. Quidwai now works with organizations to design schools that give young people the mindset and skills to thrive in workplaces and as global citizens.

Sabba hosts the podcast, "Designing Schools," and is releasing a documentary based on her research about design thinking in Summer 2022.

Join the Community

All of my best and life changing relationships began online. Whether it's a simple tweet, a DM or an email. It always begins and ends with the relationships we create. 

Each week I'll send the skills and strategies you need to build your human advantage in an AI world straight to your inbox. 

As Simon Sinek Says:
"Alone is hard. Together is better."

on Instagram

Instagram is my creative outlet. It's where you can see stories that take you behind the scenes and where I love having audio chats in my DM.

Say Hello

@designing_schools