Lauren Sheehan Joins Credera as a Partner in the Chicago Office

Credera, a global boutique consulting firm focused on strategy, transformation, data, and technology, is thrilled to announce the addition of Lauren Sheehan to Credera’s partner team. At Credera, Lauren will focus on continuing to build a robust and mature experience design (XD) practice and advancing the XD capability within the firm.

For over 20 years, Lauren has built and led high-performing UX and design teams to deliver engaging experiences by unlocking the power of human-centric design. Fueled by insights, curiosity, design thinking, technology, visual design, and a true passion for the craft, she helps cross-functional teams successfully ship websites of scale, mobile applications, sales tools, dashboards, configurators, and other experiences that make a significant impact on businesses and their users.

An entrepreneur at heart, Lauren co-founded the design and technology agency MERGE in 2003 and grew the company through to a successful acquisition in 2017. She’s also an active member of CHIEF, a private network focused on connecting and supporting women leaders who are making decisions today and influencing change tomorrow.

She comes to Credera with experience in a wide range of industries, having worked with clients such as the American Medical Association, Indiana University Health, Great West Financial, James Hardie Building Products, Blueair, Marriott International, Marco’s Pizza, and others in the healthcare, financial, and consumer markets. 

Lauren holds a bachelor’s in fine arts with a focus on visual communications from Washington University in St. Louis. She’s an avid runner and cook, and loves spending time with her husband and two kids, friends, and extended family.

We sat down with Lauren to learn more about her journey to Credera:

What were you doing prior to joining Credera? 

I was an executive vice president and head of design for MERGE, a national full-service agency. The MERGE company as it is today will always be near and dear to me. I co-founded the original MERGE Design + Interactive with my husband in 2003. We sold it in 2017 to a private network of agencies who took on our name. We stayed on for a few years to help build out the UX and technology practice areas within the more traditional advertising and marketing agency offering. It’s been amazing to see the transformation of what started as an idea to make some cash moonlighting (we started MERGE to make some extra money for our wedding!), to a national agency now about 600 strong. 

What led to your decision to join? 

I wasn’t actually looking to leave MERGE, but when I started conversations with the Credera team, I immediately knew this was a very unique opportunity. The more folks I spoke with, the more I felt that Credera was an amazingly talented and successful organization that was already doing so much right and had really solid footing, but also still had the ambition, vision and culture required to keep growing and evolving. The leadership style was welcoming and collaborative, the energy and vibe was palpably positive, and I felt personally that I could make a real impact for the company. When I looked at this opportunity that the universe had unexpectedly put in front of me, it didn’t take long to realize this was something special.

How would you describe your approach to leadership? 

Leadership is like a prism, with lots of facets that can shine. Listen first. Collaborate always. Truly get to know people and help them amplify their best qualities and skills. Act with intention in lifting others up and helping them succeed, and make it a priority. A rising tide truly lifts all boats. Look for common ground. Be kind. Always assume positive intent. Be informed. Make tough decisions and move forward with confidence. Don’t be wishy washy. Admit missteps and don’t be afraid to pivot. Have fun and smile often.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far? 

Know the difference between listening and hearing, and trust is your most important asset. Also, don’t ever tell anyone you know how to fix the printer or use a spiro-binder (my old school days!). 

What are you most excited about now that you’re a part of the Credera team? 

I have a newfound energy and ambition within myself because of this opportunity. I’m also excited to have an entirely new circle of colleagues, friends, and people to call family.

About Credera

Credera is a consulting firm focused on strategy, transformation, data, and technology. As a part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, our approximately 700 consultants across the globe partner together with clients ranging from long-time market leaders to emerging companies delivering strategy and execution leadership to create tangible business results. Credera's deep business acumen and technical expertise, combined with a deep dedication to building trusted relationships, unlocks extraordinary business performance for our clients. Our mission is to make an extraordinary impact for our clients, people, and communities.

For additional information about Credera, please visit the About Us page.

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