Parameswaran Venkataraman ("Param") is a visionary leader in Design Thinking and Behavioral Design, recognized as one of the early pioneers of these fields in India. He is the Co-founder of '3 Big Things,' a behavior design studio. His expertise is built on over 27 years of experience in high-level innovation leadership roles at global firms like IDEO, Fractal.ai, and Tata Digital, with a singular focus on setting up customer-centric innovation lab efforts and shaping strategic design capabilities.
Param's impact on corporate innovation is substantial. He established Studio 5B—a design thinking and innovation center—at Dr. Reddy’s, where his work is now a featured case study in IDEO U’s course on Designing for Change. As Chief Design Officer at Fractal.ai, he built a team of over 75 specialists working at the intersection of data science and design. At Tata Digital, he spearheaded the Experience Innovation Lab, driving advancements in e-commerce and super-app platforms. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School Senior Executive Leadership Program.
As a dedicated mindfulness advocate, Param annually shares an insights toolkit that blends Mindfulness and Design Thinking principles for personal reflection and future vision creation, underscoring his belief in the art of stillness as a component of effective leadership. He also contributes to academia, serving on the Executive Council at the Indian School of Business (ISB).
As a highly sought-after speaker, Param’s plenary sessions focus on Creating a Design Thinking mindset, drawing on his ability to reframe complex business problems through a human and cultural lens. He provides high-level insights for organizations across diverse industries, empowering them to drive transformation, unlock behavioral roadblocks, and accelerate growth by focusing on human needs and cultural context.
