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JEROD TURNER
DEATH ✕ DESIGN COACH

Hey there, I'm Jerod!
I'm here to teach you how to disrupt systems of harm* through design for wellbeing.
If you're OVER IT and ready to challenge the status quo, I'm here to help through:
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one-on-one coaching
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equity + inclusion training & workshops
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design for employee experience
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building employee activism within your organization
*Systems of harm include processes and ideas born from an imperialist, white supremacist, capitalist, patriarchy. Side effects may include, but aren't limited to: burnout, rage, despair, grief, and feeling like you're living in a dystopian universe every time you check the news. I'm ready to disrupt these systems – are you?
Break It. Build It. Do It Again.
There are a lot of folks who will sell you on the idea that "design will lead to disruption." If you want transformation, you need to design something first...
I think that's wrong. Start with disruption.
Break things. Protest. Say "no" to that 8 AM meeting. Paint the house the dream fuchsia you imagined as a kid. Daydream about quitting your day job.
You need to find what's broken so you know what to keep.
Reimagine what your future could be.
Disrupt your norms to clarify what you want.
Design for YOUR wellbeing and what YOU need.
Build it, then do the whole thing over again.
The growth process is iterative, just like you.
Need an accomplice, guide, or facilitator for your next disruption? You're in luck.
Coaching for You & Your Team
I'll be honest – I started coaching because I got frustrated seeing talented, courageous people fighting uphill battles inside organizations designed to keep them from living the impactful life they want to live. So, now I offer services to help you (& your team) directly so you can design your life for your wellbeing in mind AND build an equitable future for all.
Transform yourself to transform the world. It's like a lil' social liberation bundle.
EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
I bring design research to people operations and leadership to amplify the voice of employees.
Employee experience isn't a "build it and they will come" – it's a "build it and be a model for an inclusive, sustainable future that doesn't treat people like machines, but like people."
Leadership Coach. Disruption Designer. Pun Enthusiast. Queer (they/them).
Born and (mostly) raised in the Midwest, as a queer kid, I'm still learning what it takes to live an authentic life and want to help others do the same. Today, that path led me to become a leadership coach where I help folks tap into their own special source of creativity, curiosity, imagination, instinct, and love that it takes to be a leader in today's world. If you are able to take care of your own personal wellbeing, heal, and find your liberation, your community will follow suit.
I started my coaching practice in 2021 to connect personal development to social justice so that everyone has tools to transform themselves so we can transform the world. My clients are folks from all walks of life including entrepreneurs, single parents, designers, consultants, and writers and range in age from their 20s to their 70s. There's no challenge too great, dream too big, or time too late for coaching.
Prior to coaching, I studied architecture at the University of Cincinnati before starting my career in human-centered design and strategy. I'm trained design researcher and facilitator with expertise in designing for employee experience and in-market experimentation for new products and services. My experience includes work with clients such as Microsoft, Uber, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Gensler, AARP, ArcBest, Twitch, and Gusto.
In my free time, you might find me reading with a book club, playing board games, or on stage during a pun competition (which I can confirm has a lot of dad jokes and resulting groans).
About Me
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What is “coaching”?The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
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Isn’t coaching just advice?It’s important to distinguish between coaching and advice: coaching is listening and championing a client to support their intentions, while advice is telling someone what to do based on the advisor’s worldview. I believe every client has the resources they need, but a good coach can hold clients accountable for actions that align with the client’s values.
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How can a coach help me?Coaching can help in many aspects of life. People work with coaches for professional development, help with navigating big life changes, or support in planning and reaching personal goals.
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What is in a coaching session?The first coaching session will focus on designing our coaching relationship and identifying your starting point. From there, you decide what to focus on for each session. As your coach, I’ll support you by asking powerful questions, stretching your thinking, and helping you explore options. Topics for a coaching session could include: health, career, family and friends, hobbies, developing skills, mental health, or life events.
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What is the difference between coaching and therapy?The difference between therapy and coaching isn’t always clear. Both coaching and therapy focus on helping people make changes and accomplish goals, even in difficult situations. Coaches are peers, focused on action and solutions that emphasize present and future. Therapists, however, are experts trained to work with mental health that emphasize past and present.
The Blog – Disruption DIY
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