🎙️ TDA Talks: Leading Global Design Teams with Michael Kopcsak, Head of Product Design at Walmart International
In this episode of TDA Talks, our Global Commercial Director, Kimberley Wardle, is joined by Michael Kopcsak, Head of Product Design at Walmart International, for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolution of design leadership, global collaboration, and the power of experience.
Michael shares his journey from consulting at a large design agency to spending 25 years in Silicon Valley, leading design at companies like Outlook.com and Intuit, before stepping into his current global role at Walmart. With a background that blends enterprise and consumer design, he offers a thoughtful perspective on what it takes to lead high-impact teams across borders.
Throughout the conversation, Kim and Michael explore:
- What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned on your journey as a design leader?
- What’s something you’re especially proud of when you reflect on your experience?
- What are three practical tips you’d offer to anyone who wants to step into a leadership role?
- What have you learned about leading and scaling globally distributed teams, and what tools or strategies help you manage time zone challenges?
To wrap up the episode, Michael shares a fun and unexpected insight into his life outside of work, including the fascinating story behind his family brand.
If you’re navigating leadership in the design world or simply looking to learn from someone who’s shaped teams at a global scale, this one’s for you.
London
