We believe Creativity is the Job of the Future, and the most valuable skill in today’s fast changing world. Creative thinking isn’t just for artists. It’s about seeing new possibilities, reimagining what’s possible, and unlocking a hidden superpower in all of us.

  • Michael Baker is a creative technologist and experienced innovation leader who makes space for incredible people to do their best work at the intersection of education, research, industry, and creativity.

    Michael Baker

    HOST & CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIST

    Michael Baker creates space for incredible people to do their best work at the intersection of education, research, industry, and creativity.

    He's spent over two decades building high-impact teams at the bleeding edge of interactive media and higher education. In 2017, he joined the University of Texas at Austin to develop the Arts and Entertainment Technologies program into what's now recognized as an era-defining model of creative technology education. Now serving as Department Chair, he's steered the program's evolution while building an incredible community of faculty, staff, and students converging on a shared vision for the future.

    In 2023, Michael founded the Lab for Immersive Media (LIM)—a paradigm-shifting research and teaching lab focused on spatial interactive technology and next-generation storytelling. The lab features real-time motion capture, ten-channel spatial audio, and large-scale video projection, creating what he calls "a possibility space" for human-scale research and novel immersive experiences.

    Before academia, Michael spent 20 years in the gaming industry, working on projects ranging from indie games to major licensed properties like Star Wars and Alien, plus industry standard technologies like the Bullet Physics Framework that powers countless films and games.

    Michael believes deeply in challenging himself and empowering others. Whether running ultramarathons in the Arctic Circle, exploring the world with his family, or building cutting-edge technologies, he brings his whole self to everything he does. He regularly shares insights about creative technology education and industry on LinkedIn, documenting lessons learned from the frontiers of creative technology and life experience.

    Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/

  • Doreen Lorenzo is a prominent figure in the design and innovation landscape, known for her leadership at the helm of global creative firms and her Board and Advisory roles with both Fortune 100 companies and startups.

    Doreen Lorenzo

    HOST & DESIGN INDUSTRY LEADER

    Doreen Lorenzo knows creativity isn't just about great ideas—it's about making them happen.

    She's spent decades leading global design firms, advising Fortune 100 companies on innovation, and championing creative thinking as the ultimate power skill. In 2017, she became Assistant Dean of the University of Texas at Austin's School of Design and Creative Technologies—a powerhouse collaboration between design and technology disciplines.

    She spent 16 years at frog design including seven years as president, where she led the iconic firm through explosive growth and global expansion. She also served as president of Quirky, co-founded the mobile insights firm Vidlet, and regularly writes for Fast Company and Medium. Before joining UT, she ran the Center for Integrated Design and now serves on multiple boards while advising startups.

    Her secret weapon? Empathy. Her leadership style is human-first, impact-focused, and built on the belief that design is a team sport where interdisciplinary collaboration yields the best outcomes.

    Doreen’s academic training, with a masters in communication and media studies from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in theatre from SUNY Stony Brook, was the perfect preparation for leading creative chaos with grace.

    Follow Doreen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/