SE290 - Michael Manfredo

Mike is versatile designer and complex problem solver who looks to bring human-centered design, systems thinking, and technology to humanize experiences that drive meaningful and measurable outcomes. He is passionate about solving big challenges, developing teams and growing people, fostering a culture of fun and caring, and creating environments where innovative ideas and collaboration thrive.

His career has taken him through a transformative journey, evolving from a technologist focused on enterprise CRM solutions to a strategist shaping customer experience (CX) programs, and now to a designer blending design, business, and technology disciplines into innovative, human-focused organizations, services, and products.

Mike is a proud ISE alum who graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008 with a BS in General Engineering and a Minor in Technology & Management. During his time on campus, Mike was a member of the Marching Illini and Illinois Basketball Band, was part of Class XII of the Hoeft Technology & Management Program, an Executive Board member of Illinois Society for General Engineers (ISGE), and a member of the Office for Technical Consulting Resources (OTCR).

Mike spent 17 years of his career at West Monroe, a management and technology consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, and has spent the last nearly two years bringing his experience to clients and organizations through his start-ups - Doing By Design Co and (Everyone Needs a) Copilot. His interest in education and teaching led him to joining the Siebel Center for Design at UIUC as an adjunct instructor.

Mike met his wife, Stefanie, on campus and now has two children, Elizabeth (12) and Hannah (10), who share their love for the U of I.

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