Join us as Dr. Payal Beri, a design strategist and founder of Open House, shares her powerful journey from Brooklyn to becoming a pioneer in inclusive design and social innovation. This episode explores how decolonizing design, embracing marginalized communities, and redefining success can create truly impactful and sustainable change. In this episode:

• Dr. Beri's background as a first-generation Caribbean American and growing up in Brooklyn
• The influence of community, family, and diaspora on her approach to design and impact
• How navigating gifted programs as a Black Haitian girl shaped her understanding of races and biases
• Unpacking the experiences of internalized racism, respectability politics, and belonging
• The transformative power of design as an agent of agency, dignity, and systemic change
• How design can serve marginalized communities, from Indigenous DNA projects to accessibility
• The importance of de-centering capitalism and rethinking economic models for social good
• Practical steps for individuals and organizations to incorporate inclusive design and community-centered strategies
• The role of storytelling, language, and intentionality in building equitable systems

Timestamps:

00:00 – Behind every impact, there is a human story

02:01 – How Brooklyn and Caribbean roots influence perspective

04:23 – Growing up as a gifted Black girl in Brooklyn schools

06:16 – Navigating identity and internalized racism in education

08:17 – Unpacking the pressure to perform and seek approval

10:00 – Immigrant experiences shaping perceptions of safety and community

12:13 – Haiti's history and its influence on dignity and resilience

13:33 – Pairing ADHD with design as a gift for systemic gaps

14:37 – Design as a tool for justice and accessibility

15:07 – Discovering laboratory design and educational equity

17:12 – Challenges of practicing racial equity in mainstream design spaces

18:04 – The dangers of racial bias being seen as a ”belief” rather than a systemic issue

19:04 – Empathy as a strategic resource, not just an emotional response

20:30 – Building business models based on dignity, equity, and indigenous economic principles

23:23 – The power of designing from margins to benefit everyone

26:27 – Reimagining capitalism through cooperative and indigenous models

28:37 – How to shift from profit prioritization to profit-making with purpose

30:06 – Case study: Indigenous DNA project balancing sovereignty and innovation

33:54 – Addressing systemic invisibility in data, history, and health

Resources 

Website: https://www.ouropenhouse.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndales/

Connect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives:

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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberi
• Speaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com