Mark Holterhaus

Mark Holterhaus is a hybrid designer, strategist, and innovation leader with nearly 20 years of experience in new ventures, product/service design, customer experience, digital transformation, environmental conservation, journalism, and humanitarian affairs. He has collaborated with renowned organizations like Google, Tellart, the United Nations, the United States Government, and Optum/UHG.

Currently, Mark is involved in establishing Blue Cross Blue Shield's human-centered design studio in Detroit and has previously led the Product and Service Design team for Optum/UHG. He also owns and operates a global design consultancy, Ah Be Se, founded in 2008, which focuses on creating beneficial experiences for corporations, startups, NGOs, and government agencies.

Mark's advisory expertise has been sought by prestigious entities such as the United Nations, The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Norwegian Nobel Institute, and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. His leadership experience spans across different continents, managing teams in design, development, research, and marketing.

His diverse portfolio showcases involvement in various cutting-edge projects involving product/service innovation, application design, artificial intelligence, VR/AR, IoT, data visualization, and systems design. Mark excels in human-centered design, specializing in conceptual design, ethnographic research, workshop facilitation, rapid prototyping, interaction design, heuristics, accessibility, and usability testing.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Mark is an experienced wilderness, fishing, and paddling guide, having explored regions across Europe, Alaska/PNW, the Arctic, Canada, and the Great Lakes.

Mark completed his BA in French Studies at Carleton College and pursued courses in International Affairs at Sciences Po and French Language, History, and Culture at Universit":["e de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour.