Work in Action
Each team, challenge and solution are unique
Here are some of them
Design Thinking training for Regional Managers
Type: Design Thinking workshop
Summary: A hands-on introduction to empathy and experimentation for newly appointed Regional Sales Managers—exploring real problems, generating true insights, and ideating solutions that make sense for the people.
Unflod the story:
- The Concept person
- Workshop Facilitator
As part of the Lidl Leadership Training Academy, I was invited to introduce the design thinking methodology to 11 newly hired or promoted Regional Sales Managers.
Create a meaningful learning experience that builds empathy, encourages experimentation, and results in real value—not just theory.
- Three full workshop days and four fieldwork days
- Learning-by-doing format with a relaxed, open atmosphere
- Day 1: Process overview and a warm-up test challenge
- Day 2: Real-life problem context, interview prep, and empathy mindset
- Days 3–6: Over 25 field interviews, insights, and idea generation
- 25+ deep empathy interviews with store managers, mid-level leaders, and senior experts
- Dozens of real insights uncovered—previously invisible or assumed
- 27 bold and human-centered solution ideas generated by the participants
Sparked broader interest in applying design thinking to internal people projects.
Newly designed Intership Program
Type: Design Sprint (3 months)
Summary: A full redesign of the intern lifecycle journey—co-created with interns, mentors, and managers, grounded in empathy and data. The Recruitment team is also reimagining Onboarding using design thinking. 
Read the full story below:
- The concept person
- The Empathy Research Lead
- Full-time project manager
- Workshop facilitator
Right after completing the project with Regional Sales Managers, I was invited to redesign the Lidl Internship Program 2024 using a user-centric methodology
Create an intern experience that genuinely supports learning and growth—for interns, mentors, and managers.
- 6-day workshops with Recruitment team and broader stakeholder group
- 30+ empathy interviews and 150+ survey responses across 16 universities
- Ideation session producing 40+ ideas for improvement
- A more human, validated intern experience ready to pilot
- Shift toward a user-centric mindset within the team
- More agile, collaborative way of running internal projects.
- Redesigned and validated lifecycle journey launched for 2024 edition, with a roadmap for 2025
- Mentor training design and materials,
- Lessons learned session for mentors, etc.
Shop Managers Development Program
Type: Full Journey (long sail - 12 months)
Summary: We reimagined an outdated shop manager training by deeply understanding the work context, engaging all stakeholders, and designing a pilot that raised both leadership capacity and employee feedback.
Read the full story below:
- The concept person
- The Empathy Researcher
- Full-time Project Manager
- Workshop Facilitator
- Trainer
Lidl wanted to redesign its training for shop, deputy, and junior managers.
The existing program was outdated in both content and delivery method and failed to engage participants in a way that would lead to real mindset shifts.
- Immersive research: working shifts, empathy interviews with all relevant roles, and attending current trainings.
- Synthesis & Ideation: Based on the deep insights from the research, I engaged main stakeholders (shop managers [all levels], Area Managers, a District Manager, and Training and Development experts) in a one-day workshop for designing the pilot program experience.
- Concept validation and CEO approval for piloting a bold new model.
- 3 months, 10 shops, 50 employees
- 18 training days covering management, time, and motivation
- Individual goals, monthly support, and a measurable leadership index
- Management index: +0.54 for the pilot shops vs. +0.25 in comparison group (other identical shops)
- Satisfaction rate (average goal – 85%):
- usefulness: 92%;
- practice opportunity: 87%;
- new habit building: 80%
Program approved by the CEO and rolled out for the first 40 additional shops in 2025. Implementation to continue in 2026/27.
“Tedi is a valuable design thinking expert—but what truly makes her stand out is the way she approaches her work: with conviction, deep thought, empathy, positivity, emotion, and heart.
Thank you, Tedi!”
Chavdar Mihaylov
Geschäftsführer / Regional Director , Lidl Bulgaria EOOD & Co. KD
