the Name
is bren

About

Hey 👋, I'm Brendan Forester (he/him), but most people call me Bren—a people leader who thrives at the intersection of design, research, and strategy. I believe the most impactful solutions emerge when creative problem-solving meets rigorous analysis and human-centered thinking.

My journey began in visual communications, where I developed a strong design foundation, but I quickly realized I wanted to connect creative work to broader business objectives and lead teams toward meaningful outcomes. This led me to pursue both an MBA to understand business strategy and an MA to strengthen my leadership capabilities, giving me the tools to bridge creative vision with organizational goals.

Through Design for America, I've led teams through design sprints where we tackle everything from healthcare access to educational equity—turning abstract problems into testable products people can use. I've discovered that magic happens when you get the right mix of people in a room, ask uncomfortable questions, and aren't afraid to scrap your favorite idea if the data says otherwise.

These days, you'll find me diving into user research, running strategy workshops, or connecting with emerging leaders. What gets me excited is building things that don't just check business boxes but actually make someone's Tuesday a little bit better.