FrancesWest&Co helps organizations navigate transformation by aligning human experience, technology innovation, and systems thinking to drive resilience, growth, and long-term performance.
Frances West works at the intersection of technology, business transformation, and human potential.
As IBM’s first Chief Accessibility Officer, Frances brings more than three decades of global leadership experience across technology, financial services, policy, and organizational transformation.
Her perspective is shaped by both enterprise leadership and her journey from Taiwan to the United States, navigating cultures, systems, and change firsthand. That experience informed her belief that Human First thinking is not simply aspirational; it is fundamental to innovation, resilience, and long-term business performance.
Today, Frances advises Fortune 500 leaders, startups, governments, and international organizations navigating transformation in an era defined by AI, demographic change, and evolving human expectations.
She is the author of Authentic Inclusion™ Drives Disruptive Innovation and a Forbes contributor on technology, leadership, longevity, and the evolving workplace.
Our multidisciplinary collective helps organizations operationalize Human First initiatives by combining strategic insight with deep functional and industry expertise.
Kathleen works at the intersection of partnerships, brand, and innovation, bringing organizations and leaders together to turn ideas into meaningful impact. Her background includes large-scale impactful work with Burton Snowboards, the Olympics, National Geographic, the US Open, and IBM Research.
Claire Chang helps global consumer technology brands embed accessibility and inclusive design into products, customer experiences, and organizational culture. She advises leaders on accessibility strategy, training, and cross-functional transformation, helping turn accessibility into a driver of innovation and business value.
MIT graduate and Professor of Design Thinking at NYU with over a decade of experience working with Google, CareFirst, Credit Suisse, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Director of Research and Strategy for Studio Analogous.
Workplace technologist and humanist helping organizations navigate AI adoption without losing their humanity. Advisor to startups, enterprises, and governments on human-centered work transitions. Co-author of two books on workplace transformation.
Occupational therapist and Paralympian specializing in advocacy, assistive technology, and disability law compliance. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalist with American and World records.
Seasoned facilitator bringing human-centered design practices to organizations. Visiting professor at NYU Wagner and Pratt Institute. Creator and host of the Project Inclusion podcast.
I came to this country as an immigrant from Taiwan, with little more than determination and a belief that Human First thinking makes everything we build stronger. My life’s work has been to make that belief operational, to move organizations from aspiration to action, from isolated programs to system-level transformation. Every leader I work with reminds me why this matters: not simply because it’s the right thing to do, but because it drives real business results.
Frances West, Founder