Ellen Buckland

Ellen Buckland is the founder of Contemporary Empathy; a company which seeks to make the business world more human centred through training professionals in the areas of emotional intelligence, creativity, and communication. She is an experienced facilitator and learning experience designer, whose style integrates professional theatre and design thinking techniques; putting play, creativity, and interaction at the forefront of learning.

Ellen believes that combining effective communication skills and human centered design is the key to forging successful professional relationships, and is currently focusing on the complexities, challenges, and opportunities of the changing future of work.

Working with a diverse range of clients and sectors on transformational projects has led Ellen to have a holistic approach to learning and development. From clients such as Emzingo to E.I.T, Impact Hub to N.H.S Wales, she has a broad experience of organisational culture and communication.

Ellen has a professional background in CX, innovation, design, theatre, and education. She is currently an assisting faculty member of the Instituto Europeo de Diseño in Madrid (IED) and with the University of Cardiff in Wales. She is also a member of the Headspring Executive Education faculty.

At IE University Ellen teaches on a range of Masters level programmes such as the MCXI (Master in Customer Experience and Innovation) and LLM (Master of Law) as well as Bachelors programmes such as the BCDM (Bachelor of Communication and Digital Media), and the social innovation focused IE Challenge. Ellen is also a member of faculty at the Centre of Health, Wellbeing and Happiness running Advanced Seminars in storytelling and dialogue skills. She had been recognised by the IE Awards for Teaching Excellence for the three years she has been a member of the adjunct faculty.

Corporate Experience

• Professor of Communication and Innovation, Headspring, Spain, 2022 - Present

• Founder and Experience Designer, Contemporary Empathy, Spain, 2020 - Present

• Strategic Design Consultant, The Human Factor, Spain, 2019 - 2020

• Head of Drama Department, Holy Mary British School, Spain, 2016 - 2018

• Strategic Coordinator, El Maravilloso Mundo de los Niños, Spain, 2015 - 2018

• Interacting Theatre Academy Business Development Director, Spain, 2013 - 2015

• Actress, Interacting Theatre Company, Spain and Ireland, 2012 - 2015

• Performance and Vocal Coach, Ellen Buckland, Spain and UK, 2012 - 2018

Academic Experience

• Adjunct Professor of Empathy and Dialogue Skills, Master of Design and Innovation, IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) , Spain, 2021 - Present

• Adjunct Professor of Storytelling and Presentation Skills, Master of Design and Innovation, IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) , Spain, 2021 - Present

• Adjunct Professor of Design Thinking and Innovation, IE Challenge, IE University, Spain, 2021 - Present

• Adjunct Faculty of Innovation and Communication, Headspring Executive Development, 2021 - Present

• Adjunct Professor of Empathy and Dialogue Skills, Diploma in Healthcare Planning, Cardiff Business School, Wales, UK, 2020 - Present

• Adjunct Faculty member, Advanced Seminar in Storytelling and Dialogue Skills, Centre for Health, Wellbeing & Happiness, IE University, Spain, 2021 - Present

• Adjunct Professor of Design Thinking, LLM, IE Law School, Spain, 2021 - Present

• Adjunct Professor of Creativity and Innovation Labs, Bachelor in Communication and Digital Media, IE University, Spain, 2020 - Present

• Adjunct Professor of Theatre for Innovation and Communication, Master in CX and Innovation, IE Business School, Spain, 2020 - Present

• Mentor, Master in CX and Innovation, IE HST, Spain, 2019 - 2021