It started with one Design Sprint: How StepStone built a self-sustaining innovation practice

‍London, United Kingdom‍

From pilot to practice: how StepStone built internal capability to solve complex problems faster—with design sprints at scale.

The Opportunity

StepStone, a leading digital recruitment platform, was ready to evolve how its teams tackled complex product challenges. They didn’t just want to move faster. They wanted to align better, reduce risk, and create real momentum inside cross-functional teams.

But before they could scale a new way of working, they needed to prove that it works.

That’s where Design Sprint Academy came in—with a phased, end-to-end capability-building journey.

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The Program: 4 Phases to Scale

Phase 1: Pilot Sprint – Show It Works

We kicked things off by facilitating a full 4-day Design Sprint with one of StepStone’s teams. This was the proof-of-concept: a real challenge, solved in real time, using the actual sprint method.

Leadership got a front-row seat to how structured collaboration, rapid prototyping, and user testing could compress weeks of work into a few focused days. It wasn’t a presentation. It was evidence.

The result? A validated prototype, strategic clarity—and executive buy-in.

After a successful pilot, it was clear: it was time to bring the skills in-house.

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Phase 2: Train the Doers‍

Next, we trained a handpicked core team of facilitators through our immersive 5-day corporate training program, structured around three essential modules:

Module 1 – Problem Framing Training

Teams learned how to diagnose the right problem before building anything—turning ambiguity into clarity and alignment.

Module 2 – Design Sprint Training (Accelerated Format)

Participants experienced the full sprint end-to-end: mapping, ideation, prototyping, and user testing—all in a compressed, high-energy format.

Module 3 – Design Sprint Facilitation Training

We equipped participants to lead design sprints confidently. They practiced facilitation techniques, time-boxing strategies and managing difficult group dynamics.

Each person took the lead in live simulations. No lectures. Just real practice.

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Phase 3: Equip to Deliver

Training isn’t enough without the tools to implement.

To make facilitation seamless, we provided StepStone’s new facilitators with our Design Sprint Facilitation Kits—for both in-person and remote sprint formats.

Each kit included:

• Ready-to-use digital boards and agenda slides
• Facilitation scripts and role cards
• Planning checklists and stakeholder prep materials
• Guides to handle common sprint challenges

The result: teams felt confident, prepared, and ready to run their own sprints—without having to reinvent the wheel.

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Phase 4: Support and Sustain

Soon after the training, StepStone’s facilitators began running design sprints across teams—solving product challenges, aligning faster, and validating ideas in days.

But the real growth came in the weeks that followed, through our structured coaching support.

In regular coaching calls, we reviewed sprint plans, offered live feedback, helped troubleshoot roadblocks, and supported facilitators as they leveled up. Each sprint was a learning opportunity—refined with expert guidance.

The outcome: a self-sustaining design sprint practice, led by internal talent.

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Why It Worked

StepStone’s success wasn’t about a single workshop. It was about building a system: prove the value, train the people, give them the tools, and stay close as they practice.

This approach worked because it was:

• ‍Strategic – focused on real challenges from the start‍
• Practical – grounded in doing, not theory‍
• Scalable – with repeatable materials and internal ownership‍
• Sustainable – reinforced through real-time coaching‍

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The Takeaway

If you want design sprints to stick, don’t start with a tool—start with a plan to scale.

StepStone proved that Design Sprints can be more than a one-time fix. With the right structure and support, they become part of how teams think, decide, and move forward.

Want to bring this capability into your teams—at scale?

Let’s talk about how to turn a single sprint into a repeatable, team-led practice.