For me, it’s about working with like-minded people toward a common goal, and navigating challenges in ways that benefit everyone involved. But partnerships are like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get. That’s why having the right tools to manage both the expected and the unexpected is key.
I recently spoke with three incredible people who are modeling what it means to build partnerships with purpose and excellence. We talked about how they handle tension, what’s working well, and what advice they have for others looking to collaborate meaningfully—and they didn’t hold back.
The logo for a collaboration between Birmingham City Schools, Mind Education, and WestEd affectionately known as “BMW.”
Terri Crawford with Birmingham City Schools (AL), Andrew Coulson with Mind Education, and John Rice with WestEd—a collaborative affectionately known as “BMW”—are working together to improve ST Math, a video game-based math program from Mind Education. (You’ll have to check out the podcast to hear the story behind the name. It’s a good one.)
You might be wondering what makes this partnership so special. I could spoil it for you, but that wouldn’t be fair. What I can tell you is that BMW is working with intentionality to make sure everyone at the table—from students to researchers—feels that their contributions matter and are valued. Here’s how:
Communication is a practice that can shape trust and collaboration. Whether it’s putting the feedback they’ve heard into action to shape the design or direction of the initiative or sharing trending data with stakeholders, BMW keeps both the end-user and the overall experience in focus. And it all starts with communication.
When all forms of knowledge are valued, partnerships become more inclusive and impactful. Another essential element of BMW’s partnership is the balance between context and content expertise. In co-design, expertise isn’t limited to one domain—it includes both lived experience and technical knowledge. Whether someone brings a deep understanding of the content or the context, their insight is valued. Andrew, John, and Terri each came into the work with different backgrounds, perspectives, and rhythms. Still, as John shared, there’s a strong mutual respect for the expertise each person brings to the table.
Successful design teams keep the end-user in focus by honoring feedback, building relationships, and fostering collaborative decision-making. This mindset creates solutions that not only are meaningful to key stakeholders, but also unlock sustainable outcomes.
In all that they do, the BMW team works from a people-centered design approach (and they mean it) and that kind of clarity feels refreshing. Transparency—with each other and with teachers, students, and community members—shows a deep respect for relationships and helps build trust. The consistency of how they work creates reliability. When people know what to expect, it strengthens confidence in the partnership.
And their humanity-centered approach might be the most powerful of all next to balancing content and context expertise. In a space where collaboration can easily be transactional, BMW keeps people at the center. You can hear it in how they talk about one another and the work they’re doing together.
If you’re curious how a partnership like this really works and what it takes to build one, tune in to the full conversation. You won’t want to miss what BMW has to share.
