New York





Taurean Butler


As a Strategist, he believes that great, innovative products can empower people through new interactions and opportunities that ultimately can elevate society as a whole. Tauren is fascinated with behavioral sciences, and sees product design as the application of understanding and changing people’s behavior.

Early in his career, Taurean was a researcher and student of neuroeconomics at Stanford University. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging devices, he and his research team observed people’s neurological functions during financial decision-making to try to predict their choices. His love for how the brain functions led him to work at advertising agencies BBH NY and Leo Burnett, where he translated this knowledge into brand messaging. He worked with clients such as Playstation, Kraft, and McDonalds, and launched a charitable campaign with Cronut chef Dominique Ansel. He then joined Capital One as a Product Manager, where he helped create digital products in the gifting, machine learning, and e-commerce space, while bringing GayTMs to Union Square, NYC.

When not driving the strategic vision for products, Taurean can be found teaching and coaching design and product thinking at startups and universities within the NYC area. He also has spoken at SXSW on designing for AI experiences and the power of intrapreneurship. If you see him in the studio, you’ll probably notice his beloved Pokémon hat that he dons most days, as a reflection of his life's aspiration to travel the world and collect friends similar to the protagonist of the game and series.