Bree Fouss
Bree Fouss is a creative strategy leader at Accenture Song, where she leads the customer experience practice for Virginia, Maryland, and DC public sector accounts. She partners with state and local government agencies, nonprofits, and higher education institutions to design people, process, and technology solutions that improve interactions between constituents and public sector organizations. Bree’s work spans implementing new technologies like chatbots to streamlining organizational processes, all guided by her expertise in behavioral and service design principles.
Bree’s career began as a therapist, working with children and families facing behavioral and neurodevelopmental challenges. After four years in direct patient care, she transitioned into healthcare consulting, discovering a passion for health experience design, patient experience, and service design. This non-traditional path, combined with her educational background in psychology, sociology, and occupational therapy, has equipped her with a high level of emotional intelligence—an essential skill she leverages in negotiation, leadership, and collaborative problem-solving.
In addition to her professional work, Bree is an active mentor within Accenture Song and contributes to nonprofit initiatives, including the Jennifer Bush Lawrence Foundation (JBLF), where she supports programs that improve experiences for new mothers and babies. She has been recognized for her innovative work in design, speaking on behavioral design at the RVA Tech Women in Technology Conference and earning honors from Fast Company’s Innovation by Design and Core77 Design for Social Impact. Bree’s philosophy centers on using human-centered, behavioral design to create more equitable, healthier, and more seamless experiences for communities she serves.
• Designing Strategy
• James Madison University - MS
• Fast Company’s Innovation by Design
• Core77 Design for Social Impact
• Core77 Service Design Award
• Core77 Strategy & Research Design Award
• Greater Than Awards
• Lead Virginia
• Accenture Song
• Jennifer Bush Lawrence Foundation (JBLF)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of high emotional intelligence, strong mentorship—particularly guidance from my Accenture people lead, Kathy Conrad—consistently producing high-quality work, and actively advocating for the visibility of that work.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my mentor, who taught me to speak with confidence, assert my ideas, and navigate challenging meeting dynamics to ensure my perspectives are heard.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to take the leap, focus on doing excellent work, and make sure others recognize the value of what you contribute—be proactive in advocating for yourself.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, one of the biggest opportunities in my field is leveraging service and behavioral design, along with technology like chatbots, to significantly enhance public-sector customer experiences. At the same time, a key challenge is navigating large organizations and helping those from non-traditional backgrounds overcome imposter syndrome.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most in both my work and personal life are service to others, mentorship and support for women, cultivating emotional intelligence, and improving experiences for vulnerable populations—particularly new mothers and their babies.