Joan P. Ball, Ph.D.

Joan Ball, Ph.D. is a Professor of Marketing at the Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University and founder of the WOMB Service Design Lab, a New York-based transition services consultancy. Her work explores the interplay between service design, learning, and exploration as tools for navigating complexity, disruption, and systemic change. She focuses on how individuals, teams, and organizations can build the capacity to respond creatively and responsibly to uncertainty.

Joan’s research is grounded in her interest in transitional learning and navigating liminal space—those in-between moments where established systems no longer apply and new ways of thinking and acting must emerge. Through her scholarship, teaching, and applied work, she examines how service design practices, curiosity-driven inquiry, and experiential learning can support meaningful transformation in business, education, and community settings.

Her academic publications appear in leading peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Services Marketing, Journal of Service Theory and Practice, Journal of Service Management, Psychology & Marketing, and AMS Review. She also contributes to interdisciplinary journals such as Postdigital Science and Education and Journal of Marketing Communications, as well as practitioner publications like Harvard Business Review and Ivey Business Journal.

Her 2022 book, Stop, Ask, Explore: Learn to Navigate Change in Uncertain Times, was recognized as a finalist for the 2023 American Book Fest Best Book Award in the Business: Career category. The book offers a practical framework for working with disruption through intentional reflection, curiosity, and experimentation.
Through the WOMB Service Design Lab, Joan leads projects that integrate human-centered design, learning design, and transition support. She has worked with organizations including Capital One, Verizon, and The Violet Group, helping leaders and teams develop strategies for navigating change, fostering innovation, and designing services that support human well-being. The lab has also been recognized on platforms such as AIM2Flourish for its contribution to responsible innovation and social impact.

Joan holds a Ph.D. in International Business Management, an M.S. in Organizational Leadership, and a B.A. in Economics. She is frequently invited to speak and consult on themes related to curiosity, learning, service, and change in organizations and educational systems.

Contact Information:
Joan Ball, Ph.D.
Professor of Marketing
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
St. John’s University
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Tel: 845-234-5917
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: joanballService Design, Creativity and Innovation, Consumer Behavior, Principles of MarketingService Design, Consumer Behavior, Customer Delight, Resilience, Creativity, Curiosity, Liminality, Transitional Learning

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