You may be wondering, “what on earth does tea have to do with service design?!”
And I understand. It took me a long time to see the connection myself. Tea isn’t just a beverage; it’s steeped in history and touches nearly every corner of the world. You could even think of it as one of the first ecosystem-wide solutions to human needs.
The practice of tea is rooted in presence, patience, and connection—the same qualities I bring to designing services, growing teams, and creating meaningful moments at work. Gongfu tea, which means “making tea with skill,” is my favorite metaphor for approaching complex design challenges with care, skill, and attention to the whole system.
A gongfu tea session is slow, intentional, and precise, much like the best design work.
Each pour and each step requires presence, patience, and attention to the whole system, qualities I bring when guiding teams, aligning stakeholders, and shaping experiences that scale.
Tea teaches me to notice the small details without losing sight of the big picture, and I carry that approach into every project I lead.
Leading with Presence, Tea, & Connection
I lead with empathy, kindness, and collaboration. I believe the best work comes from teams who feel seen, supported, and human. When you show up respecting people and understanding their strengths, they rise to the occasion and often go further than you imagined.
The same principles guide my tea practice. Gongfu tea teaches presence, patience, and attention to the whole system, which are qualities I bring to service design, team leadership, and workshops.
I often weave tea into talks and sessions to create mindful, engaged environments.
Tea Consulting
I offer high-quality tea experiences tailored for hospitality and corporate environments, creating moments of calm and connection in busy settings. My approach draws on gongfu tea principles, presence, patience, and attention to detail, applied to crafting thoughtful, memorable experiences.
Whether it’s designing tea experiences for guests, leading workshops, or advising on service strategy, I aim to blend hospitality, mindfulness, and design in a way that delights people and strengthens teams.
Whether you're interested in a mindful tea session, a workshop, or a conversation about integrating tea into your organization, let's connect over a cup. Email me at hannahpatience@gmail.com.
