Practical Tips for Public Sector Practitioners — Classic approaches to addressing public sector problems (e.g. in international development, public policy, public service delivery) are driven by predetermined outcomes and metrics to measure success. While these approaches to addressing complex challenges are increasingly being scrutinized, the substitutes — often dubbed “innovation” practice — unhelpfully fall on either end…

A reflection on frictions that accompany institutional transformation — Some say it is the exact time for multilateral institutions (eg. United Nations, World Bank, Open Government Partnership etc.) to shine, owing to a year filled with tragedies that fall squarely within the system’s remit to address: the pandemic ravaged through countries disproportionately harming underinvested communities; a backlash to social…

A letter to fellow designers and the next generation of designers working in bureaucratic institutions — It’s a dream come true for systemic designers to see bureaucracies —governments (e.g. innovation labs, bilateral foreign aid agencies) and multilateral institutions (e.g. UN agencies) — opening spaces that seek their talent. “Designing in Bureaucracy” in 2021 looks very different than even five years ago in many places. …

For years I’ve been thinking about what diversity means in a professional environment. I believe that it is about diversity in thought — different perspectives and approaches shaped through different lived experiences. For me, it’s important to find ways to move away from ‘checkbox diversity’. Maybe for no better reason…

“Trust in the process”. Say that to a crowd of designers,and you will get big smiles and nods in agreement. Say that to any other group of people that I work with on social change— policy wonks, grassroots activists, advocacy folks, even technologists — you get a big “ummm now…

A personal struggle with social media — I broke away from social media in 2011. It was my choice to stop using Facebook. It was considered crazy at the time since Facebook was so popular. …

To be strategic. Honestly, what does that mean? I think many of us hear the word, and think: constant scheming or quick, smart moves to push ahead. — It’s clear to me now. Strategy is not about maneuvering to shake things up, it is about playing the long game to shift incrementally toward something big. It is moving pieces of the domino line ever so slightly to line up the perfect move to eventually knock them down.

I’m not that fond of binaries or categories or putting people in boxes or them putting me into boxes. But I work to build frameworks to make sense of complexity. And I have fun with stereotypes. And I have a few words i might choose to describe my identity that might be reductive. — Activist is a classification that is thought to be a badge of honor in some circles and a black mark in others. Recently, I have confronted the questions: am I or am I not an activist? Does it matter? Who is, who isn’t? Does it matter?

I’ve been around a lot of strong women lately who identify as feminists. And I’m always in touch with my amazingly strong mother and friends. I’ve also been around my strong father and brother who have, in numerous ways , demonstrated to me that they believe in gender equality. — But one thing has been bothering me lately: in this time of women’s marches around the world, why do I continue to feel skeptical of us making progress toward gender equality?