MELISSA JENNINGS
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Services
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Workshop planning & facilitation
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Strategic Planning
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Process design & improvement
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Service & product design
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Design leadership tools:
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Workshop planning
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Research strategy development
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UX research & testing
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Lived experience research
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Interview facilitation
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Survey design & implementation
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Quantitative analysis
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Qualitative analysis
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Data interpretation
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Iterative prototyping
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Process mapping & logic models
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Indicator development (KPIs)
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Approach & Background
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IDEO design thinking
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Virtual facilitator certified by the International Institute of Facilitation (INIFAC); trained by Leadership Strategies
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Appreciative Inquiry
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Balanced scorecard
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Anne Emery data visualization
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CDC evaluation framework
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Scrum Master Certified
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Johnny Saldaña qualitative analysis methods
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My Story
I'm a strategy consultant with 10+ years of experience leading strategic planning, change management, and process/project design and management. My clients in public and private sectors (e.g., public health) choose me because I build consensus among groups to interpret data and carve a path forward in an environment where technology, culture, and interests shift constantly. I’m known for moderating sensitive conversations with empathy and curiosity, employing user-data to inform services and products, and using quantitative and qualitative data to measure progress toward goals. I relay actionable, data-driven recommendations to executives in culturally appropriate terms.
Portfolio of Early Projects at a Glance
2018 - Improving Biorepository Customer Service
Key question: What might improve customer trust & satisfaction in biorepository services? What are opportunities for improvement or expansion?
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Who provided input: Internal and external customers, the biorepository, advisory board, biorepository staff.
Data collection: Customer Satisfaction surveys & key informant interviews.
So what: Sample sharing with local and international partners is an attainable opportunity to improve people's health on a global scale during an era where people and animals migrate rapidly. Customers believe the biorepository should adopt new services to become a conduit for sharing collections and their epi and lab data with internal and external researchers. The strategic plan was informed by these findings.
2019 - Designing the Ally Training Program
Key question: To what extent did training change participant knowledge and attitudes about Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM)?
Who provided input: Pilot training participants, trainers, SMEs, and observers of the training.
Data collection: Pre-posttest, surveys, observation rubrics.
So what: When people feel safe being themselves, they bring the best to our organizations and the world. UX research on the training showed participants learned about the issues SGM face and, in some cases, even changed their views. UX research findings led to iterative refinements prior to training implementation, such as spending more time on vocabulary, answering questions, the gender bread person activity, as well as do’s and don’ts.
2014 - Improving Access for Women in Malawi
Key question: To what extent do participating customers (farmers) feel participation in the program (service) improves their health and well-being
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Who provided input: Customers who are: Women head of households, women in male-headed households, women in polygamous households, husbands (men), and community leaders.
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Data collection: Over 36 focus groups and interviews were conducted – 10 focus groups and 8 interviews were conducted per county.
So what: Families and communities benefit from women's empowerment. Customers observe the ways communities and families benefit when women to participate in public spheres and the economic market including speaking their mind publicly, negotiating for land and productive resources, sowing crops, and earning income.
Design Portfolio Examples in Detail
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A research finding is a story that gives data meaning.
But it's who tells the story that makes it relevant, credible, & useful.