“If it can’t be quantified – it didn’t happen”

Strategy & Planning

Create and steward near and long-term strategy. Design and implement “human-first” processes, approaches and metrics to better understand, operationalize, and measure progress toward goals.

CASE STUDY

Software Engineer engagment & support program

provide a safe space for brainstorming that links idea generation and problem solving to out-of-the-box thinking, fuelling new and innovative approaches.
Design a digital program that meets or exceeds the Goals, Objectives, and Desired outcomes of the current IRL A* program/Squad model.
Acknowledge the challenges we are going through and build in ways members can continue to engage productively with one another and/or helping each other attain their goals
Ensure 85% of /dev/color membership renews year-over-year

COVID-19 Response: Program Redesign From The Ground Up. IRL To Digital In 6 Months.

National program with 500+ members relying on curated, in-person “squad-based” methodology to create and sustain peer-to-peer community, connections and network support. What happens when the primary pillar for programming (IRL meetings) is no longer available?

We pivot!

January

Conception (Kickoff) - Introduction, Journeylines, Career Roadmap intro + developing 2 short term, SMART goals

Establish clear strategy + priorities to achieve minimum viable product
Create explicit (SMART) goals
Conceptualize and clarify the essential parts of the program/squad structure
Establish roles/Assign Champions

February, March

Work with key stakeholders to create and socialize agenda, prompts, expectations and agreements

Introduce and clarify goals, outcomes, KPIs/metrics
Work with/internalize agenda, prompts, expectations and agreements with internal and external stakeholders
Share/review information/different perceptions, expertise and experiences

April, May

Goals focus (Iterative build, test, optimize)

Create MVP - Building on new and existing structural strengths/capacities that uplift/support strategic goals()
Establish and test updated presentation format (e.g. 1 member per meeting presents)

June

Goals Matching (June) + tie progress on build + testing + outcomes to strategic plan

Reflect, report and assess acceptance test information to optimize MVP for general launch
Key stakeholders sign-off

July

LAUNCH: Virtual "squad check-ins" !! Celebrate, ask for feedback, refine/optimize, etc.

I leaned on Cynthia to support partner-sponsored events for our partner ecosystem. Additionally, Cynthia provided great thought-partnership for our organizational-defining strategy sessions. I couldn’t imagine anyone else to navigate the global/organizational challenges we faced in 2020.

– Robert G.

I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to work with & for Cynthia during my time at One Step Closer. Cynthia came into a 10 year old organization in need of reliable systems, procedures, and a clarified strategy and executed seamlessly on all three. She is a fantastic manager who listens attentively, inquires about work and career goals, speaks open and honestly, is helpful when needed, and really lets the uniqueness of each of her employees shine. I learned so much from her! Together we implemented a new system for project management and improved the internal communication procedures. We also designed and launched educational programs for natural products industry professionals. She implemented a new strategic planning method that helped align the whole organization and clarify the bigger picture we were all working within. We couldn’t have accomplished these things without her guidance.

– Grace R.

Cynthia’s experience and knowledge about project, change and team management was essential in our CRM Salesforce implementation project. I am grateful I had Cynthia as my partner in this project, and could not have made the system improvements and changes happen without her. Cynthia is a competent and compassionate manager and mentor. She is supportive of her team’s needs as well as balancing the needs of the Organization. In addition, her ability to “manage up” helped significantly in keeping the CRM Salesforce implementation on track. Without her, the JCCSF would not be where it is today with it’s adoption of new technology and innovative solutions.