About Us
all began
How it
About Us
all began
How it
It was kismet when our co-founders were assigned a shared office in 2017. They naturally began rearranging the space, situating the desks for easy conversation and bringing in furniture to invite others to join. In those days, a lot of time was spent around a whiteboard exploring the intersection of systems thinking and human-centered design and imagining the possibilities of these methods have for improving complex systems. This was the start of a partnership and vision that became what is now Systems Design Lab.
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Thanks to our team's interdisciplinary training, we are always looking at the white space, searching for the opportunity that exists in the in-between.
Ke is a former high school science teacher who studied politics, development, and democratic education, and then public interest law. A long-time nonprofit professional, Emma began her career focused on large-scale project management, which led to an interest in facilitation and the human side of change.
The SDL Origin Story
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Together, we help organizations make radical changes that result in radical change.
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We believe values alignment is essential for impactful work. For us, meaningful connection is not a byproduct. It takes commitment and ongoing effort to put humans first. Systems Design Lab is built on a deep friendship, and we maintain long-term relationships with a network of values-aligned consultants who support our practice.
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Your Partners
After calling Oakland, California home for years, Ke now lives in the Upper Valley along the Vermont/New Hampshire border with her mother, spouse, and two young children so they can spend time with their grandparents and explore the beautiful New England outdoors.
She gets joy learning about local chefs and bakers and their newest creations and about female artisans whose work she can admire and support. She also really likes building her slow and sustainable wardrobe and playing board games (faves are Clank! In! Space! and Pandemic) while sharing good meals with great friends. Thanks to Emma and her husband, Ke has tasted some of the best pizza and it’s quickly climbing her list of favorite food groups.
Ke brings to our practice a keen focus on results paired with compassion and respect for students and communities. Her top three strengths are analytical, adaptable, and option-oriented.
Emma is based in Oakland, California where she lives with her husband who is an audio engineer. After spending over a decade in Washington, DC, she fell in love with the pace of life and beauty of the Bay Area. On most days, you can find her in her backyard hammock under a lemon tree. Emma loves testing out new hobbies. While few actually stick, playing board games is one that has persisted. Emma’s change style is “originator,” which translates to a love for experimenting in the kitchen with loved ones. She believes food is a powerful tool for building connection.
Emma brings to our practice an eye for process with attention to relationships. Her top three strengths are analytical, reserved, and inclusive.
After calling Oakland, California home for years, Ke now lives in the Upper Valley along the Vermont/New Hampshire border with her mother, spouse, and two young children so they can spend time with their grandparents and explore the beautiful New England outdoors.
She gets joy learning about local chefs and bakers and their newest creations and about female artisans whose work she can admire and support. She also really likes building her slow and sustainable wardrobe and playing board games (faves are Clank! In! Space! and Pandemic) while sharing good meals with great friends. Thanks to Emma and her husband, Ke has tasted some of the best pizza and it’s quickly climbing her list of favorite food groups.
Ke brings to our practice a keen focus on results paired with compassion and respect for students and communities. Her top three strengths are analytical, adaptable, and option-oriented.
Ke Wu / Co-Founder
View Emma's Bio
Emma is based in Oakland, California where she lives with her husband who is an audio engineer. After spending over a decade in Washington, DC, she fell in love with the pace of life and beauty of the Bay Area. On most days, you can find her in her backyard hammock under a lemon tree. Emma loves testing out new hobbies. While few actually stick, playing board games is one that has persisted. Emma’s change style is “originator,” which translates to a love for experimenting in the kitchen with loved ones. She believes food is a powerful tool for building connection.
Emma brings to our practice an eye for process with attention to relationships. Her top three strengths are analytical, reserved, and inclusive.
Emma Parkerson / Co-Founder
View Ke's Bio
Systems Design Lab’s magic is in our national network of collaborators. From researchers and analysts to facilitators and designers, we fill our ranks with mission-driven, experienced professionals who do great work and like to have fun along the way. We are building a community of candor and creativity that enables us to test boundaries and deliver impactful work for our clients.
Our Team
Say hello to our network of radical collaborators
We include diverse perspectives because inclusion is essential for community liberation, joy, and prosperity.
Belonging
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We are radically transparent. We speak hard truths—with love.
Honesty
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We provide a safe space for inquiry and curiosity. Our world is complex, which means we must disrupt systems to understand them and adapt as we learn.
Exploration
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We believe in transforming power in systems, and that requires the audacity to experiment and continuously learn.
Creative Courage
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We move slow to go fast, especially when it comes to building relationships and capability. There is good that exists in all systems, so we work intentionally to find and build on it (and support our partners to do the same).
Intentional
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We maintain a relentless focus on people, especially those working in and impacted by the systems we work with.
Human-Centered
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What We Stand For
