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 these methods have for improving complex systems. This was the start of a partnership and vision that became what is now Systems Design Lab.
The SDL Origin Story
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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.
The SDL Origin Story
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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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
After calling Oakland, California home for years, Ke now lives in a rural community in the Upper Connecticut River Valley with her spouse and young daughters where they spend time with grandparents and explore the beautiful outdoors. She is driven to understand how humans can design and implement sustainable communities in an evolving world and takes inspiration from her local food ecosystem helping to raise a healthy community. She finds great joy in sharing incredible ingredients from local family farms through good meals with great friends.
Ke works with leaders and teams on complex systems analyses and strategic thinking. She earned her JD from NYU as a public interest scholar and MPhil from the University of Cambridge on Politics, Development, and Democratic Education. In her 15+ years working with and in social sector systems for children and families, she has held various formal roles, including international researcher, classroom teacher, legal advocate, group facilitator, coach and improvement advisor. She brings to our practice a keen focus on results paired with compassion and respect for communities. Her top three strengths are analytical, adaptable, and option-oriented.
She / Her
Co-Founder—
Ke Wu
Emma is based in Vermont, where she lives with her husband, an audio engineer, and her daughter. After beginning her career at an education nonprofit in Washington, DC, she lived and worked in the Bay Area supporting the formation of multi-stakeholder improvement networks. She has over 15 years experience in the nonprofit and social sectors.
Emma’s change style is “originator,” which translates to a love of testing out new hobbies. While few actually stick, playing board games is one that has persisted. Emma also loves 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. She earned a M.S. in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and has completed training in continuous improvement, design thinking, disruptive strategy, and project management.
She / Her
Co-Founder—
Emma Parkerson
The Founders
Your Partners
Born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, Cami now lives in Pittsburgh, where the bustling community scene and hilly landscapes make her feel closer to home. She loves exploring all her city has to offer, from art classes to urban gardening workshops, and finds joy in daily opportunities to eat a good meal, share a good laugh, and go outside.
Cami has worked in the non-profit sector in Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United States. She has a Masters degree in Applied Anthropology from the University of Amsterdam and has taken courses in behavioral change. She supports teams in identifying, collecting, and analyzing data that can sharpen their thinking, improve their processes, and deepen their impact. Her top strengths are modest, caring, and reserved. She brings to our practice an orientation towards user-centered design and collaborative problem-solving.
She / Her
Consultant
Camila Velasquez
The Team Members
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
[rad·i·cal] / adjective
(especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
