Alumni Story – Ivy Williams

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Ivy Williams and I’m a Senior Consultant focusing on innovation and service design.

Where are you originally from?

I was born in Georgia and lived in Texas and California before growing up in Virginia.

What project/job/event/research are you currently working on?

I’m currently leading a group of project managers within a service delivery team. Our projects use a strategic approach to help our clients produce complex technical solutions and sustain process improvement initiatives. One of my favorite projects is the design and build of an Onboarding Toolkit. The existing process was ineffective and didn’t fully meet the needs of our new hires, so a couple of my teammates and I prototyped a few iterations until we were able to successfully implement a new process. What started as a product for our team has now been adopted across the company and we’re currently in the process of expanding the capabilities of the toolkit.

In what ways did the work/research you did at Parsons prepare you for that transition and the work you’re doing now?

During my time at Parsons, I expanded my knowledge on creative leadership and how impactful the use of design methodologies can be in fostering growth across diverse organizations and ventures. I’m able to use the tools I learned in the SDM program to help my clients reframe their way of thinking and approach their ideas and solutions in a creative way.

How has the MS-SDM program challenged you to grow as a Strategic Designer?

The SDM program introduced me to a new perspective on creating holistic solutions. I’ve gained more confidence working and collaborating at the intersection of design, business, and innovation. Additionally, the program helped me develop an acumen necessary to pursue entrepreneurial projects.

If you were to give one piece of advice to current students, what would it be?

Embrace the many opportunities you will have to collaborate with your classmates and creative peers across the globe!

What book are you reading right now?

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath