MELISSA JENNINGS
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Services
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Workshop planning & facilitation
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Direction setting
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Consensus building
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Prioritizing
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Content development
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Research design leadership
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Workshop planning
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Program design & management
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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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Qualitative & quantitative analysis
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Iterative prototyping
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Process mapping & logic models
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Excel, SurveyMonkey, NVivo
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Indicator development
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Approach & Background
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Participatory engagement methods
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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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Strategy Consulting & Facilitation
My Story
I'm a strategy consultant with 10+ years of experience leading direction-setting conversations and impactful user-driven recommendations. My clients in public and private sectors (e.g., public health) choose me to help them manage organizational changes in the workforce, mission, & culture. They come to me because I build consensus among groups to interpret data, solve problems, 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, empowering users & advisors 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 & develop rapport with collaborators.
UX Portfolio Examples at a Glance
2018 - Improving Biorepository Customer Service
Key question: How do customers perceive the biorepository’s ability to store and share important samples? What services might improve trust & satisfaction?
Who provided input: Customers, the biorepository, advisory board, biorepository staff, and sample custodians.
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: How do participating (customers) farmers define success in terms of: women’s empowerment, changes in joint/sole decision-making in the household, men’s engagement, and equitable relationships
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Who provided input: Farmers (customers) who are: Women head of households, women in male-headed households, women in polygamous households, husbands, 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. Farmers (customers) believe success is for women to participate in public spaces and market including speaking their mind publicly, negotiate for land and productive resources, and earn income. The findings suggest encouraging community leaders and husbands to continue participating in moderated conversations about gender.
UX 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.