Hadassah Damien

Hadassah Damien is Design Thinking Facilitator, former Senior Design Strategist, Design Thinking Facilitator at ConsenSys. I lead inclusive and collaborative problem-solving processes using human-centered design and strategic research, and solve wicked technology, civic, and economic problems with governments, organizations, and innovation teams. I've been on the back end, the front end, the Boardroom, and at the whiteboard. Facilitative leadership and collaborative practices are my passion and I am deeply inclusive in my practices and teaching. I solve meaningful problems with groups by leveraging design thinking, UX research, a human-centered deep understanding of technology systems, speculative games, agile methods, lean prototyping, participatory pedagogy, empathy, and nonviolent communication. I've built civic tech services, open data & analytics interfaces, blockchain product team design processes, business financial systems, social impact and progressive tech organizations ... and experimental theatre. :) I see *people* as smart and creative, and it's people with whom I love to innovate and solve problems. I co-design, research, and develop technologies that are human-centered, currently focused on innovations and startups in Ethereum blockchain, social impact, and consumer finance domains. I've worked on product and technical discovery, full stack development, and user-centered digital system design for a decade. I facilitate individual clarity, communities’ strength, and organizations' agility using data and engagement. I create experiences, services, programs, and strategies that help groups develop and test informed, human-centered solutions. I’ve partnered with the City of Dubai (NDA), New York City (MODA & City Council), Greensboro and Oakland's City Councils. I’ve partnered with researchers from Stanford and U Chicago, and presented widely from SXSW (2018) and Lesbians Who Tech Mtl (2018), to Yale (2015), MIT (2008), Duke (2010), UT Austin (2009), NYU (2016), Hampshire (2015-17) the New School (2015) and many more. Highlights: - worked cross-functionally with startups and internal teams to design services and define problems to test solutions to. - worked with cities and teams across the US and Canada to design and build civic technology and develop interfaces that encourage big questions about democracy, balancing security, anonymity, and authentication. - facilitator & security trainer with Stronger NYC Communities Project, in partnership with 10 CBOs and the NYC Mayor’s office. - worker-owner technologist building full-stack OSS systems solutions.