Transformative change through innovation
Transformative change through innovation
Transformative change through innovation
Welcome to Designing Impact
Welcome to Designing Impact
Designing Impact is a strategy and innovation studio that collaborates with organizations dedicated to uplifting historically marginalized communities. With a diverse and flexible team, we help navigate some of the trickiest parts of running an impact-oriented business. From building strategic alignment and organizational transformation, to getting stakeholder input at key moments of growth or change, we've already created real, tangible impact for clients like The United Nations Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance and ARPA-H (part of the NIH).
We work across a range of sectors - from climate change, racial justice, and education to mental health, women’s rights and financial health. Our work seeks to build a just, equitable and resilient future.
Designing Impact is a strategy and innovation studio that collaborates with organizations dedicated to uplifting historically marginalized communities. With a diverse and flexible team, we help navigate some of the trickiest parts of running an impact-oriented business. From building strategic alignment and organizational transformation, to getting stakeholder input at key moments of growth or change, we've already created real, tangible impact for clients like The United Nations Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance and ARPA-H (part of the NIH).
We work across a range of sectors - from climate change, racial justice, and education to mental health, women’s rights and financial health. Our work seeks to build a just, equitable and resilient future.
Welcome to
Designing Impact
Designing Impact is a strategy and innovation studio that collaborates with organizations dedicated to uplifting historically marginalized communities. With a diverse and flexible team, we help navigate some of the trickiest parts of running an impact-oriented business. From building strategic alignment and taking on organizational change, to getting stakeholder input at key moments of growth or change, we've already created real, tangible impact for clients like The United Nations Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance and ARPA-H (part of the NIH).
We work across a range of sectors - from climate change, racial justice, and education to mental health, women’s rights and financial health. Our work seeks to build a just, equitable and resilient future.
Services
Strategy & Facilitation
Want to work through a pervasive sector-wide challenge with a cross-section of experts? Or want external support for your organization's strategic planning? Or are you looking to build a culture of innovation on your team? Designing Impact can conduct listening sessions, help your team workshop ideas to identify possible directions, and build plans to ensure a successful path forward.
Strategy & Facilitation
Want to work through a pervasive sector-wide challenge with a cross-section of experts? Or want external support for your organization's strategic planning? Or are you looking to build a culture of innovation on your team? Designing Impact can conduct listening sessions, help your team workshop ideas to identify possible directions, and build plans to ensure a successful path forward.
Strategy & Facilitation
Want to work through a pervasive sector-wide challenge with a cross-section of experts? Or want external support for your organization's strategic planning? Or are you looking to build a culture of innovation on your team? Designing Impact can conduct listening sessions, help your team workshop ideas to identify possible directions, and build plans to ensure a successful path forward.
Qualitative Research and Insights
Need to understand your customer base and how they respond to your product? Or need to have a more nuanced perspective about the key segments in your user base? Designing Impact has a distributed team across the US - in fact the world - who can help you learn directly from communities.
Qualitative Research and Insights
Need to understand your customer base and how they respond to your product? Or need to have a more nuanced perspective about the key segments in your user base? Designing Impact has a distributed team across the US - in fact the world - who can help you learn directly from communities.
Early Vision and Prototyping
Have a few possible directions for what you want to build but don’t know how to get started? We can help your team get early feedback on possible directions for your organization’s innovation through pilot testing and user feedback.
Early Vision and Prototyping
Have a few possible directions for what you want to build - products or services - but don’t know how to get started? We can help your team get early feedback through pilot testing and user feedback.
Early Vision and Prototyping
Have a few possible directions for what you want to build but don’t know how to get started? We can help your team get early feedback on possible directions for your organization’s innovation through pilot testing and user feedback.
Founder & CEO
Shalu Umapathy
Shalu is a seasoned executive in the social impact space with 20+ years of experience in emerging markets focused on topics like health, financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment and agriculture. She’s excited to grow her experience in content areas including climate change, education, racial justice and mental health in the US. She is known for bringing a sense of humor to tough problems, showing up with authenticity, and leading teams from vision to execution.
Prior to her consulting practice, Shalu was Managing Director at IDEO.org leading a portfolio of work focused on Asia and Africa. She has also worked at Abt Associates, Bain & Company, and was a Clinton Fellow. She holds a BBA from Boston University and an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Founder & CEO
Shalu Umapathy
Shalu is a seasoned executive in the social impact space with 20+ years of experience in focused on topics like health, financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment and agriculture. She’s excited to grow her experience in content areas including climate change, education, racial justice and mental health in the US. She is known for bringing a sense of humor to tough problems, showing up with authenticity, and leading teams from vision to execution.
Prior to her consulting practice, Shalu was Managing Director at IDEO.org leading a portfolio of work focused on Asia and Africa. She has also worked at Abt Associates, Bain & Company, and was a Clinton Fellow. She holds a BBA from Boston University and an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Founder & CEO
Shalu Umapathy
Shalu is a seasoned executive in the social impact space with 20+ years of experience in focused on topics like health, financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment and agriculture. She’s excited to grow her experience in content areas including climate change, education, racial justice and mental health in the US. She is known for bringing a sense of humor to tough problems, showing up with authenticity, and leading teams from vision to execution.
Prior to her consulting practice, Shalu was Managing Director at IDEO.org leading a portfolio of work focused on Asia and Africa. She has also worked at Abt Associates, Bain & Company, and was a Clinton Fellow. She holds a BBA from Boston University and an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Founder & CEO
Shalu Umapathy
Shalu is a seasoned executive in the social impact space with 20+ years of experience in focused on topics like health, financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment and agriculture. She’s excited to grow her experience in content areas including climate change, education, racial justice and mental health in the US. She is known for bringing a sense of humor to tough problems, showing up with authenticity, and leading teams from vision to execution.
Prior to her consulting practice, Shalu was Managing Director at IDEO.org leading a portfolio of work focused on Asia and Africa. She has also worked at Abt Associates, Bain & Company, and was a Clinton Fellow. She holds a BBA from Boston University and an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Meet our stellar extended team!
Meet our stellar extended team!
Meet our stellar extended team!
Case Studies
Case Studies
Customer Testimonials
Customer Testimonials
Customer Testimonials
Shalu helped our team get from a workshop and product brainstorm to a set of actionable prototypes that solidified our innovation strategy.
Rikin Gandhi
Founder & CEO, Digital Green
Shalu helped us craft a vision and strategy for a transformative program focused on digital finance.
Becca Carroll
Managing Director Last Mile Money, IDEO
Shalu’s commitment to co-creation with end users allowed us to build a lasting social enterprise in the DRC.
Abraham Leno
Executive Director, Eastern Congo Initiative
Clients
