Michelle Risinger
Founder and Principal at Rising Solutions Consulting- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Olukolade George Shobo
I met Michelle when she first came to Nigeria in 2016 to train the team on human centered design (HCD) approach. Apart from being super at training the team, Michelle helped us all see the importance of the approach in all that we do for beneficiaries. The fascinating thing was her understanding of the subject matter and the way she goes about helping people to understand how to apply it. It was a turning point for most of us. Michelle also went on to support the team to apply the HCD approach to develop a beneficiary-feedback system. This system enables local beneficiaries to give feedback to projects in as real a time as possible considering technological challenges in rural areas. What was great about this was Michelle's culture-sensitive and down to earth techniques. Michelle is very intelligent and fun to work with. She adapts very easily and gets the job done in very collaborative ways. She is also very lively and forward looking. I've come to observe and learn that she does not let the impossible stop her. I do recommend Michelle to anyone who needs a fun person who is also an innovator and human centered design specialist. She's great value for money.
Nicole Miller
I have known Michelle since she began working at Pact and have seen her grow and expand her role and scope of work over time. Michelle is a passionate professional who believes strongly in her work. Most recently Michelle's role at Pact has focused on innovation and human centered design. Michelle has developed new concepts and approaches to foster innovation and creativity within Pact. This has created excitement and healthy competition in the work environment, which has inspired my team to think of ideas that make our work more efficient and strengthen the quality of our services to beneficiaries. Michelle further provides support in the development of new ideas and challenges teams to go a step (or several steps) further to come up with the best designs and concepts to test, refine and then implement. I have also had the pleasure of having Michelle as a trainer in the Human Centered Design (HCD) concept. Michelle is an enthusiastic trainer with high energy who offers a variety of adult learning approaches to suit the needs of varied participants. Michelle has the ability to break down HCD concepts into small digestible components and challenges teams to take their initial ideas to the next level through continuous experimentation and prototyping. This type of creative development leads to improved designs that are centered on the experience of the beneficiary/end user. I highly recommend Michelle for her work in innovations and human centered design, as well as her accomplishments as a trainer and facilitator.
Adriana Brito
Michelle has been leading Innovation and Human Centered Design in Pact Inc processes with a high level of professionalism since this theme is new in the world of community impact and I have been personally involved in workshops facilitating the dynamic here in Colombia and definitely this is at the forefront of new skills to develop in organizations which purpose is achieve the well-being and the improvement the quality of life for communities with needs around the world. She is a great leader and her enthusiasm is always present for stakeholders both for the group of facilitators and the community involved itself.
Olukolade George Shobo
I met Michelle when she first came to Nigeria in 2016 to train the team on human centered design (HCD) approach. Apart from being super at training the team, Michelle helped us all see the importance of the approach in all that we do for beneficiaries. The fascinating thing was her understanding of the subject matter and the way she goes about helping people to understand how to apply it. It was a turning point for most of us. Michelle also went on to support the team to apply the HCD approach to develop a beneficiary-feedback system. This system enables local beneficiaries to give feedback to projects in as real a time as possible considering technological challenges in rural areas. What was great about this was Michelle's culture-sensitive and down to earth techniques. Michelle is very intelligent and fun to work with. She adapts very easily and gets the job done in very collaborative ways. She is also very lively and forward looking. I've come to observe and learn that she does not let the impossible stop her. I do recommend Michelle to anyone who needs a fun person who is also an innovator and human centered design specialist. She's great value for money.
Nicole Miller
I have known Michelle since she began working at Pact and have seen her grow and expand her role and scope of work over time. Michelle is a passionate professional who believes strongly in her work. Most recently Michelle's role at Pact has focused on innovation and human centered design. Michelle has developed new concepts and approaches to foster innovation and creativity within Pact. This has created excitement and healthy competition in the work environment, which has inspired my team to think of ideas that make our work more efficient and strengthen the quality of our services to beneficiaries. Michelle further provides support in the development of new ideas and challenges teams to go a step (or several steps) further to come up with the best designs and concepts to test, refine and then implement. I have also had the pleasure of having Michelle as a trainer in the Human Centered Design (HCD) concept. Michelle is an enthusiastic trainer with high energy who offers a variety of adult learning approaches to suit the needs of varied participants. Michelle has the ability to break down HCD concepts into small digestible components and challenges teams to take their initial ideas to the next level through continuous experimentation and prototyping. This type of creative development leads to improved designs that are centered on the experience of the beneficiary/end user. I highly recommend Michelle for her work in innovations and human centered design, as well as her accomplishments as a trainer and facilitator.
Adriana Brito
Michelle has been leading Innovation and Human Centered Design in Pact Inc processes with a high level of professionalism since this theme is new in the world of community impact and I have been personally involved in workshops facilitating the dynamic here in Colombia and definitely this is at the forefront of new skills to develop in organizations which purpose is achieve the well-being and the improvement the quality of life for communities with needs around the world. She is a great leader and her enthusiasm is always present for stakeholders both for the group of facilitators and the community involved itself.
Olukolade George Shobo
I met Michelle when she first came to Nigeria in 2016 to train the team on human centered design (HCD) approach. Apart from being super at training the team, Michelle helped us all see the importance of the approach in all that we do for beneficiaries. The fascinating thing was her understanding of the subject matter and the way she goes about helping people to understand how to apply it. It was a turning point for most of us. Michelle also went on to support the team to apply the HCD approach to develop a beneficiary-feedback system. This system enables local beneficiaries to give feedback to projects in as real a time as possible considering technological challenges in rural areas. What was great about this was Michelle's culture-sensitive and down to earth techniques. Michelle is very intelligent and fun to work with. She adapts very easily and gets the job done in very collaborative ways. She is also very lively and forward looking. I've come to observe and learn that she does not let the impossible stop her. I do recommend Michelle to anyone who needs a fun person who is also an innovator and human centered design specialist. She's great value for money.
Nicole Miller
I have known Michelle since she began working at Pact and have seen her grow and expand her role and scope of work over time. Michelle is a passionate professional who believes strongly in her work. Most recently Michelle's role at Pact has focused on innovation and human centered design. Michelle has developed new concepts and approaches to foster innovation and creativity within Pact. This has created excitement and healthy competition in the work environment, which has inspired my team to think of ideas that make our work more efficient and strengthen the quality of our services to beneficiaries. Michelle further provides support in the development of new ideas and challenges teams to go a step (or several steps) further to come up with the best designs and concepts to test, refine and then implement. I have also had the pleasure of having Michelle as a trainer in the Human Centered Design (HCD) concept. Michelle is an enthusiastic trainer with high energy who offers a variety of adult learning approaches to suit the needs of varied participants. Michelle has the ability to break down HCD concepts into small digestible components and challenges teams to take their initial ideas to the next level through continuous experimentation and prototyping. This type of creative development leads to improved designs that are centered on the experience of the beneficiary/end user. I highly recommend Michelle for her work in innovations and human centered design, as well as her accomplishments as a trainer and facilitator.
Adriana Brito
Michelle has been leading Innovation and Human Centered Design in Pact Inc processes with a high level of professionalism since this theme is new in the world of community impact and I have been personally involved in workshops facilitating the dynamic here in Colombia and definitely this is at the forefront of new skills to develop in organizations which purpose is achieve the well-being and the improvement the quality of life for communities with needs around the world. She is a great leader and her enthusiasm is always present for stakeholders both for the group of facilitators and the community involved itself.
Olukolade George Shobo
I met Michelle when she first came to Nigeria in 2016 to train the team on human centered design (HCD) approach. Apart from being super at training the team, Michelle helped us all see the importance of the approach in all that we do for beneficiaries. The fascinating thing was her understanding of the subject matter and the way she goes about helping people to understand how to apply it. It was a turning point for most of us. Michelle also went on to support the team to apply the HCD approach to develop a beneficiary-feedback system. This system enables local beneficiaries to give feedback to projects in as real a time as possible considering technological challenges in rural areas. What was great about this was Michelle's culture-sensitive and down to earth techniques. Michelle is very intelligent and fun to work with. She adapts very easily and gets the job done in very collaborative ways. She is also very lively and forward looking. I've come to observe and learn that she does not let the impossible stop her. I do recommend Michelle to anyone who needs a fun person who is also an innovator and human centered design specialist. She's great value for money.
Nicole Miller
I have known Michelle since she began working at Pact and have seen her grow and expand her role and scope of work over time. Michelle is a passionate professional who believes strongly in her work. Most recently Michelle's role at Pact has focused on innovation and human centered design. Michelle has developed new concepts and approaches to foster innovation and creativity within Pact. This has created excitement and healthy competition in the work environment, which has inspired my team to think of ideas that make our work more efficient and strengthen the quality of our services to beneficiaries. Michelle further provides support in the development of new ideas and challenges teams to go a step (or several steps) further to come up with the best designs and concepts to test, refine and then implement. I have also had the pleasure of having Michelle as a trainer in the Human Centered Design (HCD) concept. Michelle is an enthusiastic trainer with high energy who offers a variety of adult learning approaches to suit the needs of varied participants. Michelle has the ability to break down HCD concepts into small digestible components and challenges teams to take their initial ideas to the next level through continuous experimentation and prototyping. This type of creative development leads to improved designs that are centered on the experience of the beneficiary/end user. I highly recommend Michelle for her work in innovations and human centered design, as well as her accomplishments as a trainer and facilitator.
Adriana Brito
Michelle has been leading Innovation and Human Centered Design in Pact Inc processes with a high level of professionalism since this theme is new in the world of community impact and I have been personally involved in workshops facilitating the dynamic here in Colombia and definitely this is at the forefront of new skills to develop in organizations which purpose is achieve the well-being and the improvement the quality of life for communities with needs around the world. She is a great leader and her enthusiasm is always present for stakeholders both for the group of facilitators and the community involved itself.
Experience
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Rising Solutions Consulting
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United Kingdom
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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Founder and Principal
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Oct 2020 - Present
Rising Solutions supports nonprofits, governments and corporations to launch their new ideas for social impact through innovation strategy, professional facilitation, and design thinking for positive behavior and culture change. Visit us: www.risingsolutions.co Rising Solutions supports nonprofits, governments and corporations to launch their new ideas for social impact through innovation strategy, professional facilitation, and design thinking for positive behavior and culture change. Visit us: www.risingsolutions.co
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Koru
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Mexico
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Consumer Services
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Strategic Advisor
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Oct 2022 - Present
Philanthrofi is an A.I. driven online marketplace platform for connecting companies and impact organizations for sustainable social impact. Companies can invest and donate directly to hundreds of active philanthropic programs implemented by impact organizations around the world that align with their strategic business goals, supply chains, new geographic markets, and ESG missions. Philanthrofi is an A.I. driven online marketplace platform for connecting companies and impact organizations for sustainable social impact. Companies can invest and donate directly to hundreds of active philanthropic programs implemented by impact organizations around the world that align with their strategic business goals, supply chains, new geographic markets, and ESG missions.
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Pact
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United States
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Law Practice
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Innovation Director & Human-Centered Design Technical Expert
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Aug 2017 - Oct 2020
Cultivate, harvest and monetization innovation in international development. Writer and lead facilitator of global workshops/trainings/toolkits on Human-Centered Design (HCD), FailFest and Innovation methodologies. Trained 250+ staff on HCD and innovation techniques and manages a team of 5 direct reports. Serves as Pact’s technical expert in HCD, leading design teams in HCD exercises across 40 countries topics ranging from women's economic empowerment, HIV/AIDS, Beneficiary Feedback, technology apps. Created & manages an award-winning portfolio of global product, service and platform innovations. Manage an internal knowledge management digital platform. Created and manages an incubator to seed promising product and service innovations and entrepreneurs across Africa and Asia. Manage business development opportunities for innovation and asset creation providing technical assistance to business development opportunities per year ranging from $100K- 300 million. Build and maintain relationships with foundations and corporations interested in innovation and co-creation.• Finalist, Innovation Leader 2020 Impact Awards• Recipient, 2019 Design Thinking Award "End-User Transformation"• Presenter, 2018 IAS World AIDS Conference "Insight to impact: Driving demand creation for HIV prevention"• Panel Moderator, June 2018 Interaction Forum, "A Perfect Marriage? Bridging the Divide Between Qualitative, User-driven Approaches to Innovation and Evidenced-based Program Design• Participant 2018 ScalexDesign Accelerator• Guest lecturer, Leading Social Innovation, American University • Facilitator, 2017 Net Impact Annual Conference, Bootcamp: From Design Thinking to Design Doing • Presenter, Design-Thinking for Inclusivity - Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) Frontiers of Social Innovation Conference 2016• Winner HPE Living Progress Challenge innovation Challenge Aug 2016• Technology app birthed at Pact's Innovation Workshop is featured in Forbes February 2016. Show less
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Innovation Lead & Human Centered Design Technical Expert
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Oct 2016 - Aug 2017
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Innovations Officer
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Oct 2013 - Dec 2014
Founding member of a start-up team assembled to cultivate, harvest and monetization innovation for an international development non-profit. Promoted to Senior Officer after one-year having achieved $450,000 in new funds, 50+ new relationships and media coverage in Devex. Founding member of a start-up team assembled to cultivate, harvest and monetization innovation for an international development non-profit. Promoted to Senior Officer after one-year having achieved $450,000 in new funds, 50+ new relationships and media coverage in Devex.
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Trustee and Special Advisor
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2012 - 2014
Established and engaged key partnerships with grassroots NGOs and civil society stakeholders in Tanzania focusing on youth and female empowerment. Designed & piloted a Fit for Life empowerment program for young women at Kololo Secondary School Kampala, Uganda. Partnered with the Buguruni Youth Center (BYC) in Dar Es Salaam, TZ to design a vocational training sponsorship program. Designed a social enterprise and micro-finance program for young women. Instituted a Parental Sensitization Workshop Series to promote girls education. Wrote grant proposals, designed indicators and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans and supported internal capacity building. Show less
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American Red Cross
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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700 & Above Employee
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Assistant Station Manager - Iraq & Afghanistan
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Jun 2008 - Sep 2013
Completed 4 x 6 month assignments to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a worldwide system of humanitarian assistance funded by a US government grant including emergency communications; access to financial assistance; confidential counseling; information and referral and other social services. Served as the sole employee running operations over night for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. Partnered with USAID Gender and the Korean PRT to facilitate women’s empowerment and community resilience through health education classes. Coordinated logistics for the delivery and distribution of bulk quantity humanitarian assistance from overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan. Managed, trained and administered volunteer programs, including hospital and office programs. Led advocacy initiative for the promotion of Red Cross mission and strategic partnership between US government, military and international community through 15 engagement events and bi-weekly radio show on the Armed Forces Network. Show less
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Program Manager
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Sep 2006 - May 2008
Designed, implemented and managed the American Red Cross Historical Tour Program at National Headquarters in DC. Initiated, developed and monitored a nation-wide exhibit of the historical collection. Organized and coordinated numerous public relations events to promote Red Cross history. Developed best practices and quality assurance tools. Supervised, recruited and trained a staff of 30 volunteer docents and 5 University interns. Designed and launched a successful marketing campaign. Established working relationships with other DC educational institutions. Awarded one million dollars in funding and facilitated a steering committee of project donors. Recipient National Employee "Spirit of Excellence" Award presented by CEO Gail McGovern. Show less
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Uganda Women's Network
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1 - 100 Employee
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Consultant
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May 2012 - Oct 2012
Designed the concept proposal and budget for the first ever Uganda National Women’s Week, October 2012 in conjunction with the 50 Year Independence Anniversary. Anticipated attendance of 10,000pp. Designed the advocacy strategy and original slogan “United Women Will” for the promotion and mobilization of women’s rights in Uganda. The event garned international media covered by the BBC. Designed the concept proposal and budget for the first ever Uganda National Women’s Week, October 2012 in conjunction with the 50 Year Independence Anniversary. Anticipated attendance of 10,000pp. Designed the advocacy strategy and original slogan “United Women Will” for the promotion and mobilization of women’s rights in Uganda. The event garned international media covered by the BBC.
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Channel Research
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Business Consulting and Services
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Gender Consultant
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May 2012 - Oct 2012
Contributed a gender specific review to proposals including CIDA, DfID. Designed gender M&E methodologies and insured gender awareness was incorporated as a crosscutting theme throughout the proposals. Partnered with Channel Research to write a proposal for a DfID funded Gender Based Violence Baseline Survey. Ensured that ethical standards were in line with GBV research protocols. Contributed a gender specific review to proposals including CIDA, DfID. Designed gender M&E methodologies and insured gender awareness was incorporated as a crosscutting theme throughout the proposals. Partnered with Channel Research to write a proposal for a DfID funded Gender Based Violence Baseline Survey. Ensured that ethical standards were in line with GBV research protocols.
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Researcher
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Mar 2010 - May 2010
Conducted human rights and women's rights research with the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in the effort to ascertain peace-building effectiveness in post-reconstruction Bosnia. Liaised with over a dozen grassroots and INGOs including members of Bosnia Parliament, the World Bank, OHR, OSCE and the EU Commission. Produced a final report presented to the IR department in May 2010. Conducted human rights and women's rights research with the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in the effort to ascertain peace-building effectiveness in post-reconstruction Bosnia. Liaised with over a dozen grassroots and INGOs including members of Bosnia Parliament, the World Bank, OHR, OSCE and the EU Commission. Produced a final report presented to the IR department in May 2010.
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Consultant/Media Spokesperson
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Mar 2001 - Jan 2009
8 years of experience in public speaking to a national audience via television, publication and formal speaking engagements with a focus on advocacy, education and research. Developed and facilited workshops and advocacy strategies. Appeared on programs such as Anderson Cooper 360, Good Morning America and The Jane Pauly Show. Served as presenter, facilitator and organizer for nationwide conferences. Wrote regular articles for publications such as The Washington Post and Research America! 8 years of experience in public speaking to a national audience via television, publication and formal speaking engagements with a focus on advocacy, education and research. Developed and facilited workshops and advocacy strategies. Appeared on programs such as Anderson Cooper 360, Good Morning America and The Jane Pauly Show. Served as presenter, facilitator and organizer for nationwide conferences. Wrote regular articles for publications such as The Washington Post and Research America!
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Education
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2020 -
PopWorks Africa
Certificate, Decolonizing Development -
University of St Andrews
Masters, International Peace and Conflict Studies -
American University
B.A., International Relations -
American University
B.A., History -
2012 -
Human Rights Education Associates
Certificate, Monitoring and Evaluation in the NGO Sector -
2012 -
Human Rights Education Associates
Certificate, Monitoring Women's Rights
Community
