Malaika Simmons
Ashburn,VA
Summary
Experienced Health, Research, Innovation and Strategy Professional. Possessing years of experience in strategic planning, business development and solution implementation. Skilled in advancing strategic organizational improvements, policy implementation, and corporate training. Successful track record in contributing to the design of programs and products, creating opportunities to enhance stakeholder and employee engagement, building consensus, discovering needs and moving agendas forward using inclusive and empathetic approaches.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Operating Officer, Human - Centered Design SME
NATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST DISPARITIES IN PATIENT HEALTH
Woodbridge, VA
01.2019 - Current
- Oversee health of organizational processes, policies and people assets
- Design and facilitate training, workshops, focus groups, surveys, user interviews, and ideation sessions using Human-Centered Design methodology across healthcare and technology continuum.
Founder and Principal Consultant
MOMENTOLOGY MEDIA
Ashburn, VA
02.2017 - Current
- Provide strategy, thought leadership, motivational speaking, empathy-based corporate training, executive coaching and Human-Centered Design and participatory research consulting services
- Support people and teams to increase performance and productivity through insight and impact.
Sr. Human-Centered Design Strategist, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
TANTUS TECH
Arlington, VA
01.2020 - 05.2021
- Conqueror Award Winner for contract excellence in implementing division level initiative for Technical Decision Board
- Developed solution path for Technical Decision Board, conducted stakeholder/user interviews, designed service blueprints, created personas, journey maps
- Lead facilitation of training for 100+ stakeholders, conducted 30+ user interviews, workshops, and ideation sessions; conduct user experience research and Human-Centered Design evaluations
Design Thinking Practitioner, Program Manager, Military and Veterans Health
COGNOSANTE
Fairfax, VA
06.2017 - 01.2020
- Design Researcher, Cognosante Design Lab; Lead facilitation of workshops, user interviews, and sprint sessions; conduct user experience research
- Introduced Design Thinking principles to include journey maps, service blueprints and other human-centered design solution efforts across various projects and product teams
- Oversaw the development of business plan and funding strategy for 18 VA White House Appointed Staff Offices in 9 weeks, condensed turnaround from 1 year to 3 months
- Developed and completed benchmarking and performance metrics analysis for the AMO to include Cyber Security, FITARA and DEPSEC level strategic implementations
Associate Vice President, Managing Director, Deputy Clinical Program Manager
THE AMBIT GROUP
Reston, VA
10.2013 - 02.2017
- Led teams in identifying, planning and executing efficiency gains, cost reductions while balancing Customer Experience across the enterprise in addition to being responsible for transformational changes across key processes and for leading teams using various Project Management, Change Management, Process Improvement and Continuous Improvement disciplines
- Conducted user research to develop outreach plans for funding, partnership and sponsorship opportunities, social media plans
- Ensured coordination of work product for 12 teams (60+ personnel); and direct line management of 9 staff members with adherence to VA PMAS and VIP processes, ensuring proper technical, and user acceptance testing documentation
- Served as SME and Agile coach
- Drastically cut internal expenses for partnering by nearly 20% by effectively coordinating the development of CRM and contract tracking systems through user research and make to solve approach
- Led and facilitated 24 product reviews and over 100 client assessments a year.
Strategic Planning Analyst
WHITNEY, BRADLEY & BROWN (WBB)
Reston, VA
10.2012 - 09.2013
- Worked in close coordination with the VA Office of Informatics and Analytics (OIA) formerly Office of Health Information (OHI) Dep
- Director, Strategic Planning on best practices for complex issues involving strategy, processes, and procedures for the Veterans Health Administration's IT portfolios
- Improved organizational performance for improvement initiatives and provided input to leadership strategy plans based on Human-Centered Design principles and methodologies
- Drafted VA wide compendium of software applications available to the enterprise.
CEO/Senior Consultant
COMPASS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Columbia, MD
06.2008 - 11.2012
- Collaborated with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) staff, physician grantees and external partners, prepared policy reviews, workflow analysis, use cases, process maps, and analyzed business impact of service implementation
- Conducted requirements analysis through organized forums, focus groups, and surveys applying user-centered methodologies.
Education
Ph.D. (International Psychology) Student -
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology - DC
Personal and Executive Coaching Certification -
CaPP Institute
Business Innovation Certification -
IDEO University
Workshop Facilitator certificate (pending) -
Workshopper Master, AJ&Smart
Design Thinking Practitioner Program -
Cognosante
Master of Science (Health Education) -
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science (Psychology) -
Excelsior College
Associate in Applied Sciences (Clinical Trial Research) -
Durham Technical Community College
Skills
- Design Thinking
- Customer Experience
- Research & Data Analysis
- Concept Testing
- Policy & Program Evaluation
- Learning & Knowledge Management
- Training
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocacy
- Facilitation & Public Speaking
- Leadership Development
- Communications Management
- Strategic Planning & Problem Solving
- Performance Mindset
- Change Management
- Human-Centered Design
- Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
- Policy, Governance Ethics & Compliance
- Business Process Reengineering
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Sr. Human-Centered Design Strategist, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
TANTUS TECH
01.2020 - 05.2021
Chief Operating Officer, Human - Centered Design SME
NATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST DISPARITIES IN PATIENT HEALTH
01.2019 - Current
Design Thinking Practitioner, Program Manager, Military and Veterans Health
COGNOSANTE
06.2017 - 01.2020
Founder and Principal Consultant
MOMENTOLOGY MEDIA
02.2017 - Current
Associate Vice President, Managing Director, Deputy Clinical Program Manager
THE AMBIT GROUP
10.2013 - 02.2017
Strategic Planning Analyst
WHITNEY, BRADLEY & BROWN (WBB)
10.2012 - 09.2013
CEO/Senior Consultant
COMPASS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
06.2008 - 11.2012
Ph.D. (International Psychology) Student -
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology - DC
Personal and Executive Coaching Certification -
CaPP Institute
Business Innovation Certification -
IDEO University
Workshop Facilitator certificate (pending) -
Workshopper Master, AJ&Smart
Design Thinking Practitioner Program -
Cognosante
Master of Science (Health Education) -
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science (Psychology) -
Excelsior College
Associate in Applied Sciences (Clinical Trial Research) -
Durham Technical Community College
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