SEPTEMBER 2014EDITION: 4 WWW.PSI.ORG

Edgy Space

Edge Week Edition

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or join the team, please email us at

inside@psi.org. We'd love to hear

from you!

WELCOME TO THE FOURTH EDITION

OF INSIDE PSI!

With their new office space, PSI Somaliland aims to create a collaborative workspace for creative marketing and social entrepreneurship. The office re-design comes alongside the introduction of an initiative to create an innovative culture at PSI Somaliland, driven by a revision of their core values. The values will be incorporated into the space, “so that we can really bring the values into our environment and hopefully into our work,” explains Donato.

Other key elements of the re-design include the use of PSI colors to create a more cohesive look throughout the office and a communal wall where people can post and share ideas. They have also placed an emphasis on outdoor

space, which will be ideal for socializing and collaborating while enjoying a brand new garden. Additionally, existing spaces will be updated with new lighting, and modern, flexible furniture. Donato believes that these changes will be an improvement over the current setup, which leads to a solitary experience that is “too much like a UN agency.” Donato has involved staff members in the process, and shares that there is excitement and buzz about the changes now that staff members have seen the pictures and plans (shout-out to Monty Hermann for designing the new look!).

We can’t wait to see how it all turns out!

INSIDE PSI TALKS WITH DONATO GULINO, CR OF SOMALILAND ABOUT THEIR NEW OFFICE SPACE.

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A FEW PSIERS SHARE THEIR BIGGEST REFLECTIONS FROM THE WEEK.

Edge Week Takeaways

Farai Chieza - PSI South Sudan CR One takeaway was how Facebook and Twitter have created conducive working environments and cultures that have encouraged and inspired life-changing innovations. In Silicon Valley, innovation is not an event but a continuous process of learning. This is what is precisely needed to better reach Sara in a unique, challenging and fluid environment that South Sudan is today. I know creating this innovation space is possible, and so are “hackathons”!

Reid Moorsmith – PSI Liberia CR The biggest takeaway was the power of social capital over political capital that Facebook prizes. I think PSI has this embedded in our culture - it’s what used to function as the Old Boys’ Network but I think is fairer now. But whereas Facebook has made it an operating principle, at PSI it’s an unacknowledged source of value and creativity. We could do much more to empower clusters of people to work together to solve problems.

We need an idea factory. Or, probably better, a way to free up people’s mind space to create and nurture ideas. This goes to office design and other physical features but much more to structure and LOE and a sense of ownership. If someone has a good idea on a Tuesday, they need to have to ability to work with whoever needs to be part of making it a reality starting on Wednesday. 

If we want to be a bold organization, we need leadership that is less fearful of mistakes and more rewarding of bold attempts. Even bold failures. 

Dwan Dixon - PSI Lesotho CR I’ve been thinking about how many of the themes from Edge Week centered around the issue of connectivity, and achieving a greater, more established connection to one another (within and amongst our platforms) and Sara (our beneficiaries) so that we ensure that we are dynamic in how we identify and respond to Sara’s needs.  Through the site visits, we discussed culture and space and how these can offer more opportunities for us to connect and develop fresher ideas and keep us energized to continually push the mark.  A few ideas that have come to mind include providing staff with some ‘email-free’ space every week and a series of mini-hackathons to encourage some off the wall, “can-never-get-around-to-it” creativity.   This is just a start, but in our office, in coming weeks I’ll be raising the idea of greater connectivity and exploring it with individuals and teams.

Wendy Alba – Executive Director of SFH Dominican Republic For me, to reflect on how teams are given permission to have “mistakes” trying to look for new alternatives is key to decrease the fear and dare to do something different. It seems paradoxical, because the work we do must be so meticulous, that would be impossible to think of failing. But I think this can help us tell our own stories. Similarly, spaces as fundamental to produce ideas and ways to improve element re-invent our work, I never expected this had much importance. Apparently we’re in the day-to-day without realizing that the style of the space helps to create and put “personal touch” to what we do.

 

Innovation is not an event but a continuous

process of learning.

Decrease the fear and dare to do something different.

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Claire Stokes – PSI Cambodia CR The thing that stuck with me from Edge Week came from the visit at Facebook – I was impressed by the strong sense of mission and the consistency of their values, the way they make decisions (fast, bold and at the most appropriate level – i.e. whoever has the most information) and the complete alignment between their mission and core values and their structure / recruitment philosophy / work habits (including their environment).

What I want to implement in Cambodia is that sense of mission, values and alignment at all levels of the organization – as well as creating the space and right conditions for people to be bolder, move faster and make mistakes that they can learn from.

Marusya Lazo, Director of Field Finance Support Biggest takeaway: don’t be afraid to try things, whether it was “Be Bold” or “Fail Harder, Learn Faster” or any of the other slogans we heard there. I think that we need to embrace the culture of just getting on and trying out approaches. We need to be clear about what we are doing, and learn from our experiences so we can share with others. I also got a lot of ideas about how we can better use our space to make it more inspiring.

Amy LaTrielle, Deputy Regional Director for WCA Really, it’s not a takeaway per se, but rather the connections that are made. So my biggest take away was just connecting with other PSIers. 

I was really touched by Shankar’s speech on the Hidden Brain and his suggestion to start the day by programming activities that focus on the future and end the day with today’s tasks.  I’m not taking this too literally, but am scheduling time (and committing to not cancel at the last minute) to strategize about various issues.  

I was also really inspired by all the companies we met to look at how space impacts work productivity.  I’ve talked to my team about this and instead of waiting for the PSI ship to right itself am taking it upon myself to create a WCA space that is representative of our region and what we love about West Africa.  We’re going to paint the halls and decorate with West African art.  This little gesture has really pulled the team together.  For me, it’s the small things. 

I was impressed by the strong sense of mission and the consistency of

their values.

Don’t be afraid to try things.

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Kyle, tell us about your time at PSI.

I was at PSI from 1993-2000. I started off while still in graduate school getting my MBA. My first love affair with a PSI brand was with Maximum Condoms. After a stint in DC, I spent two years reopening the PSI-Rwanda office after the genocide. I then had the privilege of opening PSI’s office in Zimbabwe in 1996, and I was there until 2000 when I handed it over to Andrew Boner. To this day those are some of the most formative experiences of my life.

 

What about after PSI? What did you learn at PSI that helped you in your career?

When I left in 2000, I joined Monitor Consulting in Boston and helped developing countries with their economic strategy. We were hired by President Kagame in Rwanda, and we had a role in Rwanda’s early rebirth. I also had a chance to get to know Monitor founder Michael Porter at Harvard Business School who was just starting Foundation Strategy Group. I have been with FSG since 2002, and I am now a managing director, am on FSG’s board, and help to lead this 150-person nonprofit consulting firm and research organization.

I learned tons while at PSI: a couple things to take note of was managing people, and (under really difficult circumstances in Rwanda and Zimbabwe) managing through a crisis. I learned about the power of the private sector and how it can play a major role in solving social problems; much of my work today is related to that. I also had the opportunity to learn about issues around HIV and public health, which I am still involved in today. I also gained many friends at PSI which I hold dear to this day.

Would you recommend PSI to a friend?  If so, why?

I recommend PSI all the time, and I have connected partners and donors to PSI, and some of those relationships have turned into really good things. I have gotten to know many international NGOs, and in working with them and their boards, I now have a better understanding of the peer sets for PSI. PSI still has not lost its special magic in terms of hiring great people, getting sh*t done at scale, acting with great courage and conviction, and having a lot of fun in the process. It is still my favorite international NGO.

What advice do you have for us as an alum?  What should we do differently, and what should we keep doing?

I think it is important to continue to push the organization and to be as bold as the organization has previously been. It is also important to serve as a leader for other INGOs.

It is hard to move beyond the existing game, but I would highly encourage PSI to ask itself some really tough questions every time folks get together: 1) Are we a leader in the fields in which we work? 2) How are we working with others to reach even greater scale? and 3) What do we need to stop doing that is no longer giving us impact and joy?

Former PSIers Speak Out

ONCE A PSIER, ALWAYS A PSIER

In this edition, we catch up with Kyle Peterson, former CR in

Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Kyle also joined us for Edge Week in San

Francisco. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out his talk on

the INGO of the future!

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Kitchen Design Challenge

A group of PSIers in DC take the lead on designing better places to eat lunch – including the roof!

Earlier this year, a cross-departmental team of PSI staff took a self-led online course provided by Acumen and ideo.org to learn about the process of Human Centered Design (HCD).  Little did they know how edgy it would be. HCD is a technique used by numerous organizations worldwide, including many of PSI’s partners. This innovative design process places a strong emphasis on truly listening and getting to know the end-user of a product or service through interviews, immersing oneself in context along with lots of prototyping.

The PSI team (formally known as “Team Cockroaches Escaping the Black Box of My Heart”) selected the challenge: “How might we promote healthy habits [at PSI]?” The team identified the “depressing” kitchens and a culture of desk-eating as common barriers to PSI staff taking time for lunch and feeling happy and healthy with their eating habits.  

6th Floor Tables

Over time the challenge grew into more than just healthy eating: How might we improve our work-life balance? Foster innovation?  Better utilize our spaces? Work together better?  The team decided that the best way to begin answering these questions was to have the users themselves engaged in the process and the idea of a kitchen redesign competition was born!

It’s not over yet; the team is writing a full report on how they’re taking these ideas forward to spark change and solve their design challenge!

Here are a few reflections from the winning teams, who redesigned the roof and the 6th floor kitchen:

Team “Raze the Roof” aimed to create a place for PSIers to meet and gather informally, and they placed an emphasis on enhancing the green space with a garden. They also liked the idea of using the space to generate revenue by renting it out for various functions.

How might we improve our work-life balance?

Foster innovation? Better utilize our spaces? Work

together better?

The new 6th floor kitchen design took advantage of the natural sunlight from the kitchen’s large windows and incorporated comfortable seating areas, an herb garden, and a game corner. To help PSIers better connect and collaborate, the design also included a new community board and a “Question and Answer” wall, which are still in place. Take some time to sit by the window and check out the remaining design elements next time you’re in the 6th floor kitchen!

Social Franchising 2.0

Losing Sight of the Bigger Picture?

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PSI was an early pioneer in social franchising with the introduction of the Green Star franchise in Pakistan nearly 20 years ago. Since then, we have launched 30 additional health care franchises around the globe, and made better quality health care available to millions of people.

The global franchise team has been hard at work using the lessons learned to create a new and improved version of social franchising that we are calling “Social Franchising 2.0.”

Some of the newer features in 2.0 are its integrated service offering, business systems and financing mechanisms that enable franchisees to benefit financially from being a part of the network. We believe that this new and improved franchise model will deliver more health impact with greater efficiency and thus create a more promising approach to health system strengthening that donors and investors are looking to fund.

You can transition your existing franchise model toward 2.0 or start a new franchise using the new model. Either way, we encourage you to try it!

To learn more please reach out to Julie McBride at

jmcbride@psi.org.

Every day we PSIers deal with the statistics and complexities of developing and implementing HIV/AIDS interventions. Is it possible to lose focus on the importance of what we do since we do it every day?

After implementing HIV/AIDs prevention activities for over 20 years, it took a heart-breaking and personal loss for me to realize that I had become complacent in the fight against the spread of this disease. A close friend of mine lost his sister (leaving 4 children orphaned) and then 4 weeks later lost his brother (leaving 6 children orphaned) to AIDs. In the places we all work, this is not an uncommon story. My friend’s sister (let’s call her Sara) was actually an HIV prevention worker in her community in Kenya. Her job was to reach women who have HIV with positive-living messaging.

What shook me to my core is that Sara was working to give messages everyday on HIV/AIDs and yet the knowledge didn’t translate into changing her own behavior. The reality is that knowledge doesn’t always translate into behavior, and there are complex cultural

issues at work – including denial. Several years ago the Condom Packing Manager in my platform died of AIDs. I realized then that we didn’t spend time and effort on our own team regarding understanding the importance of condom use. Are we so busy trying to reach all of the Sara’s “out there” that we are overlooking the Sara’s on our own teams who are at risk?

Not only do I want all of us to get energized about what we do in our work communities, I want us to get serious about our messages to our PSI teams. This is a battle that we are fighting and we need to attack it every day with dedication and a real sense of urgency. My question to each of you is this: When was the last time you did behavior change messaging with your own team, with your department, and with each and every member of the organization? What are you doing to make sure that all our colleagues have the ability to live healthy lives?

Daun Fest, East Africa Senior Deputy Regional Director

Knowledge doesn’t always translate into

behavior.

PSI employees discuss Social Franchising 2.0 in SF

Coming & Going

Monte Achenbach

Monte joined PSI 10 years ago, serving as the CR for Pakistan at Greenstar and later as PASMO’s Deputy Regional Representative. After returning home to Minneapolis, he rejoined PSI as Technical Adviser in Cambodia as it transitioned to PS Khmer. Not satisfied with one PSK, he’s moved to PS Kenya, where he’ll support the success of PSI’s newest INM as PSI Representative.

Anya Fedorova

Anya is the CR for PSI Angola. She spent 12 years with PSI Russia in various capacities, including as CR. She then worked in the wine industry in New Zealand before spending 3 years as the Director of Technical Services (later Director of Social Marketing) for PSI Tanzania.

Promotions & Job Changes

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Engels Guzman

As Platform Communication Manager, Engels is now responsible for developing, advising, implementing and monitoring communication strategies at PSI Dominican Republic. This includes communication campaigns for behavior change, institutional image, promotion, distribution and sales of products related to health social marketing strategies.

Giancarlo Martínez

Giancarlo is now working as a Research and M&E Manager to update and maintain the overall research and M&E strategy of PSI Dominican Republic through an integration of state-of-the-art tools, strategic planning and innovation.

Renuka Dindyal

Renuka is currently the Financial Analyst for Asia and EE Region. She was previously supporting operations in 12 Caribbean countries as the DAF for PSI-Caribbean, based in Trinidad. Renuka started working with PSI as the Finance Manager at the Guyana platform, and over her 10 years with PSI in the field she provided STTA/LTTA support to HQ in Washington, DC and Guatemala platform.

Alpha Panda

Alpha has been selected as the Executive Assistant at PSI India in the Head Office, reporting to the Managing Director. Prior to this position, she was working at Dwarka, Delhi, under the PEHEL Program.

Shueb Anwar

Shueb has been selected as Senior Manager of Programs at Karnataka under the NACO CSM Program for PSI India. He will be based at Bangalore. Prior to this new role, he was working as Manager Programs under PEHEL and based at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

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Nitin Kumar Solanki

Nitin has been selected as Senior Manager of Programs at Gujarat under the NACO CSM Program for PSI India. Prior to this new assignment, he was working as Manager of Programs under the Global Fund based at Chandigarh (Haryana & Punjab).

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Welcome, New Staff!

Coming & Going

Karen Conley

Director, Grants & Contracts

Karen has spent the past several years providing strategic guidance on regulatory and compliance requirements, most recently at CARE and Save the Children. She looks forward to aligning forces with regional and country office staff to help promote sound award compliance at PSI.

Ryan Kelley

Country Representative, PSI Mozambique

Ryan will join PSI Mozambique after 9 years in Madagascar. During that time, he managed companies in the textile industry, rural electrification, local NGOs, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. He holds an MBA from Cornell University and a degree in Philosophy from Fairfield University.

Dr. Rashmi Ardey

Manager-MST, Delhi, PEHEL Project

Dr. Rashmi Ardey joins PSI India with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare field and has worked with PSI before, besides her clinical practice. She was born and brought up in Delhi and enjoys reading and travelling.

Christopher Akolo

Sr. Technical Advisor-HIV/TB

Prior to joining PSI, Christopher was providing clinical/technical support to the Global HIV Program of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and was a Technical Advisor for Clinical Mentoring and Medical Education at the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria. He enjoys traveling, music and soccer.

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Annie Davies

Special Assistant to the Executive Office

Prior to joining PSI, Annie worked as a Program Manager at Women in International Security and a Curriculum Developer at the United States Institute of Peace. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova. Outside of work, you can find her hiking various VA/MD state parks, biking, or throwing pots.

Dr. Shekhar Waikar

General Manager-Programs, Global Fund Program

Dr. Shekhar Waikar joins PSI India with more than 12 years of experience in project management, public private partnerships and engaging the private sector in HIV/AIDS, TB and Urban Health areas. He is passionate about the development sector and loves traveling, music and cricket.

Jeanne Mboma

International Recruiter, PD

Jeanne was born in Kinshasa, DRC, and grew up in Paris, France. She is passionate about capital development in organizations. Jeanne likes reading and tasting new foods. Above all, she loves all kinds of dances and misses performing on stage.

Sophia Greenbaum

Graphic Designer, ERC

Sophia recently graduated from the University of Michigan, where she attended the school of Art & Design and had the opportunity to study product design in Florence, Italy. She’s originally from the DC area and enjoys cooking (mostly eating) new foods. She also drinks a lot of coffee.

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Welcome, New Staff!

Coming & Going

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Genevieve Kelly

Program Assistant-WASH

Genevieve is thrilled to join PSI to make sure PSIers love toilets as much as she does -and that everyone else in the world can enjoy the luxury of affordable, private defecation. Prior to PSI, she spent two years in Cambodia working on... toilets! She enjoys traveling, triathlon-ish activities, IPAs, drawing and spending time with her nieces.

Liz McKenna

Associate Program Manager, EA

Liz joins PSI after serving as the Interim Country Director/Program Manager in Uganda for Spark MicroGrants. In her spare time, Liz can be found running through the streets of DC, rooting for the Yankees, attempting to grow herbs in her windowsill, and perfecting her baguette recipe.

Chris Purdy,

Program Analyst, Program Analytics

Most recently, Chris worked to develop health metrics and impact assessment tools for a USAID child survival project with Concern Worldwide in Sierra Leone. He grew up in Lansing, Michigan and enjoys traveling, running, and avidly following Detroit sports teams in his free time.

Hilary Kinka

Research Intern, EA

Hilary recently finished her Master’s Degree at Johns Hopkins SAIS, where she concentrated in International Development. Interested in global health, nutrition, and food security, she most recently worked as an Emergency Health and Nutrition intern for Save the Children in DC. She loves traveling, cooking, biking, and running.

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Pierre Moon

Deputy Director, SRHT

Pierre spent recent years living in Sri Lanka but consulting for PSI on HIV prevention and family planning programs in Angola, South Sudan and Tanzania. He enjoyed the experience so much he chose to come work for PSI in DC. Prior to this, Pierre spent many years working for IPPF, EngenderHealth, and Oxfam.

Anna Rogers

WIN Intern, CPP

Anna recently graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Politics. She is passionate about reproductive justice and combating sexual and gender-based violence. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, watching the Daily Show, and spending time with family and friends.

Ingrid Jasor

Intern, NBD

Ingrid graduated last year with her Master’s Degree in International Relations from the Paris School of International Affairs. Ingrid grew up in France and on the beautiful Caribbean island Guadeloupe. She enjoys hanging out with her friends, meeting new people, dancing, learning languages, traveling, and discovering DC!

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Lauren Brown

Associate Program Manager, EA

Lauren joins PSI after spending 4 years in South Sudan working on a disease eradication program, and she’s spent 7 years working in Africa on WASH projects and maternal health programs. She loves all things outdoors, being near the water, running, and exploring new places.

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