Our Work

Designing for Tech Spaces

We specialize in projects that support culture shifts in tech spaces. Socio-cognitive factors — social interactions (the "socio") and internal thought processes (the "cognitive") — simultaneously impact an individual's trajectory and the field as a collective. Yet the relevant evidence-based work of organizational and educational psychologists focused is not typically part of technical training or education. 

We design programs with the tech industry in mind by:

• Framing content through analogies/situations familiar to someone with a technical background. 

• Leveraging the problem-solving approaches and analytical thinking already at the core of the tech industry. 

For example:

• Perspective-taking for effective collaboration might feel outside of a programmer's comfort zone, but it becomes more familiar when parallels are drawn to components in a debugging tool (step into/over/out).

• Working with a new technical framework is common in tech, and it's a given that there is upfront cost to get started. There might be a new (programming) language to learn, and reading documentation is not enough. It's practicing with sample code and building projects that builds the skill. Working with a socio-cognitive framework can be framed similarly: there's a language to learn and sample situations can prompt discussions and reflection to practice the skill of strategically navigating challenges.

Programming to Fit

Whether you have a specific project in mind (e.g., launch a mentoring program for incoming SWEs) or a higher-level vision (e.g., cultivate a more productive team environment), we will meet you where you are. We are committed to a process that delivers custom-built programs that align with your goals. Our portfolio includes:

• Short animated videos to introduce terminology and strategies

• Off-the-shelf, adaptable curricular modules to engage college students learning CS

• Flexible conversation starters to prepare industry professionals for their role as mentors 

What can we help you with?

• Mentoring initiatives

• Onboarding scaffolding (interns, new employees)

• Leadership development

• Inclusive work environments

In partnership with Microsoft during 2020-21, we developed a mentoring program and curriculum to support college students starting their tech journey.

• Microsoft launching tech resilience curriculum to foster a more inclusive future 

• How can you build your tech resilience? 

• World Changing Ideas Awards: Honorable Mention 2021 

• Stanford Social Innovation Review: Improving Diversity in Tech With Smarter Investments in Higher Education

• How Dell & Microsoft are investing in higher education

Modules from this project are open-source and include:

• An Educator Toolkit
  a curated set of modules to support preparation of peer mentors (such as teaching assistants and tutors)
  (built off the MaGE academic peer mentorship program originally developed with the support of a Google Capacity Award and in collaboration with Heather Pon-Barry, Barbara Rotundo, Alyxander Byrns and dozens of peer mentors)

• A Tech Resilience Mentoring Program Toolkit and Video Pack (en español)
  curriculum to support a 6-week remote group mentoring program led by pairs of Microsoft employees (developed in collaboration with Lydia Cheah and Heather Pon-Barry)

• A Mentor Coach Toolkit
  materials for mentor coaches to lead synchronous and self-guided activities to prepare mentors for the Tech Resilience Mentoring Program

We're happy to share the full toolkits — please contact us if you're interested!