“I believe that a human-centered approach is critical to improving both the means and ends in international development. I want to create the toolkit that can shape the innovation process.”
Working for humanitarian aid organizations in different parts of the world, Cory has witnessed inconsistencies in the success of human-centered design. When she wondered why so many programs seemed to be deaf to the voices of the people they claim to benefit, she discovered that the problem is caused by the push and pull of the systems that run those programs — one welcoming innovation, the other perpetuating the status quo. Cory wants to lead the change in international development by shaping and managing the innovation process that will establish an environment which fully embraces human-centered design. She has a Master’s in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Mount Holyoke College.