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Sokona Sonia Diallo

@sokonasoniadiallo

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Strategic design researcher and leadership program strategist specializing in public-interest initiatives.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I am looking for a Leadership Program Strategist role where I can design equitable programs, lead participatory research, align diverse stakeholders, and measure impact within mission-driven organizations.

I am a strategic-level design researcher and consultant with a decade of experience leading leadership program development, design research, and product strategy for public-interest projects. I have directed strategic roadmaps and aligned stakeholders across government, grassroots, and nonprofit partners to enhance offerings for historically excluded communities.

I lead participatory planning, mixed-methods research, and human-centered design processes that translate user insights into actionable concepts, frameworks, and open knowledge tools. My work has supported FEMA equity initiatives, global health efforts, education and justice-focused nonprofits, and grantmaking operations.

I bring strong facilitation, program evaluation, and knowledge-architecture skills, paired with technical fluency in tools like Figma, Mural, Dovetail, Tableau, Kumu, and Qualtrics. I seek roles where I can design equitable programs, build stakeholder alignment, and measure impact for community-centered projects.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Senior Consultant & Researcher

Current

Various Clients

Jan 2023 - Present (2 years 9 months)

Lead design research and product strategy for public interest projects, including FEMA equity and global health initiatives, translating user insights into actionable frameworks and open knowledge tools.

Design Research Product Strategy Human Centered Design Program Evaluation Qualtrics Dovetail Facilitation

Design Lead

Jan 2021 - Dec 2023 (2 years 11 months)

Directed product and service design initiatives for education and justice-focused nonprofits, conducting user research and creating strategic roadmaps to improve offerings for historically excluded communities.

Design Research Roadmapping User Testing Human Centered Design Figma Mural Mixed Methods Research

User Experience Associate

Helmsley Trust

Jan 2019 - Dec 2021 (2 years 11 months)

Developed and optimized internal tools to improve communication and accessibility for grantees, provided Level 2 technical support, and led internal DEI and storytelling initiatives to surface community perspectives.

User Experience Grants Management Internal Tools Technical Support DEI Tableau)Google Suite Communication Tableau

Social Justice Public Policy Fellow

Northeastern University

Jan 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years 11 months)

Researched environmental justice and developed publicly accessible policy tools using GIS, presented findings at community workshops, and co-created advocacy resources to support local initiatives.

Policy Research GIS Workshop Facilitation Community Engagement Advocacy Qualtrics Data Analysis Communication

Legislative Research Fellow

Boston City Council

Jan 2015 - Dec 2016 (1 year 11 months)

Conducted policy research and translated complex data into accessible public-facing materials, and developed engagement strategies to communicate findings to diverse audiences.

Policy Research Public Engagement Analytical Skills Community Outreach