Transforming Global Humanitarian Aid & International Development Through Human-Centered Design, with Jocelyn Wyatt

In this powerful episode, Jocelyn Wyatt, CEO of Alight, shares her 25-year journey transforming humanitarian aid through human-centered design. From her early days recognizing the disconnect between DC-based decisions and on-the-ground needs in Bolivia, to co-founding IDEO.org and now leading a $90 million organization serving 4 million displaced people annually, Jocelyn reveals what it really means to center refugees as customers, not beneficiaries.

Discover how Alight maintains operations in Sudan through three different countries despite ongoing conflict, why "choosing optimism" is a strategic imperative when serving those in crisis, and how pop-up nail salons became the breakthrough for adolescent reproductive health programs in Africa. Jocelyn discusses navigating massive foreign aid cuts, the critical role of grassroots donors giving $20 at a time, and why proximity to problems leads to better solutions.

With 25 million people requiring humanitarian assistance in Sudan alone, this conversation challenges fundamental assumptions about how aid should work in the 21st century. Learn why treating refugees with dignity isn't just morally right—it's more effective.

Key Topics: Human-centered design in humanitarian work, refugee crisis response, Sudan emergency operations, funding challenges in foreign aid, innovation in displacement services, local leadership empowerment

Learn more at: wearealight.org | causeandpurpose.org