HSI Showcase: Final Projects

The final process consulting projects in the MA Human Systems Intervention require each student to provide an end-to-end process consulting service to an organization. Rooted in the principles of transformative change, these projects challenge students to step out of the classroom and into the dynamic world of organizations and communities.

Student projects are supported by academic advisors and a field supervisor. Field supervisors are usually alumni of the program, who are actively practicing and are able to guide our students.

HSI 2023

Albéric Maillet

About the project: "My final project focused on helping a global, decentralized not-for-profit in system change developing new ways of operating its regional initiatives in a grounded and equitable way while remaining highly connected to the rest of the network. Joining HSI with a background in strategic design and corporate innovation, this project pushed me outside of my comfort zone by giving me the opportunity to hone my skills in emergent planning and change facilitation in complex settings."

Owen Campbell

About the project: For my final masters project I worked with a not-for-profit community organisation committed to helping vulnerable members of society integrate meaningfully into their communities using a vision of compassion, hospitality, and justice. Specifically I was asked to help them evaluate a long-standing program that started in response to the arrival of Syrian refugees during the crisis in 2016. The program grew and now focuses on supporting newcomers from diverse origins and emphasises intercultural partnerships. The approach we took was to use a retrospective developmental evaluation lens to look back at the 7 years of history and use the insights from this look back to help formulate the next chapter for the program.

Cigdem Erdogan

About the project: My project focused on enabling a nonprofit organization that offers programs and services to women and their families to help itself through continuous learning, teamwork, and innovation. Embracing an approach rooted in authentic care, while utilising appreciative inquiry, it emphasized leveraging strengths for transformative change, embodying the belief that successful consulting blends scientific methods, research, empathy, and authentic engagement.

Tina Shah

About the project: I partnered with an international organization's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) working group to cultivate a more inclusive organizational culture. Through a comprehensive series of workshops involving the entire organization, we collectively surfaced the nuances of inclusion, both in terms of perception and experience. This collaborative effort resulted in the identification of specific practices, initiatives, and strategic next steps designed to foster a more inclusive and equitable culture within the organization.

Val Pietrantonio

About the project: The project scope assessed how a medium sized entrepreneurial and family held organization could build career/succession planning capacity within the organization. The intent of the project was to assist the client in identifying and developing next generation leaders by building increased capacity and developing practices that would increase organizational maturity.

Carla Marrouche

About the project: My final project was facilitating communication and increasing alignment between two departments on a specific process. It was interesting as we discovered together the existence of a paradox in the organization and how this is affecting the project's overall efficiency. It is through stepping back, learning, and unlearning that discovery happens. With my background in HR and facilitation, I was able to dive deeper into the problem statement and meet the clients where they are ready for change. I want to leverage this experience to create workshops in organizations that facilitate learning, thus creating a continuous improvement environment.

Naj Sumar

About the program: During my time in HSI, I discovered the true meaning of collaboration, community, and letting yourself be present. Despite my background in community development, the program provided me with a fresh perspective on the concept of building capacity within groups and the importance of placing trust in others. This immersive environment allowed me to cultivate essential skills in facilitation, assessing group dynamics, and conducting thorough research. However, the most significant outcome of my journey was the formation of lifelong friendships that will undoubtedly endure beyond the program's conclusion.

Tomi Daramola

About the project: For my final project, I collaborated with a community-based organization to develop a change process aimed at supporting members of recently merged teams. This initiative encouraged them to explore strategies for improving collaboration between the two teams, with the ultimate goal of better serving the needs of its community and members. By applying Dialogic Organization Development (DOD) principles to facilitate open dialogue, inquiry, and reflection, the team successfully engaged in constructive conversations that enhanced cohesion among team members.

Kaitlin Doucette

About the project: I have a varied background in community engagement and labour activism. My final project focused on labour equity within a budding collective land trust—a values-based solidarity co-operative creating a mixed used space which is focused on land stewardship, co-operative housing, and agriculture. The project explored the alignment of values in action, somatic and dialogical organizational development, and labour, all in emergent, anti-oppressive contexts. The project focused on capacity-building, inquiry and reflection, and relationships.

Ross McDonald

About the project: For my final project, I worked with a local non-profit organization. It was an excellent opportunity to collaborate with a type of organization I would otherwise not have had the chance to work with and learn from. This project allowed me to put into practice important learnings from my two years in the HSI program including building trust with a client, designing and implementing interventions, and group facilitation. I am grateful for the knowledge and experience that I have gained through the HSI program, and even more important, and what I value most are the lasting connections that I have made.

Jennifer Mancini

About the project: With professional experience in various sectors (education, fashion, and publishing) my goal is to raise and invigorate organizational endeavours, collaborate on creative processes, and apply innovative strategies for action planning.

Emily Yee Clare

About the project: For my final HSI project, I had the privilege of working closely with a dedicated community group striving to close the service gaps experienced by elderly English-speaking community members. Our primary goal was to uncover the most efficient and inclusive consultation framework for engaging with these individuals and understanding their unique requirements for independent living. This involved not only identifying the optimal structure for consultation but also ensuring that the voices of those often overlooked were heard. This project was a fulfilling experience, one that not only enriched my academic and professional journey but also deepened my comprehension of the historical context and the challenges faced by English-speaking communities in Quebec.

Jill Kinaschuk

About the project: For Jill's final project, she explored leadership in a co-operative, self-managed organization. She joined HSI with many years of experience working with and facilitating groups on a variety of projects, including community events, workshops, training sessions, and creating programming. Having studied counseling and human relations, she has developed a keen ability to relate to others and encourage creative and compassionate visions for the future.

2023 Academic Advising Teach Team

Department of Applied Human Sciences