NAVIGATING AMBIGUITY.
FORGING CLARITY.
DRIVING IMPACT.

Strategic design leader transforming complex challenges into actionable strategies and user-centered solutions that deliver measurable business and mission value.

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PROJECTS

User Research & Insights

Project Thumbnail - Army Wargaming UX

Shaping Next-Gen Army Wargaming Through Deep User Understanding

United States Army

UX Research UI/UX Design Product Design

Uncovered critical user needs and operational workflows to inform the design of an intuitive digital wargaming system, enhancing decision support for complex scenarios...

Uncover the Insights →
Project Thumbnail - FUSE Prototype

Empowering Strategic Foresight with a User-Guided Prototyping Process

Department of Homeland Security (via MITRE)

User Research Product Design Agile

Led user-centric design for the FUSE prototype, translating complex foresight methodologies into an accessible tool through iterative research and testing...

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Product Management & Design Strategy

Project Thumbnail - FUSE Product Strategy

Driving Product Vision for a Novel Strategic Foresight Tool (FUSE)

Department of Homeland Security (via MITRE)

Product Management Product Design Agile PO

As Product Owner, translated user insights and strategic goals into an actionable roadmap for the FUSE prototype, guiding development and feature prioritization...

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Team Leadership & Capability Building

Project Thumbnail - DHS Project Leadership

Steering a $10M DHS Initiative to Success Through Strategic Leadership

Department of Homeland Security

Project Leadership Team Building Stakeholder Management

Directed five cross-functional teams, stabilized project financials, and fostered trusted advisor relationships to deliver strategic foresight capabilities for critical infrastructure security...

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Project Thumbnail - HCD Capability Building

Building Organizational HCD Capability & Fostering a Design Culture

The MITRE Corporation (Internal)

Capability Building Team Leadership Process Improvement

Led the HCD Technical Capability Area, securing funding, institutionalizing hiring processes, and cultivating a thriving community of practice to elevate design maturity...

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Steering a $10M DHS Initiative to Success Through Strategic Leadership

Department of Homeland Security

Strategic Foresight Project Visual
Project Leadership Team Building Stakeholder Management Strategic Planning Risk Mitigation

The Challenge

A major subdivision within DHS, focused on cyber and critical infrastructure security, faced escalating cross-sector risks and needed enhanced strategic foresight capabilities to proactively identify threats and allocate resources effectively. The project initially encountered budgetary constraints and required clear direction amidst a complex governmental and sponsor landscape. My role was to provide overarching leadership, stabilize the initiative, and ensure the delivery of impactful foresight tools and processes.

My Impact & Contributions

  • Led a $10M contract, directing five cross-functional task teams to deliver strategic foresight capabilities, ensuring alignment with client and internal leadership expectations.
  • Stabilized the project's financial outlook, transforming a situation requiring budget cuts into a sustainable plan with six months of operational runway by strategically aligning resources with mission-critical needs.
  • Cultivated a trusted advisor relationship with the project sponsor, providing individual guidance on strategic communication and product direction, consistently securing approval of key project deliverables.
  • Developed actionable processes and tools (including the FUSE prototype) designed to enable the subdivision to proactively identify and mitigate risks and facilitate more efficient resource allocation.
  • Presented project's AI Lines of Effort research, contributing to a broader organizational, security-first AI strategy for critical infrastructure protection.
  • Mentored product designers and guided senior staff towards key leadership roles, enhancing team engagement and capability.

Key Results & Outcomes

  • Successfully navigated budgetary challenges, ensuring project continuity and delivery of critical capabilities.
  • Delivered actionable foresight tools and processes adopted by the DHS subdivision, with anticipated long-term improvements in risk posture and resource utilization.
  • Strengthened strategic alignment between the project team, sponsor, and internal leadership.
  • Enhanced team morale and performance through mentorship and strategic guidance.
  • Contributed to broader governmental AI strategy formulation for critical infrastructure.

Curious About the Details?

Ask me about how we navigated stakeholder complexities, the specific foresight methodologies employed, or the process for developing the AI Lines of Effort research!

What They Said

"Jayme's strategic leadership was pivotal in refocusing our efforts and ensuring we delivered truly valuable foresight capabilities during a challenging period."

- Senior Leader, DHS (Sponsor)

"The clarity Jayme brought to our complex project and her ability to mentor the team made a significant difference."

- Team Member, Strategic Foresight Project
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Let's Connect

Interested in discussing how strategic design leadership can transform your challenges into opportunities? I'd love to hear from you.

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