Nicole Zhao

About Nicole Zhao

Creative strategist and systems thinker working to shape a more equitable and just future. Currently, at IDEO, as an Organizational Design Lead, I elevate unheard voices to inform human-centered organizational choices around structures, systems, and strategy. I specialize in equity-centered participatory design, organizational and talent strategy, learning experiences, and digital product development. Before IDEO, I spent six years at Deloitte Consulting, partnering with Fortune 500 organizations to transform how they serve and engage their workforce. I led and delivered 20+ engagements — on everything from diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) assessments, to agile HR product implementations, to transformations of HR and talent functions to be more strategic and efficient. I\'ve designed operating models, learning & development (L&D) and leadership journeys, and the end to end employee experience. I\'m interested in: building inclusive and equitable products; redistributing power to workers; and leveraging creative practices like futuring and design fiction to imagine new possibilities—Knowledge areas: Qualitative & Quantitative Research; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI); HR Technology; Employee Experience / Workforce Experience; Human Centered Design; Equity-Centered Design; Product Management; HR Process Design; Organizational Culture; Learning & Development; Strategy, Purpose and Vision Development; Operating Models; Org Structure; HR Service Delivery Model; Agile Development; Requirements Gathering

Experience

1. Organizational Design Lead

   IDEO

   Mar 2024 — Present · New York, NY, US

Education

• Rice University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Literature

• Stuyvesant High School

  Regents' High School Diploma