My Work Here is Done
When I started at Development Gateway in late 2012, it was, well, stuffy. Its heritage as a World Bank spinoff was clear and present as the high cubicle walls. Then we went OpenGov Hub and blew away all the physical barriers. Open plan for everyone, including the CEO. That put a zap to the bureaucratic feel.
Next we broke down the mental barriers. We opened up marketing – anyone could write about their own project and we encouraged staff to explore current topics that excited them. And we liberated sales – finding new opportunities and writing proposals is now a company-wide effort, which, surprisingly, the project managers and software developers love.
The DG team is tight. From brain-bending competitive lunches where Bananagrams peel next to toppling Jenga towers, to the many happy hours remembered (and those best forgotten), Development Gateway has a esprit de corps any organization should envy. And envy you shall, their new swanky new digs when OGH 2.0 opens in April.
And that’s why I know its time to go. I came in with the mandate to shake things up and now DG is shaken, stirred, reassembled, and better and more beautiful than before. It is time for me to work my magic in the big leagues.
I’m joining the TechLab at FHI 360. John Zoltner and his team have seduced me with sweet whisperings of working directly with development constituents, of hacking hardware and screaming at software, of getting back to my roots in field-based ICT4D.
I can’t wait to get started and I look forward to seeing you in my new journey that starts later this month.
Way to go, Wayan. everywhere I have seen you go, you have been good at shaking things up and bringing positive growth. I can’t wait to see how things go at the next place!
Welcome to the big leagues, Wayan! Why do I have the feeling I’m about to be shaken and stirred?
Roots, yes. Go for it!
We (“we”) need you.
Ed