Developing a Team Capable of Learning while Executing – Story About a Non-Profit Startup: Character Lab

Abstract

During the Ed.L.D. Residency, I served as the Director of Implementation for Character Lab, a start-up non-profit that translates psychology research into school-based experiences so students can learn and flourish. The focus of my strategic project was to help the organization translate a researched-based goal setting intervention called WOOP (wish, outcome, obstacle, plan). I was charged with designing the training and the dissemination methods that enable teachers to implement WOOP with fidelity. Given its status as a start-up, Character Lab had yet to develop the internal infrastructure and teaming processes to execute this project. Therefore, my research question focused on uncovering a process to do so. I sought to answer the question: “How can Character Lab internally structure itself to fail, learn, and simultaneously create impact with WOOP?”

The execution of the strategic project led to the development of new internal systems that would serve as the operating blueprint within Character Lab going forward. Additionally, the learning harnessed from attempting to implement a psychology intervention in schools will inform Character Lab’s strategy on scaling. This leadership experience allowed me to grapple with the tension between managing the developmental needs of an organization and the urgency to create impact in the field.