Karen Bruemmer's IBM CSC Experience

Today it feels like I'm ending a chapter, turning the page, relishing the memories and reflections. I've given a CSC Mexico presentation formally 4 times and to friends and family over and over again. My co-worker is in Morocco on assignment currently and 2 more scheduled to deploy soon. The end is bittersweet but so many things float to the top of my memories that I know much of what I learned and experienced in Mexico City will stay with me through the years. I feel changed in how I approach problems, tasks and daily life, especially noticeable when I intentionally avoid multi-tasking to give 100% to a single task. I learned how to hit the pause button, be mindful and meditate, focus and do one thing well, appreciate the small things, approach things differently, love unconditionally and to be ever thankful for the opportunities I've been afforded. Adios blogging, until we meet again!

Our last day in the Carlos Slim ‘Gray House’ - with our Host sponsor Jesus and translator Sarahi.  L to R - Fay (Malaysia), Jana (Czech Republic), Jesus (Carlos Slim Foundation), Kevin (Australia), Karen (US), Sarahi (translator)

Our final presentation is complete.  We are practicing, fine tuning, checking language to make sure our message to our host organization is clear and concise.  Our 2 hour presentation is first thing in the morning!  Can’t believe my CSC experience is winding up so soon!

Today we are heads down working on our final presentation for our host organization.  We are tying up lose ends, preparing a presentation, finding a printer for hard copies, providing examples to be used after we leave.  The synergy of our group continues to baffle me.  We all bring unique talents to the mix and we have completely gelled unlike any other team I’ve worked on. I will miss Kevin, Fay and Jana as we move back to our ‘real jobs’ in various parts of the world!

Saturday 3/11/17 the CSCMex7 team participated in the Best Buddies 4K walk.  Best Buddies is part of the Carlos Slim Foundation and provides friendship, assistance, mentoring for mentally handicapped people.  This was yet another avenue my team used to gain insight and information into the program and how we can help integrate these efforts with other social programs offered by Carlos Slim Foundation.  We brought along the majority of our colleagues who are working with other NGOs on other projects to enjoy the weather, the beautiful park, the exercise and great company!

A visit to IBM Mexico office and the Agile space!

Community Service Day CSCMEX7

Yesterday was our community service day in Mexico City. We partnered with United Way-Mexico (Fondo UNIDO) and spent the day with 80 kids ranging in age from 12-18. We had career discussions with them and the students were able to practice their English skills. Another unique thing about the experience was the significant number of deaf students who were learning American Sign Language as their foreign language! Many kids at the school wanted to look at us or talk to us as we mingled with them during their lunch break. I was so impressed with the skills these kids had in comfortably speaking English as their second language as I continue to bumble my way through basic phrases in Spanish after three weeks in the country! Another great experience- feeling so fortunate to be a part of this event.

Saturday outings.

We celebrated the end of week 2 in Mexico by visiting 4 significant landmarks - Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Sun and Moon, the Chapel of Guadelupe, Tepotzotlan - one of Mexico’s Magic Towns and Arcos Del Sitio.  So much culture, so little time!

Design Thinking workshop and Mexican bakery

Yesterday we had a two hour workshop with our host organization operations managers. In total, we had participation from 18 different leaders. My team took them through a mini Design Thinking session including Persona, Empathy mapping, As Is state, Future State, and Designing a potential solution. It was well received and provided great insight to our team in helping create a framework that is integrated, repeatable and sustainable. The biggest challenge for me was the language and keeping up with the conversation that was all in Spanish. We are now working to move all the great ideas into actionable items. On another high note, we visited a Mexican bakery on our way back to the hotel!

Think, prepare, rehearse. Today is our design thinking workshop with the host organization. Very excited to see what we can create together!

lunch during a busy day

We are nearly at the end of interviews for all stakeholders in our project.  Yesterday we had 3 Directors speak to us about their programs in the Pensil neighborhood. Once we have all the pieces, our job is to create the ‘picture’ the puzzle creates.  We have been working on our Design Thinking workshop, gathering supplies, setting up parameters and ‘rules’ as we have a very short time to accomplish a big outcome. After work, our host organization had a ribbon cutting ceremony as part of the Suemayo Museum Initiative.  Carlos Slim was there to cut the ribbon on a display of Salvador Dali statues available to the public.  We included all of CSCMex7 and took a trip to the ribbon cutting - such a celebration of culture and art!