strategy + innovation
the b collaborative
WHAT STARTED WITH A CRAVING FOR CONNECTION QUICKLY BECAME AN INCUBATOR FOR BIG IDEAS AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.
The B Collaborative is a first-of-its-kind, virtual community that enables members to bring their authentic selves and experiences to a room and leverage the power of connection to build a better world.
In June 2020 — three months into the global COVID-19 pandemic — I reached out to 20+ women around the country and asked them to trust me: “I’m not sure exactly what I’m building yet, but I do know I need your brilliance,” I told each participant. I had each to fill out a spreadsheet with causes they cared about, topics of expertise, and dream dinner party guests. At our first meeting over Zoom, almost two-dozen of the smartest people in my network — some I barely knew, others I’ve called friends for years — allowed themselves to be vulnerable, owned their excellence, and connected across their industries and skills to form a cohort of change-makers I only had envisioned in my wildest professional dreams.
From designing an empathy-focused future where justice heals rather than perpetuates harm, to focus-grouping women’s health products and developing solutions to systemic barriers to care, our collective has tackled some of the world’s most pressing problems and demonstrated the power of progress when the right partnerships are formed.
As a leader and a facilitator, I’ve created these synergies across a variety of industries and organizations — from political advocacy to business development to women’s health. I believe that community, empathy, and storytelling are at the heart of our ability to solve big problems; whether in a team at work or in a board of organizational lay-leaders, the best outcomes stem from shared understanding. At a time when people are craving connection the most, we need to create space for safe gatherings, innovation, and collaboration.
praise for the b collaborative
“When Mollie first reached out to me about this group, I expected to meet some interesting people and exchange ideas. Instead, I found a group of exceptionally talented, motivated, and big-hearted women who I hope to keep close for the rest of my life. These women have kept me grounded and connected over the last few months of social isolation. Our fortnightly conversations have energized me and inspired me, providing the pathway I needed to escape the quagmire of stagnation I entered at the beginning of lockdown. Each member of the Collaborative brings a unique set of expertise and passions, and our individual assets are transformed into something much larger when we come together. Each conversation unlocks something potentially revolutionary: the impact of restorative justice on corporate accountability; a new approach to integrating women's healthcare; a connection between public health data gaps and gender equity in the workplace. There is no area of my life that has not been touched in some way by this group of women: they have reminded me to take care of myself, empowered me to advocate for myself at work, gifted me with myriad new perspectives, and inspired me to think bigger.”
— elizabeth jessup, founding member
deloitte consulting
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION LEADER. PROBLEM SOLVER PRIORITIZING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
Responding to the collective call to antiracist action in the summer of 2020, Deloitte took a firm stand for racial equity and social justice and formed the Black Action Council — a hub sponsored by the CEO and Chairman, devoted to architecting and sustaining change in our firm, marketplace, and communities. I was hand-selected to lead communications and change management strategy for the Council, serving as the on-the-record spokesperson for our internal stakeholders cascading our impact to Deloitte’s 120,000+ US employees. Together with the Council’s leadership team and the leadership from Deloitte’s C-suite, we convened DEI advisers in the design and implementation of data-driven racial equity policies and business interventions.
My additional Deloitte engagements include serving as the internal Communications Director for the leader of Deloitte’s Government and Public Services practice, where I developed internal stakeholder management protocols and guided our early communications response to the COVID-19 crisis and its impact, authoring thought leadership and executive communications. Thanks to my background in politics and deep knowledge of the Washington landscape, I became a trusted advisor on politics and government relations during the 2020-2021 presidential transition — a critical time for our business.
Across my experiences, I’m known for guiding clients through moments of change. From policy development and operating model design, to influencer management and creative branding campaigns, I engage stakeholders across functions to make an impact for mission-driven organizations.
showcasing public sector innovation.
In need of a designated space to showcase our eminence and attract clients and Deloitte professionals alike to learning about human-centered design, I modeled a corner of Deloitte’s Rosslyn, VA office dedicated entirely to design thinking. My design has been replicated at federal office buildings to inspire government staff to imagine the art of the possible and remind them to always elevate the human experience at the center of a problem they are trying to solve.
