ABOUT US
Paradeigma helps people collaborate to build better futures and tackle seemingly unsolvable problems.
We are an award-winning collaborative design and foresight practice, known for breaking conventions and creating meaningful change. At Paradeigma, we turn complexity into opportunity, resistance into insight, and bold visions into reality. Our practice thrives on the ingenuity and determination of the people we work with. Together, we navigate challenges that others shy away from, co-creating a better collective future through transformative solutions that ripple far beyond the present.
Shaping the future together
We believe that the future is co-created. We don’t just bring solutions to the table; we bring people together—diverse voices with unique perspectives—to work collaboratively toward transformative outcomes. By combining foresight and collaborative design, we help our partners build shared understanding and commitment.
Our process is not linear; it is iterative, adapting as we uncover new insights and engage more people. We believe in active participation at every step, ensuring that solutions reflect the realities of today and anticipate the needs of tomorrow.
For a deeper dive into how we bring this approach to life, visit our Approach section.
Meet the team
We are a diverse team of facilitators, futurists, strategists, and designers who thrive on collaboration and bring a unique set of tools and expertise to each partnership—tools that help us make sense of complexity and design farsighted solutions that are meaningful, impactful, and relevant.
Mohamed Huque
Mohamed has spent his entire career advancing social change, from grassroots organizations to global charities and has served the largest community-based funders in Canada and many of the world’s leading NGOs on programs that ranged from supporting micro-enterprises in Afghanistan to establishing agricultural co-operatives in Sudan. As a former charity executive, he helped develop Canada’s first national reading strategy & led a frontline social service agency serving low-income communities. He is a past Board Chair at Amnesty International Canada and Ariane de Rothschild Fellow at Cambridge University.
Sonia Chwalek
With a deep commitment to human-centered design and innovation, Sonia's award winning work with Paradeigma showcases her capacity to shape solutions that resonate deeply with communities. Sonia’s empethatic facilitation skills coupled with her dedication to social-impact-driven organizations make her instrumental in ushering in emergent solutions. With a Master's degree in Strategic Foresight & Innovation from OCAD University, she aims to sculpt a future where systems are inherently supportive and life-enhancing.
Amanda Palmer
Amanda believes in a future where citizens connect based on strengths to care for one another to ensure that everyone thrives for generations. She is a community facilitator who draws on the Art of Hosting and other participatory processes to help design and host conversations and community engagement sessions that deepen our understanding and connect our experiences to transformative change. Passionate about community development and civic engagement, Amanda has contributed to change efforts on food security, poverty reduction, social inclusion, anti-racism and decolonization, and climate action.
Eva Oloumi
Eva is the founder and practice lead of Paradeigma, and is known for guiding organizations through transformative change. Her expertise in convening diverse stakeholder groups is evident through award-winning projects, reflecting a commitment to addressing critical global issues. With over 13 years of experience & an MBA from the Sprott School of Business, her approach ensures initiatives align with stakeholders’ values and objectives. Eva’s work underscores the power of collaborative strategy in shaping a better future.
Ehsan Dereyati
Ehsan is a strategy advisor and professor specializing in strategic management, innovation & disruption. His passion lies in harnessing collective genius to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Ehsan brings a decade of experience in the strategy field, augmented by his background in engineering along with insights from his work in the biotech and fintech sectors. Ehsan holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from John Molson School of Business in addition to an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Gina Babinec
With extensive experience in program management and strategic leadership, Gina has made significant contributions to organizations such as the United Nations in Canada and Impact Hub Ottawa. Gina's expertise lies in fostering impactful partnerships, driving initiatives focused on gender equity, social justice, and economic empowerment. With a master's degree in Gender, Policy, and Inequalities from The London School of Economics and Political Science, Gina is passionate about making a difference in society.
Emmy Pepper
With over 10 years of expertise in international development economics and finance and an MBA specializing in international development economics, Emmy’s extensive experience spans deal origination, investment analysis, and portfolio management, with a successful track record in fundraising for fund managers and early-stage enterprise. Passionate about fostering growth and mitigating risk, Emmy excels in financial modelling, risk assessment, & investor relations. She is dedicated to empowering mission driven organizations to thrive and make lasting impact in the global community.
Xuan Yen Cao
Aydin Shahidi
Jackie Khayat
Viviane Apostolopoulos
Viviane is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in litigation and policy analysis, and a focus on international relations. She excels in navigating complex legal and political landscapes. Known for her exceptional organizational skills and relational ability to diverse stakeholders, Viviane ensures clear, effective communication across high-pressure environments. Her work, driven by a commitment to precision, reflects her unwavering dedication to excellence in every project she undertakes.
Nii Simmonds
Nii is a global expert in Emerging Markets, Technologies, and Supply Chain Innovation. He has guided Fortune 500 companies in strategic planning, advising C-level executives on growth and competitive strategies. Nii has consulted for organizations like The World Bank and the African Development Bank, and is a member of the WEF Expert Network. His expertise covers Emerging and Frontier Markets, Emerging Technologies, Supply Chains, and Innovation Commercialization. He provides valuable insights on their impact on trade, competitiveness, national security interests, and societal impacts.creating programs to integrate SMEs into global supply chains.
Values that guide us
Polarity Thinking
We resist the trap of either/or thinking and leverage seemingly opposing truths. This is where innovation and radical solutions are born.
Inclusion
We greet challenges with the understanding that effectively tackling the most impossible challenges requires us to meet complexity with a variety of perspectives. We develop strategies hand in hand with those most impacted by their outcomes
Embracing dissent
Conflict? It’s just another form of energy we can turn into something powerful.We engage with the complexities that others shy away from, because we know that only by facing them head-on can we create solutions that matter. When everyone else is looking for the easy answer we are ready to dig deeper with the knowledge that divergence isn’t something to be managed—it’s something to be embraced.
Optimism
We are optimistic about the challenges we face and the positive impacts we can bring about – we don’t believe in being resigned to pessimism or defeat. We know that small changes upstream can have exponential ripple effects downstream.
Why it Matters
The solutions we design today shape the future we will live in tomorrow. Whether tackling a transformative strategy, engaging complex groups, or planning for long-term success, our work is designed to build alignment, shared ownership, and commitment.
Through our process, we help diverse groups find common ground, leverage conflicting viewpoints, and create strategies that work for all involved—not just for today, but for years to come.
Work with us
We’re always looking for people who are up for tackling problems and projects that matter.
If you’re someone who wants to get things done and collaborate with others to build better futures and work through complexity, we want to hear from you. Even if there’s no open role right now, reach out—we’re always open to conversations with people who fit.
Why Work with Us?
Real Collaboration: We work together. Everyone’s ideas matter, and we all contribute to the process.
Impactful Work: The work we do is meaningful. It’s not about ticking boxes—it’s about tackling problems that matter.
Opportunities to Develop: You’ll have space to improve your skills and tackle new challenges as they come up.
Global Reach: Our projects have a global scope, and the work you do will have an impact beyond the local level.
Current Openings
There are no current openings but we are always open to hearing from people that get it.
If you’re interested in real work that makes a difference, get in touch at careers@paradeigma.co