WHY “PULSE” PROCESS?

Research has shown that trees communicate with each other through their roots in a process that involves pulses (or waves of electrical and chemical signals). The process starts when a tree sends out pulses through its roots, which are detected by neighboring trees. These pulses travel through the network of roots connecting the trees, and can indicate a variety of things, such as an attack by a pest, a shortage of water or nutrients, or the presence of a nearby tree with which it can form a symbiotic relationship. Once the neighboring trees detect the pulses, they respond by sending out pulse signals through their own roots. This is a complex and fascinating system that highlights the interconnectedness of nature, as well as the importance of communication and organized efforts to the survival of a delicate ecosystem.

Much like the complex communication system of trees, business organizations are complex ecosystems that require the exchange of information, sharing of resources, and coordinated efforts to survive. Process improvement and Project Management involve a system of interconnected components, in which changes made to one component of the system can have a ripple effect throughout the rest of the system. It’s important to take a holistic view of the organization and consider the impact of changes on all of the components involved. By taking a cue from nature, we can gain a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of the world around us and work to make positive changes for our clients.

HUMAN-CENTERED APPROACH

Pulse Process utilizes a human-centered design methodology. This approach is based on the idea that the best process improvements come from understanding the needs, goals, and pain points of the people who are directly impacted by the processes being improved.

The human-centered design methodology involves a collaborative and iterative approach that engages stakeholders and end-users in the improvement process. This includes observing and gathering data on how people currently interact with the workflow, conducting interviews and surveys to gather feedback, and co-creating solutions with the people who will be impacted by the changes.

This approach puts the focus on the people, rather than solely on the process itself, and allows for more innovative and effective solutions. By involving end-users in the design, the resulting improvements are more likely to be accepted, adopted, and successful.

Human-centered design is a unique and effective approach to process improvement because it addresses not only the technical aspects of a process, but also the human factors that influence its effectiveness. This leads to improvements that are more tailored to the needs of the people involved, resulting in higher levels of engagement, satisfaction, and overall success.

Sivan Harary, Founder

Until 2018, I practiced Immigration Law as an Attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was eager to dive into my career and was willing to pay whatever dues were required. I managed large caseloads, oversaw legal teams, and built processes for programs within the firms where I worked. Being in a state of constant learning was stimulating and rewarding, but I didn’t realize the price I was paying. I used to think, “Sure it’s stressful and the hours are long, but I’m giving endlessly of myself, for myself.”

About six years into practicing law, it became clear that the stress levels, working hours, and demands of being an attorney would only increase over time. My work started to impact my health, and that was a huge wake-up call. I took some time off to reconnect with my mind and body, allowing me to refocus and draw boundaries. It was time to pivot to something that provided balance. After reflecting on my career to that point, two functions stood out as enjoyable: improving systems and mentoring people. I always loved mentoring and learning from the people around me and investing in becoming a better manager, particularly in high-pressure situations. I also felt energized by setting up systems to streamline large caseloads, and got excited when discovering new and better ways to manage workflows. That information led me to a new role.

I spent the next four years as a Project Manager driving projects and programs for the largest immigration law firm in the world, and ultimately obtained a PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification. In supporting the law firm and its Fortune 100 and 500 tech companies, I learned to shift my mentality from being directive to being a facilitator. I learned to lead groups to decide the best option for their teams and for the people interacting with the systems day-to-day. It became clear that employees were more invested in change when they were included in the decision-making process, and had an opportunity to share their lived experience. I started to reflect on these lessons and others from my career.

Although the law firms I worked for ranged in size from boutique to corporate, there were some recurring patterns: high turnover, insufficient onboarding, lack of standardized processes, overburdened resources, and low morale. I began speaking with friends and colleagues and quickly understood that these issues are common well beyond the legal industry.

In 2022, I started Pulse Process Consulting to help organizations address these problems at their root, and not just band-aid the symptoms. Pulling from the extensive hours I’ve spent working and volunteering with non-profit organizations, law firms, and startup tech companies, I aim to drive change that is centered around the needs of the organization, the people doing the work, and the available resources, with an understanding of how those intersect.

I believe that employees should be treated as whole people, and that investing in the people who work for you in a meaningful way leads to increased loyalty, efficiency, innovation, and cohesion. While “process” and “efficiency” sound like sterile words next to this idea, they are deeply intertwined. Taking the time to establish unified systems that reduce wasted time, consider the employee’s experience, and empower employees to instigate change, can drastically increase morale and reduce attrition.

Outside of work, I spend my time painting, learning new industrial arts, volunteering, running the lake near my home, and going to the park with my husband and my two dogs. Some of my art has been displayed in Oakland and San Francisco, California. I am a creative at heart, and believe deeply that we all need something to nurture our soul.

SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS

  • Sivan Harary is PMP certified. She has demonstrated project and program management expertise, having worked with clients of diverse cultures, industries, and sizes.

  • Sivan Harary has extensive experience in project management, program management, process refinement, project planning, and change management.

  • Sivan Harary has extensive experience, both as a Process Consultant and as an Attorney, with cross-functional stakeholder management and communication in a wide variety of platforms.

  • Sivan Harary has helped clients to research and adopt new PPM Software solutions to meet their specific needs. She is adept in Monday.com, Smartsheets, Microsoft Project, Asana, Coda, Excel, PowerPoint, GSuite, SharePoint, Outlook, and Word. She has overseen various IT projects including APIs and data migrations.

  • Sivan Harary is admitted to the State Bar of California and Colorado.

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