LiA Weekly Reflection (#3): Comms Analytics and Grant Reporting Data Infrastructure Project with Asylum Nonprofits
Week 3: Focusing on the Long Haul
This week, my focus was on ensuring sustainability. I shifted my focus from just building things to making sure they’ll last.
At AsylumWorks, I refined the framework for their communications analytics so posts can be categorized more automatically. I even started building in simple confidence metrics so we can gauge how reliable those automated tags are. For Just Neighbors, I prepared the groundwork for adding more county pipelines and, in a crucial step, clarified exactly which data fields need to be standardized across the board for the whole system to function smoothly over the long term. Both projects feel like they're moving closer to being tools that can truly outlast my time here.
If I could rewind? I got so focused on technical accuracy this week that I didn't prioritize user documentation as much as I should have. It was a clear insight: even the most brilliantly designed system will fail if no one knows how to use it. From now on, I need to integrate documentation from the very beginning, not tack it on at the end.
This work has really clarified something about myself. I’ve learned that my motivation comes from creating infrastructure—building systems that empower others—rather than just delivering one-off analyses. The impact feels deeper and more lasting. It’s helped me see the kind of leader I want to be in the future.
It reinforced my understanding of leadership, too. It can be about building the enabling structures that let others do their best work. Creating systems that reduce uncertainty and cut down on the daily workload is, in itself, a powerful form of leadership.
Next week, and moving forward, my priority is to consolidate this work. I want to continue the documentation for both organizations and double-check that the workflows are simple enough for the staff to manage on their own. And with the foundations in place, I’m excited to start thinking bigger—about how these tools can directly support their fundraising, streamline their reporting, and help them tell more powerful stories about the impact they’re having.
Hi There! I am Sharon, a rising junior studying Business and Global Affairs at Georgetown University. I am minoring in statistics and planning on pursuing a career in international development, with a specific focus on bridging the aid-development gap to mitigate protracted displacement around the world.
For my Laidlaw research project, I am working with Professor Christi Smith of Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration to study the phenomenon of increasing Consulting publications and work on migration and refugee integration-related issues. I aim to explore how the emergence of a new organizational form in the refugee services space might shift the course of refugee incorporation during a time of increasing forced migration and rising political polarization, and its potential policy implications.
Our study analyzes 24 publicly available consulting reports using mixed methods to identify prominent and distinguishable patterns and themes. We are also conducting interviews with consultants to explore the internal and external factors contributing to these themes. By contrasting these findings with those from the public sector and NGOs, we aim to highlight different approaches to migration and refugee issues.
In my free time, I like to dance (my faves are Chinese Folk and Classical Dances!), watch TV shows, and spend quality time with my siblings! I love food and are always excited to try out new cuisines! I believe that nonverbal and nonwritten communication, including all performance art and culinary practices, are powerful ways to build connections and enhance cross-cultural appreciation and dynamism.
One fun fact about me is that I am an identical twin. My sister, Susan (got our name from The Parent Trap lol) also attends Georgetown University and studies Human Science on the pre-med track.
Would love to connect with anyone interested in discussing anything in the realm of social and political science or on their journey exploring their faith as I am, so don't hesitate to reach out :)
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