MARIANNE STONE
Creative leader, big thinker, operational maverick, and artist.
I know what it takes to build successful teams, develop impactful products, scale audacious projects, and deliver meaningful results. I don’t believe in “right answers”—only in asking the best questions, curating an environment and cultivating good people to create impact and bring beauty into the world.
For over 15 years, I’ve been doing “big work”—directing, designing, advising, consulting, forecasting, and pioneering solutions that make a difference.
I collaborated with global organizations like Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee, partnering with governments, multilateral and public sector actors, private sector partners, and academic institutions to deliver double the impact across diverse international contexts.
Explore more about my work, my approach, how we can collaborate, and what drives my vision, below.
Experience
For the past 15 years, experience focused on leadership roles, team management, organizational design, strategy, product design and business development. Find more details in Select Works.
Ahlan Simsim | Project Director - International Rescue Committee | 2018 - 2024
Amman, Jordan
International Rescue Committee | Deputy Country Director, Programs | 2016 - 2018
Beirut, Lebanon
International Rescue Committee | Deputy Country Director, Programs | 2014 - 2016
Erbil, Iraq
International Rescue Committee | Business Development and Grant Management Lead | 2012 - 2014
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Various Design and Strategy Projects
OMGyno | Strategic Advisor | 2024 | Athens
Asiance Marketing | Design Thinking - Data | 2022 | S. Korea
UN Climate | Design Thinking - Sustainability | 2022 | New York
Education
B.A - Humanities Honors
2001 - 2004 | University of Texas, Austin
M.A - Securite Internationale
2008 - 2009 | Sciences Po, Paris
M.A - International Security
2009 - 2010 | Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
M.S - Strategic Design & Leadership
2021 - 2023 | Parsons School of Design, The New School
Media, Promotion, Awards
in action
Parsons School of Design
Article - “Shaping the Humanitarian Sector through Design”
Alliance Magazine
Panel - Audacious Philanthropy - Risk and Partnership in Education
Clip - The Importance of Social Emotional Learning
MacArthur Foundation
WISE Awards, 2023
Clip - Ahlan Simsim - Winner of 2023 WISE Awards
The Impact Room Podcast
Episode - The TV Show Helping Kids Affected by war and displacement
Reports
Impact Report, 2024, Co-Author
Innovative Solutions for Children in Crisis: Learning from Ahlan Simsim’s experience in the MENA region
Investment and Cost Report, 2024, Co-Author
What the Ahlan Simsim initiative tells us about the cost of delivering early childhood development programs to crisis-affected children
Systems and Scale Report, 2024, Contributor
INSPIRED IMPACT
When I'm not leading large teams toward audacious visions, supporting businesses with creative consulting for impact-focused ventures across the globe or doing research on the future of impact, resilient communities and sustainability I’m writing, painting, designing jewelry or curating other artistic endeavors to create Art, for Impact.
“Persephone in the Bardo”
Current Projects: Peculiar Grace: A field guide for Grace Seekers | 2025. Curated Essentials: From beauty to science - a review on the approach to Impact across disciplines | 2025.