Impact studio · Oakland, California
PWRD by Purpose is an impact studio where human-centered design, strategy, and culture drive real transformation.
ExploreWhat we do
Through strategic partnership, we help leaders clarify priorities, align people and systems, and strengthen how their organizations operate. Through program and experience design, we translate real needs into initiatives and experiences that develop people and produce meaningful outcomes.
Strategic thought partnership for mission-driven leaders navigating growth, transition, or organizational complexity. We see the whole system, clarify what matters most, and build the structures required for effective execution.
We design and strengthen human-centered programs, learning experiences, and participant journeys. Each engagement connects real needs, clear outcomes, and a practical model teams can implement.
The PWRD standard
Our mission
We design strategies, programs, and experiences that expand human capability and strengthen people, organizations, and communities.
Human-centered
Strategic
Experiential
Culturally responsive
Outcome-oriented
The studio in practice
PWRD Labs, Conversations, and Activations are three experience formats that help people learn, reflect, connect, and participate.
Interactive learning and development experiences that expand human capability.
Explore · Learn · BuildIntentional dialogue for honest reflection, deeper connection, and expanded possibility.
Reflect · Connect · ExpandParticipatory experiences that bring purpose, ideas, culture, and community to life.
Engage · Energize · ActivateSelected work
The work takes different forms. The throughline is transformation.
Aligning program goals, participant experience, and delivery systems so a promising initiative can operate with clarity.
Strategy · Systems · ImplementationDesigning a human-centered internship and career pathways journey that equips young people for what comes next.
Research · Journey Design · LearningClarifying direction, ownership, and ways of working so leaders and teams can turn priorities into coordinated action.
Alignment · Roles · ActivationWhen to bring in PWRD
A strategic partner for consequential work
You’re leading a lean team with ambitious goals and need trusted strategic bandwidth without adding permanent overhead.
You need solutions built for the long term, with systems and tools your internal team can maintain and own.
You have the impact—now you need to communicate it. We help design programs with built-in measures so you can describe the work, understand the results, and communicate its value to funders and stakeholders.
You have competing priorities and an unclear roadmap. We help build consensus, simplify decision-making, and establish unified direction.
An existing initiative is not delivering its intended reach, results, or cultural resonance and needs a human-centered redesign.
Founder perspective
PWRD by Purpose was founded by Akala Francis, a strategist, program and experience designer, and facilitator with more than a decade of experience helping mission-driven organizations develop people, strengthen programs, and translate important ideas into practice.
Her work sits between strategy and execution—seeing the whole system, creating the structure, and designing how people experience the work.
The invitation
Tell us what you’re working toward, what is getting in the way, and where you need strategic or design support.
Work with PWRD