Active Sensemaking-An Interactive Exploration With Ajay Reddy

Think of a typical conversation with a friend at a coffee shop. The friend asks how things are going at work. We typically reply with a ‘story’—sharing an experience that we then talk about. The story helps unpack the ‘meaning’ of the experience. It would be exceedingly odd and not very helpful to reply to the question with a statistic: “Things are about 3.7 on the Likert scale.” Without specific context, the number would be meaningless. 

This anecdote highlights the research challenge of people communicating and understanding human experiences. This live demonstration of Active Sensemaking will walk participants through the reasons for and practice of conducting studies with this mixed-method approach. Active Sensemaking has been used to inquire across a wide range of human situations and concerns and has commonly brought out significant and useful insights for action.

Participants will have a chance to mingle with fellow participants and light refreshments will be served (2:30-3:00PM). The workshop will begin at 3PM.

Ajay Reddy, founder of Spryng.io, is a visionary product leader known for seamlessly integrating ethical, human-centered design with cutting-edge technology to drive positive outcomes and societal impact. With a Master of Science in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, specializing in Machine Learning, Ajay has pioneered the use of Active Sensemaking to help improve decision-making in high-stakes environments by transforming data insights into actionable strategies.

His approach is  holistic, blending quantitative data with rich human narratives to uncover relevant insights that guide strategic decisions, ensuring outcomes resonate with both individual users and broader cultural contexts. As a digital ethnographer, Ajay has led large-scale transformations, crafting products and solutions that not only meet immediate objectives but also foster long-term resilience and growth. His work emphasizes building shared meaning and collective wisdom, facilitating innovation, and creating a deeper understanding of societal challenges. Certified as a Human Systems Dynamics Professional, Ajay specializes in bridging advanced advanced technology with human-centric strategies, making him a key figure in the fields of product innovation, ethical AI, and organizational transformation.