Alumni Q&A – Ripsime Paronikyan

Ripsime Paronikyan completed the Public Leadership Credential (PLC) in 2022. After completing the PLC, she applied via the PLC pathway to the Mid-Career Master of Public Administration (MC/MPA) program at Harvard Kennedy School. She successfully completed and earned her MC/MPA degree in May 2024. 

In a Q&A, Ripsime shares her motivations for starting the PLC, fueled by her desire to lead change more meaningfully in Los Angeles. She cites her academic experiences at Harvard Kennedy School as a key milestone in her leadership and public policy career trajectory.

HKS PLC: When did you first start your PLC journey, and what motivated you to do so?

I officially started my Public Leadership Credential (PLC) courses in January 2021, though my journey began a year earlier when I discovered the program while researching leadership and graduate degree programs. The pandemic, widespread civil unrest, and the ongoing homelessness crisis in my city, Los Angeles, fueled my desire to lead change more meaningfully. The PLC’s emphasis on adaptive leadership resonated with me, as it is crucial for driving sustainable change. Also, learning that the PLC was a pathway to a Mid-Career Master’s in Public Administration (MC/MPA) at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) signified that the coursework matched the depth and rigor of a Harvard graduate-level curriculum.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

What I found most valuable about the program was its diverse and comprehensive approach to learning. From prerecorded lessons by renowned professors and practitioners to live sessions with TAs, the program offered a variety of ways to engage. The challenging individual assignments and collaborative team projects based on global case studies further deepened the learning experience. I particularly valued the small group sessions, which brought together a diverse range of individuals from across the globe—diplomats, public leaders, and change-makers—each applying the program’s concepts to their unique contexts.

Do you feel like you can apply what you’ve learned to your current professional role?

I apply the concepts and tools learned to my current professional role in the following ways:

• I incorporate Choice Architecture and Nudges to influence behavior. I consider all design initiatives, the office environment, and other aspects in ways that facilitate and automate best-choice practices. 

• I embrace incremental changes while still focusing on the broader vision. 

• I create a theory of change to analyze proposals and initiatives more critically and objectively. 

• I apply both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess current and proposed programs/solutions. 

• I assess the financial, political, and infrastructural feasibility of scaling or implementing any program as one of my first steps when developing solutions.

How do you think the PLC will help you achieve your professional development goals?

The Public Leadership Credential (PLC) has been instrumental in advancing my professional development in multiple ways. First, it equipped me with practical tools, frameworks, and skills necessary for effective policy design, solution analysis, and policy and political communication. Second, the PLC served as an excellent preparation for excelling in the MC/MPA program at Harvard Kennedy School. The depth and rigor of the PLC courses provided a solid academic foundation, allowing me to confidently transition into the MC/MPA program and thrive in my studies. 

Before the PLC program, I often conflated leadership with management. During the Leadership and Ethics course, I realized true leadership is grounded in adaptability, combining formal and informal authority to inspire and mobilize people toward change. My focus on perfectionism and outcome-driven success, while fueling my passion for public service and social justice, also limited my ability to navigate the inevitable setbacks and imperfections that come with complex, adaptive work. My capacity to understand, withstand failure, and iterate solutions is far greater, allowing me to approach challenges with resilience and flexibility.

What is one thing you would change about the PLC program?

One potential improvement to the PLC program would be to allow the entire credentialing process, including the capstone, to be completed within a single calendar year—preferably before the December MC/MPA application deadline. Streamlining the program’s timeline would make it more efficient for students who aim to transition directly into the MC/MPA program, reducing the delay and allowing for a smoother, more cohesive academic progression.