Edlawit Hirpa Urga

Edlawit is a founding partner at Derz Consulting, bringing a strong foundation in strategy, design, and systems thinking to her work. She began her career at Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agency, where she led projects spanning strategy development, business design, and operational improvement across a range of sectors.

With experience in both quantitative and qualitative research, Edlawit is deeply committed to contextualizing innovation and designing solutions that reflect the realities of those most impacted. Her work with organizations like Crucible Schools—a London-based nonprofit aiming to establish a network of leadership-focused secondary schools across sub-Saharan Africa—demonstrates her dedication to shaping inclusive, forward-thinking systems.

Edlawit is passionate about understanding people’s needs and creating strategies that are both effective and grounded in local context.

She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture from Addis Ababa University and a Master’s of Arts in Innovation Management from University of the Arts London (Central Saint Martins).