Meet the Change Maker; An Interview with Lizzie Parnell, Collaboration Architect @ Proof of Concept

At Proof of Concept, we believe that solving complex challenges starts with bold thinkers, problem solvers, and change-makers; the people who push boundaries and reimagine what’s possible.

In our blog series, Meet the Changemaker, we introduce the brilliant minds behind Proof of Concept’s mission. These are the collaborators, architects, and innovators dedicated to tackling the toughest human capital challenges.

Each post will highlight a key team member, sharing their journey, insights, and what drives them to create meaningful impact.

Lizzie Parnell is an extended workforce management leader, with a proven ability to design world-class extended workforce programs that align diverse teams to achieve clarity, productivity, and impactful results. Known for a strategic mindset, Lizzie thrives in environments that challenge the status quo and lead to transformational outcomes. Solving a BIG, gnarly problem is what gets her up and running in the morning.

With a strong foundation in staffing, MSP strategy and technology integration, Lizzie has experience driving scalable, high-visibility initiatives and aligning business processes to optimize efficiency and cost savings. She has a track record of uniting internal stakeholders to improve workforce performance and deliver measurable success.

A dynamic leader, Lizzie is committed to building productive, happy teams and empowering them to thrive. Her passion for optimizing collaboration, combining strategic thinking with tactical execution, ensures organizations reach their full potential in extended workforce operations.

Q: If you could solve one major challenge in your industry, what would it be, and why is it so meaningful to you?

A: Aligning HR, Procurement and Talent on a shared set of extended workforce goals. So many firms are focused on a “number” for workforce composition without looking at the value of an adjustable lever over time. Extended workforce doesn’t need to have a target workforce composition percentage, it needs to be viewed as something nimble that solves a specific set of talent goals or challenges. This lever can adapt to internal and market changes quickly, and not enough internal corporate functions have agreed on why, when and how to turn the gears together. Once there is alignment on how and why to leverage extended workforce channels, the outcomes of the workers themselves improve, and aligning people with meaningful work is at the core of my CW values.

Q: What do you believe is the most important skill or mindset for excelling in your area of expertise?

A: Being curious has proven to be the most important skill in my success. Extended Workforce management touches many corporate functions and has a lot of end users, sometimes with competing outcomes. Being curious has helped me dig into perspectives and needs and find opportunities to tether outcomes to a greater organizational goal.

Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve faced in your career, and how did you approach and overcome it?

A: My greatest strength is my greatest weakness: my drive. While generally appreciated as a person who gets things done, I have come across as dismissive or aggressive. I’ve learned to temper my impatience with my curiosity to slow my own process (and sometimes progress!) down.

Q: How do you define success, and how has your understanding of it changed throughout your career?

A: ​​Success is what you’ve decided it is for that project, endeavor or activity. Success in my early career meant landing an order while on a staffing sales call. Success for me now is creating something that is so useful and useable, there is no walking away from it. Defining what great looks like at the beginning creates a goal that I strive for, while giving myself grace to pivot and reset to a new goal. It takes wisdom to know when to change tack; you just need to set your new destination.

Follow along as we introduce you to more of our team and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to hear more about what we are up to.