Let’s say hello, I’d love to know more about you and why you’re here!
I’m Gen, I’m a coach working with people who lead systemic change and I’m the creator of this newsletter and host of this community.
I live about 30 minutes south of Lisbon by the sea with my husband and our two dogs. We moved here for a career break just before the pandemic and liked it so much that we decided to stay. I love learning from a great book or podcast, taking photos, long dog walks on the beach, spending time outside especially in forests and gardens, and hanging out with my husband and friends.
I’m really interested in the links between consciousness and growth and the impact we can make in the world, both individually and collectively. I’m also interested in the future of coaching and one dream I have is for everyone to have access to high quality support for their development.
Tell me a bit about you, lets get to know each other in the comments section below! What brought you here? What are you working on right now and how could this resource and community help you? What are your dreams and visions for the future?
It’s so great to have you here, thanks for joining us 🧡
Hi Genevieve and everyone, it is great to be here.
I live in Switzerland and work as a Relationship Coach. I am leading systemic change in how society views and prioritises relationships. I am on a mission to normalise investing in our personal relationships through therapy and coaching. I am currently focused on an in-person couple’s relationship workshop I will deliver on Saturday 20th May in London. Think fun team building but for couples! If you would like to learn more, please feel free to get in touch. This community could help me by being a place to share ideas and get feedback, and I am very happy to do the same in return. My vision for the future is to work with a network of therapists and coaches to deliver relationship-focused workshops, therapy and coaching globally. My dream for the future is to run individual, couples, and organisational retreats from a farmhouse in Italy.
Hey Linda! 👋 Welcome, and thanks so much for sharing. Relationships... so central to absolutely everything! I’ve often wondered why we aren’t taught more about this at school. What’s the workshop in May focused on? And what are you enjoying most about your work at the moment? Retreats in an Italian farmhouse, sign me up!
It's really inspiring to read about everyones stories and experiences.
I'm Hannah and I now work as a consultant and am finding my feet, developing business and sales is a new arena for me. My background was working as a people leader in not for profits and then purpose driven start ups. I kind of fell into HR / People and have found my real calling in organisation design and feminism.
There are hugely powerful systems at play that shape the experiences of women, including in the workplace. We know about the gender pay gap, but the economic differences between men and women are so much more complex than that. So through my work I help purpose driven start ups / scale ups to design their companies. Calling out the uncomfortable behaviours and habits that play into these systems.
In the last 4 years I've also had 2 daughters, and found myself out of a job each time. So I volunteer weekly for Pregnant then Screwed, giving advice and support for pregnant women and mothers facing issues and discrimination in the workplace.
I enjoy the system changer newsletter because it keeps me motivated and inspired to continue. It can feel draining to always swim against the current!
Hello Hannah! I’m so glad you’re here, thank you for sharing this 🙏 Brilliant to hear how your work has evolved since we first met in London all those years ago. It sounds like you’ve found a really interesting niche with org design x feminism. Hard but very important work; I totally hear you on your point about swimming against the current. Resilience is such a big factor for people leading systemic change. Looking forward to hearing more about this and exploring it with you 👍
Hi everyone! It's lovely to be here. I'm Britt and I live in Toronto. I'm a Portfolio Manager at Grand Challenges Canada, an impact-first investor and innovation platform, where I manage a portfolio of global mental health innovations working to improve the availability of mental health supports for young people in low- and middle-income countries. I've been working with innovators and social entrepreneurs since 2015, when I actually met and worked alongside Gen in London supporting the delivery of an accelerator program for cleantech innovators! I particularly love supporting early-stage, community-based innovations working on solutions to health challenges in underserved parts of the world. I firmly believe in supporting locally-led organizations and try to do what I can within the development sector to shift power/paradigms and centre the expertise of those closest to a challenge. I'm energized by the innovators I have the privilege of working with!
On a personal note, my partner and I are expecting our first baby in July and we are soaking up this time and freedom before this new chapter starts. It's hard to prepare for, but I'm excited for a new adventure!
While I'll be taking a career pause with parental leave coming up, I'm always interested in learning from others as I continue to develop my leadership style and reflect on how best to put my skill set to use to make positive changes in the lives of others.
Oh hey there buddy! It's so lovely to have you here 🥰 Thank you for the intro to your work and for the blast from the past - 8 years ago, fun times! 😅
Supporting locally-led work and shifting power/paradigms - YES. I'd love to hear more at some point about your experiences of this, and any resources you would recommend on the subject. Such a big and important area of systems change work.
And I'm so excited for you and your growing family 🧡 I hope this can be a friendly and empowering space to support you through your career pause. I know many others here are also navigating transitions and new phases of life. Let us know how you're getting on.
Sending hugs, and see you in June!
- I'll be in Toronto visiting Britt at the end of June in case anyone else here is based there?
Greg here (never mind my ancient nom de plume... the Internet does that). I'm doing a few things in parallel. For one, I help head up an experimentation practice and supporting data/technology for a global fashion platform that started in Portugal. (This allows me to explore systemic change principles at scale and backed with data.) But I'm also a director for a global sustainable development forum, an advisory board member for a global sustainability movement centered in Lisbon, and a mentor at multiple startup incubators.
I also have long ties to the House of Beautiful Business, which we both have in common. One of the truest things I've ever heard about the climate movement recently came from a House program from Ramona Liberoff of PACE, who eloquently stated that the primary challenge is leadership. Because leaders are required to commit to difficult decisions, ways of thinking, and ways of doing that not only inspire others but also require taking the arduous, resistant path to oppose all the systemic forces that have nudged us all into our current state of affairs.
I'm here because I'm always learning and open to new perspectives of how we can better operate within systemic change. I spent decades working in Silicon Valley and developing a cringe over how technological progressivism was always the solution -- without ever questioning what we internally bring to the world. So five years ago I made the leap and moved to Lisbon for more humanistic ways of being within the world and have never regretted it.
Hey Greg, thanks for the intro. You wear so many interesting hats in all of those roles, and good for you for making the leap to Lisbon, I hope you're enjoying life here :)
That's such an interesting reflection about leadership. There's so much courage, resilience and faith in this work. And what a small world it is... I actually know Ramona from her days with SPRING Accelerator! Hoping to attend HOBB this year, will you be there?
What are you currently working on with the sustainability movement in Lisbon? I'd love to learn more about that. And yes, coffee!
That's great about Ramona. She's really impressive.
And of course the House is a must. :) I was one of their very first advisory board members.
As for sustainability in Lisbon, there's so much variety ... everything from horticulturalists (who knows, you might know Bruno Lacey originally from the UK?) to João Meneses at BCSD Portugal to Ksenia Ashrafullina's anti-car mobility activism to Carolina Carvalho at the Global Regeneration CoLab to Sérgio Ribeiro at Planetiers... there's a challenge of singular commitment for me. But I've found my happy place to be a "good uncle" to multiple causes where I can in support, if that makes sense.
Isn't she just! Wow, thank you for sharing all of these I'll really enjoy looking everyone up! Good uncle, super connector, pattern spotter, I can see why you're here ;)
Hi Gen and everyone - so glad to have found this group.
I have been working as a researcher and advisor on climate policy and finance for several years, at the London School of Economics and Climate Policy Initiative, among others. Currently I’m looking into other themes to build a career around, like land use and community ownership, relationships between digital spaces and the planet, and spiritual/wellbeing/therapeutic routes into environmental action. Looking forward to reading System Changers and being inspired by the newsletter and this community.
Like others here I’m really interested in how changing ourselves can bring about wider change, but I also think the conditions which affect how ideas and behaviours are transmitted between people are key.
Gen, I first read your post about self-confidence and the start of your writing journey, which really resonated. Thank you for addressing the shortfall of advice for the 0-100 subs stage! I launched In the Balance in July, but have taken a while to pick up steam. Though dedicating more time to it now, I still often feel blocked and doubt my ability to contribute, so taking courage from the openness and humility I see in others. Thank you!
Hello Rob! Brilliant to connect with you, thank you for sharing here. Would love to learn more about your work on climate policy and finance! I'm currently writing a piece exploring inner and outer change which you might be interested in, look out for that one. Super interested in your point about the transmission of ideas and behaviours between people and the conditions which affect that. So important for anyone trying to create change! You might enjoy this recent piece on The Ink: https://the.ink/p/future-shock.
Also so glad to hear that my post about self-confidence and starting my writing journey resonated with you. It's not easy to start and maintain something like this! I hope you're enjoying writing your Substack? I tried to sign up but the link didn't work.
Hi Gen, thank you - I’d love to chat some time, will connect! I appreciate the Ink link. And for flagging that about my Substack signup, sounds like something I need to fix...
Incredible that you respond to everyone on here with so much care, by the way. A great community in the making x
Hi Gen, a new subscriber here :) I also live in Portugal and so it's not surprising that we know dozens of people in common, or so LinkedIn tells me. I love the style of your newsletter and I'm looking forward to reading more of it :)
Evgeny! So many people have encouraged me to reach out to you so I’m really glad you found me here, it was only a matter of time! Thanks so much for your kind words. It’s great to have you here and I hope to meet you IRL soon too 🙏
Hi Everyone, great to read through these notes, a few familiar names (and nome de plume). I'm a Design Researcher in the Sustainability field. I've witnessed the growth of the discipline over the last 15 yrs and it's a really exciting time, as organisations are finally understanding the value of design to leverage sustainability goals. It's been a challenging space to be in, especially as a solopreneur! A great person (Ed Gillespie some of you might know) many years ago advised me to be a Trojan Mouse (not Horse) being a one-person practice means I can get in there and ask uncomfortable questions.. Thats what I've tried to do in my role to change the systems through Design practice. To me systems change is also about collaboration, who we link up with, who inspires us, and what we make together. No great project ever got done by one person alone.
Hey Joana! Thanks so much for sharing :) I love this idea of the Trojan Mouse! I would love to hear more about your experiences of this, and the benefits of working this way. And YES to your point about collaboration, system changers never exist in isolation 🧡
I wear too many hats in order to earn a living, but I am especially interested in thinking about systemic change because I'm writing a book about the infrastructure that underlies people's political thinking. Hoping for some interesting insights :)
I also do a lot of design around political and social issues so will be curious to hear from that angle also!
Welcome, Sarah! So excited about this book, especially with all of your expertise and experience in design. We need more knowledge translation and practical guidance in this area. Let us know how you get on and when to order etc!
I enjoyed the section in Anand Giridharadas’ latest book on Anat Shenker-Osorio and her work in comms and campaigning in case helpful 👍
I'm Flora & I'm based in the Peak district in the UK. I'm a coach to product leaders. I work with them on being more impactful in their roles, and more fulfilled in the work that they do. It's hugely rewarding work and I feel very grateful to spend my working days with ambitious, creative, and thoughtful people.
My vision for the future is to keep exploring how coaching & community can be impactful to people - and giving my self space to dream big when it comes to building a business around that. I also want to build a business with plenty of time for personal adventure, growth, and enjoyment along the way.
This community can help me by bringing ideas and inspiration for many ways to live life, and progress in life.
Thanks for sharing Flora! I'm so glad we met at that event in London, I've really enjoyed following your work since then, especially as you've been building out your content! I love your point about giving yourself space to dream big, something that can be hard to provide for ourselves when we're so busy doing that for other people ;) I should turn that thought into a discussion thread so we can all share how we approach that in different ways...
I work as Communities Manager for London Community Land Trust. We're a small community-led housing group with roots in radical organising and the concept that: maybe homes should be affordable based on what people earn. I've been in my role for 7+ years and in that time we've grown from one project to 9 at varying stages. I allocate the homes, support residents to set up management companies, support steering groups through planning and engagement processes and convene research projects, among other things.
Tbh I'm not that interested in housing! I am interested in how people come together to build capacity for change in their communities, how relationships are built overtime through shared journeys and connections to place and home - and housing just happened to be the avenue that took.
After a year of coaching with Gen and a nasty eviction, I found the courage to leave my job, leave London and go travelling with no set endpoint. I'll be visiting a range of community projects from Canada, (so far) down to Brazil. I'll be trialling the freelance life and trying to find more balance - time to rock climb, swim in the sea, write poetry - whilst hopefully practising my Spanish.
Over the years in London I've been part of some amazing communities and through the process of leaving I'm starting to unpick the depth of those things! So I'm not sure where I'll be this time next year, but I have a suspicion it will be a truer place.
Oh Hannah I so loved reading this, thank you for sharing! You did so much amazing work with London Community Land Trust. I especially liked this sentence in your post, "I am interested in how people come together to build capacity for change in their communities, how relationships are built overtime through shared journeys and connections to place and home." I know you'll share some common ground with lots of people here around these interests :) I can't wait to follow your adventures to Canada and beyond, will you let us know how you're getting on? I'm so excited for you and for all that's about to unfold 🧡
Hannah, this all sounds fascinating - for Brazil you might find it interesting to visit the MST who have done great work on land reform and education (this could be useful background: https://edwell.substack.com/p/how-a-movement-brought-political). I am also on a year long trip - writing a book about leaders who transformed Global South education systems, in 7 countries. Currently in Indonesia. I also consult part of the time (to fund the writing time!) and right now I am researching how non-state organizations support governments on education reform in 5 countries, for a nonprofit called Global School Leaders.
All my work is around, how do we support leaders transforming Global South education systems with the tools and community they need to enable them to thrive? And stories of other leaders who have walked the path, so people feel less along and can imagine what is possible. Very interested in the nexus of transforming self to transform systems. And the power of people coming together through movements, networks, collective action, community organizing.
Outside that, I love exploring nature and new places, meditation, learning about Taoism and Buddhism, and gathering special groups of people together. I am from the US but lived the past decade in South Africa, Kenya and the UK. This year I have been in Brazil, India, Pakistan - and after Indonesia I head to Colombia and Nigeria (likely will settle in Asheville, US in 2024 as I'm craving a long term base and roots in community for my next chapter!)
Hey Kat, amazing! Thanks for the suggestion. It would be good to connect more sometime (I'm also American, but half, and my British side is really the dominant one). Feel free to email me hemerywright@gmail.com.
Thanks for this intro Kat! We will all be so interested to hear more about your travels and your book so keep us in the loop is you go :) Your point about loneliness is such an important one, this theme comes up a lot in my coaching conversations (and was big when I was supporting founders when I worked in VC), so I'm really keen to explore the topic further and how to address it. Sharing personal stories and journeys really helps! Thanks for this phrasing "the nexus of transforming self to transform systems" - I find this hard to articulate sometimes! Enjoy Indonesia and good luck with your next transitions to Columbia and Nigeria... what an adventure!
I live in metro Atlanta, GA. USA. I found this space by searching for "systems thinking for social change" in the substack app. I was first introduced to systems thinking during my doctoral studies in 2009, I've been self studying it ever since, and it has greatly informed all of my writing, podcasting, and organizing efforts since.
I'm currently working on my two week-old substack platform, Sustainable Solutions Media, where I've imported all of my past writings and podcasts and where I've been publishing new content several days a week with my co-creator, Shani Goodson. Our content emerges from anti-oppression, liberation, & sustainability topics of interest and it's all deeply informed and inspired by systems thinking.
My dream and vision for the future is for my content and organizing work to be influential in the transition to a world where liberation, social & environmental sustainability, and unconditional love... for all, are the balancing feedback loops that inform our dominant socio-economic systems.
I'm looking forward to exploring this space in the coming days and weeks and learning from fellow System Changers!
Hello Sundiata! Thank you so much and congrats on launching Sustainable Solutions Media, I hope you're enjoying the platform so far! Sounds like you have a lot of great content for us to learn from. I'm really looking forward to exploring your work! And what a beautiful vision - no doubt all your hard work already is influential in this transition. Thank you for being here and for sharing your work so generously 🧡
Hi Genevieve and everyone. It's good to be here and find out what everyone's doing. I've just taken up a role as a trustee of a charity based in the UK called Newsmast: https://newsmast.org/
Hi, my name is Kathi and I am new on Substack and this brought me here. I really enjoy writing and processing my personal stories on Substack. I work as a sexologist and an counselor - maybe these topics will be part of my writing in the future. I identify as an artist - always have been and slowly claim it for myself publicly. We share the same dream, that everyone should have access to high quality support and enough resources to live their potential.
Hello Kathi! Great to have you here. Such interesting work you do! I hope you're enjoying System Changers and do let us know if/when you are writing here too! Best wishes to you from Portugal 🧡
Hi Genevieve and community, great to join the system changers and learn of your journeys.
I’m Chris, I’m interested in sustainable purpose led business, living and working in manufacturing in Yorkshire, UK.
I crashed out of 30+ years in corporate life and am writing about mental health, workplace wellbeing and system change to help businesses and the people in them; I’ve got involved in a young B Corp Dog Food business that is a great vehicle to change the way the sector works, but that’s another story.
I’m excited to be on board and love your substack story. 💪
Hi Chris, great to have you here! Congrats on the pivot to writing about mental health, wellbeing and system change :) Really interesting to hear about the B Corp Dog Food business! I was joking with my husband yesterday saying that our dogs are system changers because they eat insect food 😂
I'm in the United States. My Substack and entrepreneurial journey are both less than 2 months old. Im learning a lot right now.
I'm a certified health and life coach, but what I feel motivated to embrace is 'vulnerability and resilience' coaching. I'm still sculpting it, but it feels good right now. We'll see if the for sticks.
I'm excited to be here to learn from you all. Thank you for creating this space Gen 🙏🏾
Hi Reginald, so great to have you here! Love the sound of your vulnerability and resilience coaching, looking forward to hearing more about it. Check out my interview with Jen Lewis for a conversation packed with vulnerability and resilience :) 🧡
Hi everyone! My name is Ayo and I live in New York. I'm currently running a publication here on Substack called Sounds Like Impact. It's focused on social impact podcasts and calls-to-action we can take to make a change.
Prior to this I worked in audio at Spotify, doing both editorial and production, and before that you could find me doing operations and program management work across the social impact sector and in research settings.
I am so glad to have found this newsletter and look forward to keeping up with what is going on here. People working on the frontlines of systemic change are so essential and I'm glad that you and your subscribers are making a community happen to support this work.
Hey Ayo! Thank you so much for subscribing and sharing what you're up to! Bridging audio and action with Sounds Like Impact is SUCH a brilliant concept, I can't wait to check out your playlists 🤩
It also seems like the perfect manifestation of your skills, interests and values. I hope you're enjoying the work alongside the consultancy and production you do! I bet it's super complimentary.
Do you have any advice or resources for people who are just getting started with audio as a content channel for creating impact in their work?
I couldn't agree more on your point about the importance of people working at the frontlines of systemic change. It's such hard work but so necessary for a more healthy and equitable future 😅. I also think there's a lot of joy and fulfilment to be had for those working in this space.
I'm so glad we've connected here, and I really look forward to following your work! 🧡
Hello 👋🏼 I'm Julia, Lead Product Manager at Otta where we're building the better way to find a job in tech. Otta's product is designed to put candidates fast, tackling challenges like salary transparency and recruiters ghosting candidates. Ultimately, we want to be a career champion that helps candidates find fulfilling work.
Both inside and outside of work, I care about how we use our words to communicate, share knowledge and create belonging. And how we make our product teams more diverse and inclusive so that the products we build help more people.
I'm exploring new ways to amplify my impact and connection, and I'm excited to learn from others here, especially around how you manage your energy and pace yourself sustainably.
I live in the Hampshire countryside with my husband and our cavapoo Paddington. Time in nature, moving, cooking and making our house a home ground me and help me reconnect with my values.
I'm always so struck by the clarity in Otta's messaging 👌You make such a great point about the power of language. Great communication skills are an important part of the system changer toolkit, so I'm really glad that you're here reminding us of this! Let us know if there are any resources you love to use with this in mind?
Hearing you loud and clear about managing energy levels and pacing yourself sustainably. This is something that all of us need help with from time to time when we do work we love and care about. I'll be sharing some thoughts on boundaries soon so look out for those.
I hope you're enjoying summertime in your new garden in Hampshire. Again, really glad to have you here, thanks for chiming in 🧡
Hi everyone 👋🏽 I'm Abadesi based in London and I know Gen from her past life in tech startups and venture capital. As minorities in our industry there's a solidarity that unites us women in tech- we've survived to tell the tales.
I'm the founder & CEO of Hustle Crew, a careers community that turns insight into training for employers who want to be more inclusive. Our training creates space for teams to have uncomfortable but necessary conversations about bias.
I'm here because I believe systems change is the only way to create lasting change! I'm attempting to dismantle systems of oppression like patriarchy and white supremacy within the tech ecosystem so the negative impacts aren't embedded into artificial intelligence. I want the future to be fairer than the present and I believe this is how I can make a difference... as serious as it sounds I'm actually a very laid-back person who enjoys reading fiction, playing piano, watching stand up and cooking food from the countries my parents grew up in: Nigeria and the Philippines.
If you ever have questions about equity, inclusion, belonging, ethics, responsible AI, HMU 👊🏾
Aba, I love this intro. Surviving to tell the tales... and do something about them! 🔥
Your work creating more inclusive cultures and leadership is SO important, and rich with insights on how lasting change happens in practice. I so enjoyed interviewing you for System Changers, and I especially appreciated hearing about all the work you do to look after yourself as you lead change. There's a lot we can all learn from you on this point 🙏
Keep us posted on what you're working on, and anything we can do to support you. It's so great to have you and all your system changing, piano playing, and comfort food cooking here 👊
Hi Genevieve and everyone, it is great to be here.
I live in Switzerland and work as a Relationship Coach. I am leading systemic change in how society views and prioritises relationships. I am on a mission to normalise investing in our personal relationships through therapy and coaching. I am currently focused on an in-person couple’s relationship workshop I will deliver on Saturday 20th May in London. Think fun team building but for couples! If you would like to learn more, please feel free to get in touch. This community could help me by being a place to share ideas and get feedback, and I am very happy to do the same in return. My vision for the future is to work with a network of therapists and coaches to deliver relationship-focused workshops, therapy and coaching globally. My dream for the future is to run individual, couples, and organisational retreats from a farmhouse in Italy.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone else!
Linda x
Hey Linda! 👋 Welcome, and thanks so much for sharing. Relationships... so central to absolutely everything! I’ve often wondered why we aren’t taught more about this at school. What’s the workshop in May focused on? And what are you enjoying most about your work at the moment? Retreats in an Italian farmhouse, sign me up!
Hi 👋
It's really inspiring to read about everyones stories and experiences.
I'm Hannah and I now work as a consultant and am finding my feet, developing business and sales is a new arena for me. My background was working as a people leader in not for profits and then purpose driven start ups. I kind of fell into HR / People and have found my real calling in organisation design and feminism.
There are hugely powerful systems at play that shape the experiences of women, including in the workplace. We know about the gender pay gap, but the economic differences between men and women are so much more complex than that. So through my work I help purpose driven start ups / scale ups to design their companies. Calling out the uncomfortable behaviours and habits that play into these systems.
In the last 4 years I've also had 2 daughters, and found myself out of a job each time. So I volunteer weekly for Pregnant then Screwed, giving advice and support for pregnant women and mothers facing issues and discrimination in the workplace.
I enjoy the system changer newsletter because it keeps me motivated and inspired to continue. It can feel draining to always swim against the current!
Hello Hannah! I’m so glad you’re here, thank you for sharing this 🙏 Brilliant to hear how your work has evolved since we first met in London all those years ago. It sounds like you’ve found a really interesting niche with org design x feminism. Hard but very important work; I totally hear you on your point about swimming against the current. Resilience is such a big factor for people leading systemic change. Looking forward to hearing more about this and exploring it with you 👍
Hi everyone! It's lovely to be here. I'm Britt and I live in Toronto. I'm a Portfolio Manager at Grand Challenges Canada, an impact-first investor and innovation platform, where I manage a portfolio of global mental health innovations working to improve the availability of mental health supports for young people in low- and middle-income countries. I've been working with innovators and social entrepreneurs since 2015, when I actually met and worked alongside Gen in London supporting the delivery of an accelerator program for cleantech innovators! I particularly love supporting early-stage, community-based innovations working on solutions to health challenges in underserved parts of the world. I firmly believe in supporting locally-led organizations and try to do what I can within the development sector to shift power/paradigms and centre the expertise of those closest to a challenge. I'm energized by the innovators I have the privilege of working with!
On a personal note, my partner and I are expecting our first baby in July and we are soaking up this time and freedom before this new chapter starts. It's hard to prepare for, but I'm excited for a new adventure!
While I'll be taking a career pause with parental leave coming up, I'm always interested in learning from others as I continue to develop my leadership style and reflect on how best to put my skill set to use to make positive changes in the lives of others.
Oh hey there buddy! It's so lovely to have you here 🥰 Thank you for the intro to your work and for the blast from the past - 8 years ago, fun times! 😅
Supporting locally-led work and shifting power/paradigms - YES. I'd love to hear more at some point about your experiences of this, and any resources you would recommend on the subject. Such a big and important area of systems change work.
And I'm so excited for you and your growing family 🧡 I hope this can be a friendly and empowering space to support you through your career pause. I know many others here are also navigating transitions and new phases of life. Let us know how you're getting on.
Sending hugs, and see you in June!
- I'll be in Toronto visiting Britt at the end of June in case anyone else here is based there?
Hi Gen -
Greg here (never mind my ancient nom de plume... the Internet does that). I'm doing a few things in parallel. For one, I help head up an experimentation practice and supporting data/technology for a global fashion platform that started in Portugal. (This allows me to explore systemic change principles at scale and backed with data.) But I'm also a director for a global sustainable development forum, an advisory board member for a global sustainability movement centered in Lisbon, and a mentor at multiple startup incubators.
I also have long ties to the House of Beautiful Business, which we both have in common. One of the truest things I've ever heard about the climate movement recently came from a House program from Ramona Liberoff of PACE, who eloquently stated that the primary challenge is leadership. Because leaders are required to commit to difficult decisions, ways of thinking, and ways of doing that not only inspire others but also require taking the arduous, resistant path to oppose all the systemic forces that have nudged us all into our current state of affairs.
I'm here because I'm always learning and open to new perspectives of how we can better operate within systemic change. I spent decades working in Silicon Valley and developing a cringe over how technological progressivism was always the solution -- without ever questioning what we internally bring to the world. So five years ago I made the leap and moved to Lisbon for more humanistic ways of being within the world and have never regretted it.
And we still need to have a coffee!
Hey Greg, thanks for the intro. You wear so many interesting hats in all of those roles, and good for you for making the leap to Lisbon, I hope you're enjoying life here :)
That's such an interesting reflection about leadership. There's so much courage, resilience and faith in this work. And what a small world it is... I actually know Ramona from her days with SPRING Accelerator! Hoping to attend HOBB this year, will you be there?
What are you currently working on with the sustainability movement in Lisbon? I'd love to learn more about that. And yes, coffee!
That's great about Ramona. She's really impressive.
And of course the House is a must. :) I was one of their very first advisory board members.
As for sustainability in Lisbon, there's so much variety ... everything from horticulturalists (who knows, you might know Bruno Lacey originally from the UK?) to João Meneses at BCSD Portugal to Ksenia Ashrafullina's anti-car mobility activism to Carolina Carvalho at the Global Regeneration CoLab to Sérgio Ribeiro at Planetiers... there's a challenge of singular commitment for me. But I've found my happy place to be a "good uncle" to multiple causes where I can in support, if that makes sense.
Isn't she just! Wow, thank you for sharing all of these I'll really enjoy looking everyone up! Good uncle, super connector, pattern spotter, I can see why you're here ;)
Hey hey, I’m your neighbour, Nick in Portugal. Lovely to see you online as well as IRL.
I’m intrigued to learn more of your world views on systems change, that’s why I’m here 😊
Hey neighbour! I love it when my worlds overlap, really glad to have you here! 🧡
Hi Gen and everyone - so glad to have found this group.
I have been working as a researcher and advisor on climate policy and finance for several years, at the London School of Economics and Climate Policy Initiative, among others. Currently I’m looking into other themes to build a career around, like land use and community ownership, relationships between digital spaces and the planet, and spiritual/wellbeing/therapeutic routes into environmental action. Looking forward to reading System Changers and being inspired by the newsletter and this community.
On Substack I write In the Balance, on the social side of environmental change and transition. https://inthebalance.substack.com
Like others here I’m really interested in how changing ourselves can bring about wider change, but I also think the conditions which affect how ideas and behaviours are transmitted between people are key.
Gen, I first read your post about self-confidence and the start of your writing journey, which really resonated. Thank you for addressing the shortfall of advice for the 0-100 subs stage! I launched In the Balance in July, but have taken a while to pick up steam. Though dedicating more time to it now, I still often feel blocked and doubt my ability to contribute, so taking courage from the openness and humility I see in others. Thank you!
Rob x
Hello Rob! Brilliant to connect with you, thank you for sharing here. Would love to learn more about your work on climate policy and finance! I'm currently writing a piece exploring inner and outer change which you might be interested in, look out for that one. Super interested in your point about the transmission of ideas and behaviours between people and the conditions which affect that. So important for anyone trying to create change! You might enjoy this recent piece on The Ink: https://the.ink/p/future-shock.
Also so glad to hear that my post about self-confidence and starting my writing journey resonated with you. It's not easy to start and maintain something like this! I hope you're enjoying writing your Substack? I tried to sign up but the link didn't work.
Sending you my best! 🧡
Hi Gen, thank you - I’d love to chat some time, will connect! I appreciate the Ink link. And for flagging that about my Substack signup, sounds like something I need to fix...
Incredible that you respond to everyone on here with so much care, by the way. A great community in the making x
Just tried again and it's working now! Maybe something at my end.
Thanks so much I appreciate that feedback a lot! You all do such interesting work it's hard not to haha :) x
Hi Gen, a new subscriber here :) I also live in Portugal and so it's not surprising that we know dozens of people in common, or so LinkedIn tells me. I love the style of your newsletter and I'm looking forward to reading more of it :)
Evgeny! So many people have encouraged me to reach out to you so I’m really glad you found me here, it was only a matter of time! Thanks so much for your kind words. It’s great to have you here and I hope to meet you IRL soon too 🙏
Hi Everyone, great to read through these notes, a few familiar names (and nome de plume). I'm a Design Researcher in the Sustainability field. I've witnessed the growth of the discipline over the last 15 yrs and it's a really exciting time, as organisations are finally understanding the value of design to leverage sustainability goals. It's been a challenging space to be in, especially as a solopreneur! A great person (Ed Gillespie some of you might know) many years ago advised me to be a Trojan Mouse (not Horse) being a one-person practice means I can get in there and ask uncomfortable questions.. Thats what I've tried to do in my role to change the systems through Design practice. To me systems change is also about collaboration, who we link up with, who inspires us, and what we make together. No great project ever got done by one person alone.
Hey Joana! Thanks so much for sharing :) I love this idea of the Trojan Mouse! I would love to hear more about your experiences of this, and the benefits of working this way. And YES to your point about collaboration, system changers never exist in isolation 🧡
Hello!
I wear too many hats in order to earn a living, but I am especially interested in thinking about systemic change because I'm writing a book about the infrastructure that underlies people's political thinking. Hoping for some interesting insights :)
I also do a lot of design around political and social issues so will be curious to hear from that angle also!
Welcome, Sarah! So excited about this book, especially with all of your expertise and experience in design. We need more knowledge translation and practical guidance in this area. Let us know how you get on and when to order etc!
I enjoyed the section in Anand Giridharadas’ latest book on Anat Shenker-Osorio and her work in comms and campaigning in case helpful 👍
Hi Gen & everyone in the community ❤️
I'm Flora & I'm based in the Peak district in the UK. I'm a coach to product leaders. I work with them on being more impactful in their roles, and more fulfilled in the work that they do. It's hugely rewarding work and I feel very grateful to spend my working days with ambitious, creative, and thoughtful people.
My vision for the future is to keep exploring how coaching & community can be impactful to people - and giving my self space to dream big when it comes to building a business around that. I also want to build a business with plenty of time for personal adventure, growth, and enjoyment along the way.
This community can help me by bringing ideas and inspiration for many ways to live life, and progress in life.
Thanks for sharing Flora! I'm so glad we met at that event in London, I've really enjoyed following your work since then, especially as you've been building out your content! I love your point about giving yourself space to dream big, something that can be hard to provide for ourselves when we're so busy doing that for other people ;) I should turn that thought into a discussion thread so we can all share how we approach that in different ways...
Hi, I'm Hannah
I work as Communities Manager for London Community Land Trust. We're a small community-led housing group with roots in radical organising and the concept that: maybe homes should be affordable based on what people earn. I've been in my role for 7+ years and in that time we've grown from one project to 9 at varying stages. I allocate the homes, support residents to set up management companies, support steering groups through planning and engagement processes and convene research projects, among other things.
Tbh I'm not that interested in housing! I am interested in how people come together to build capacity for change in their communities, how relationships are built overtime through shared journeys and connections to place and home - and housing just happened to be the avenue that took.
After a year of coaching with Gen and a nasty eviction, I found the courage to leave my job, leave London and go travelling with no set endpoint. I'll be visiting a range of community projects from Canada, (so far) down to Brazil. I'll be trialling the freelance life and trying to find more balance - time to rock climb, swim in the sea, write poetry - whilst hopefully practising my Spanish.
Over the years in London I've been part of some amazing communities and through the process of leaving I'm starting to unpick the depth of those things! So I'm not sure where I'll be this time next year, but I have a suspicion it will be a truer place.
I look forward to hearing from you x
Oh Hannah I so loved reading this, thank you for sharing! You did so much amazing work with London Community Land Trust. I especially liked this sentence in your post, "I am interested in how people come together to build capacity for change in their communities, how relationships are built overtime through shared journeys and connections to place and home." I know you'll share some common ground with lots of people here around these interests :) I can't wait to follow your adventures to Canada and beyond, will you let us know how you're getting on? I'm so excited for you and for all that's about to unfold 🧡
Thanks Gen xxx I will keep you posted
Hannah, this all sounds fascinating - for Brazil you might find it interesting to visit the MST who have done great work on land reform and education (this could be useful background: https://edwell.substack.com/p/how-a-movement-brought-political). I am also on a year long trip - writing a book about leaders who transformed Global South education systems, in 7 countries. Currently in Indonesia. I also consult part of the time (to fund the writing time!) and right now I am researching how non-state organizations support governments on education reform in 5 countries, for a nonprofit called Global School Leaders.
All my work is around, how do we support leaders transforming Global South education systems with the tools and community they need to enable them to thrive? And stories of other leaders who have walked the path, so people feel less along and can imagine what is possible. Very interested in the nexus of transforming self to transform systems. And the power of people coming together through movements, networks, collective action, community organizing.
Outside that, I love exploring nature and new places, meditation, learning about Taoism and Buddhism, and gathering special groups of people together. I am from the US but lived the past decade in South Africa, Kenya and the UK. This year I have been in Brazil, India, Pakistan - and after Indonesia I head to Colombia and Nigeria (likely will settle in Asheville, US in 2024 as I'm craving a long term base and roots in community for my next chapter!)
Look forward to learning with you all,
Kat
Hey Kat, amazing! Thanks for the suggestion. It would be good to connect more sometime (I'm also American, but half, and my British side is really the dominant one). Feel free to email me hemerywright@gmail.com.
Thanks for this intro Kat! We will all be so interested to hear more about your travels and your book so keep us in the loop is you go :) Your point about loneliness is such an important one, this theme comes up a lot in my coaching conversations (and was big when I was supporting founders when I worked in VC), so I'm really keen to explore the topic further and how to address it. Sharing personal stories and journeys really helps! Thanks for this phrasing "the nexus of transforming self to transform systems" - I find this hard to articulate sometimes! Enjoy Indonesia and good luck with your next transitions to Columbia and Nigeria... what an adventure!
Hello Genevieve and everyone!
I live in metro Atlanta, GA. USA. I found this space by searching for "systems thinking for social change" in the substack app. I was first introduced to systems thinking during my doctoral studies in 2009, I've been self studying it ever since, and it has greatly informed all of my writing, podcasting, and organizing efforts since.
I'm currently working on my two week-old substack platform, Sustainable Solutions Media, where I've imported all of my past writings and podcasts and where I've been publishing new content several days a week with my co-creator, Shani Goodson. Our content emerges from anti-oppression, liberation, & sustainability topics of interest and it's all deeply informed and inspired by systems thinking.
My dream and vision for the future is for my content and organizing work to be influential in the transition to a world where liberation, social & environmental sustainability, and unconditional love... for all, are the balancing feedback loops that inform our dominant socio-economic systems.
I'm looking forward to exploring this space in the coming days and weeks and learning from fellow System Changers!
Hello Sundiata! Thank you so much and congrats on launching Sustainable Solutions Media, I hope you're enjoying the platform so far! Sounds like you have a lot of great content for us to learn from. I'm really looking forward to exploring your work! And what a beautiful vision - no doubt all your hard work already is influential in this transition. Thank you for being here and for sharing your work so generously 🧡
My pleasure and thank you for having me!
Hi Genevieve and everyone. It's good to be here and find out what everyone's doing. I've just taken up a role as a trustee of a charity based in the UK called Newsmast: https://newsmast.org/
It's basically aiming to be "social media with a conscience" and is focused on the sharing of knowledge in a safe space. The manifesto can be found here: https://www.newsmastfoundation.org/about-us/manifesto/
It would be great to get your feedback if you want to check it out. Ideas always welcome!
Hi, my name is Kathi and I am new on Substack and this brought me here. I really enjoy writing and processing my personal stories on Substack. I work as a sexologist and an counselor - maybe these topics will be part of my writing in the future. I identify as an artist - always have been and slowly claim it for myself publicly. We share the same dream, that everyone should have access to high quality support and enough resources to live their potential.
With Love, Kathi
Hello Kathi! Great to have you here. Such interesting work you do! I hope you're enjoying System Changers and do let us know if/when you are writing here too! Best wishes to you from Portugal 🧡
Hi Genevieve and community, great to join the system changers and learn of your journeys.
I’m Chris, I’m interested in sustainable purpose led business, living and working in manufacturing in Yorkshire, UK.
I crashed out of 30+ years in corporate life and am writing about mental health, workplace wellbeing and system change to help businesses and the people in them; I’ve got involved in a young B Corp Dog Food business that is a great vehicle to change the way the sector works, but that’s another story.
I’m excited to be on board and love your substack story. 💪
Hi Chris, great to have you here! Congrats on the pivot to writing about mental health, wellbeing and system change :) Really interesting to hear about the B Corp Dog Food business! I was joking with my husband yesterday saying that our dogs are system changers because they eat insect food 😂
Absolutely will be spreading the word about the business at some stage, writing about creativity this week - thanks 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Hello Gen and all!
I'm in the United States. My Substack and entrepreneurial journey are both less than 2 months old. Im learning a lot right now.
I'm a certified health and life coach, but what I feel motivated to embrace is 'vulnerability and resilience' coaching. I'm still sculpting it, but it feels good right now. We'll see if the for sticks.
I'm excited to be here to learn from you all. Thank you for creating this space Gen 🙏🏾
Hi Reginald, so great to have you here! Love the sound of your vulnerability and resilience coaching, looking forward to hearing more about it. Check out my interview with Jen Lewis for a conversation packed with vulnerability and resilience :) 🧡
Hi everyone! My name is Ayo and I live in New York. I'm currently running a publication here on Substack called Sounds Like Impact. It's focused on social impact podcasts and calls-to-action we can take to make a change.
Prior to this I worked in audio at Spotify, doing both editorial and production, and before that you could find me doing operations and program management work across the social impact sector and in research settings.
I am so glad to have found this newsletter and look forward to keeping up with what is going on here. People working on the frontlines of systemic change are so essential and I'm glad that you and your subscribers are making a community happen to support this work.
Hey Ayo! Thank you so much for subscribing and sharing what you're up to! Bridging audio and action with Sounds Like Impact is SUCH a brilliant concept, I can't wait to check out your playlists 🤩
It also seems like the perfect manifestation of your skills, interests and values. I hope you're enjoying the work alongside the consultancy and production you do! I bet it's super complimentary.
Do you have any advice or resources for people who are just getting started with audio as a content channel for creating impact in their work?
I couldn't agree more on your point about the importance of people working at the frontlines of systemic change. It's such hard work but so necessary for a more healthy and equitable future 😅. I also think there's a lot of joy and fulfilment to be had for those working in this space.
I'm so glad we've connected here, and I really look forward to following your work! 🧡
Thank you!
And yes, I have some thoughts! Maybe that can be something we talk about for a guest post? Let me know if you get some more questions about that!
Hello 👋🏼 I'm Julia, Lead Product Manager at Otta where we're building the better way to find a job in tech. Otta's product is designed to put candidates fast, tackling challenges like salary transparency and recruiters ghosting candidates. Ultimately, we want to be a career champion that helps candidates find fulfilling work.
Both inside and outside of work, I care about how we use our words to communicate, share knowledge and create belonging. And how we make our product teams more diverse and inclusive so that the products we build help more people.
I'm exploring new ways to amplify my impact and connection, and I'm excited to learn from others here, especially around how you manage your energy and pace yourself sustainably.
I live in the Hampshire countryside with my husband and our cavapoo Paddington. Time in nature, moving, cooking and making our house a home ground me and help me reconnect with my values.
Hello Julia! Thanks so much for sharing.
I'm always so struck by the clarity in Otta's messaging 👌You make such a great point about the power of language. Great communication skills are an important part of the system changer toolkit, so I'm really glad that you're here reminding us of this! Let us know if there are any resources you love to use with this in mind?
Hearing you loud and clear about managing energy levels and pacing yourself sustainably. This is something that all of us need help with from time to time when we do work we love and care about. I'll be sharing some thoughts on boundaries soon so look out for those.
I hope you're enjoying summertime in your new garden in Hampshire. Again, really glad to have you here, thanks for chiming in 🧡
Hi everyone 👋🏽 I'm Abadesi based in London and I know Gen from her past life in tech startups and venture capital. As minorities in our industry there's a solidarity that unites us women in tech- we've survived to tell the tales.
I'm the founder & CEO of Hustle Crew, a careers community that turns insight into training for employers who want to be more inclusive. Our training creates space for teams to have uncomfortable but necessary conversations about bias.
I'm here because I believe systems change is the only way to create lasting change! I'm attempting to dismantle systems of oppression like patriarchy and white supremacy within the tech ecosystem so the negative impacts aren't embedded into artificial intelligence. I want the future to be fairer than the present and I believe this is how I can make a difference... as serious as it sounds I'm actually a very laid-back person who enjoys reading fiction, playing piano, watching stand up and cooking food from the countries my parents grew up in: Nigeria and the Philippines.
If you ever have questions about equity, inclusion, belonging, ethics, responsible AI, HMU 👊🏾
Aba, I love this intro. Surviving to tell the tales... and do something about them! 🔥
Your work creating more inclusive cultures and leadership is SO important, and rich with insights on how lasting change happens in practice. I so enjoyed interviewing you for System Changers, and I especially appreciated hearing about all the work you do to look after yourself as you lead change. There's a lot we can all learn from you on this point 🙏
Keep us posted on what you're working on, and anything we can do to support you. It's so great to have you and all your system changing, piano playing, and comfort food cooking here 👊