The Systems Studio

Loved teaching #systemschange Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health last week - thank you for having us!

#Womxn leading #ecosystems and #systemschange in the unsung states of the US. I interviewed 35 womxn and their collective voices are a balm needed for this moment of polarization in the US. So I am going to share a quote from one of them, once a day, for a month. I will be hosting a webinar to convene people interested in learning more about this work-? join us in January 2025! Webinar: Womxn Leading systems change & ecosystems in Americas Unsung States Date: January 23 Time: 9 PT, 11 CT, 12 noon ET Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration) Register for the webinar here. https://lnkd.in/gpV73-GP Jasmine N. Hall Ratliff

#Womxn leading #ecosystems and #systemschange in the unsung states of the US. I interviewed 35 womxn and their collective voices are a balm needed for this moment of polarization in the US. So I am going to share a quote from one of them, once a day, for a month. I will be hosting a webinar to convene people interested in learning more about this research:? Webinar: Womxn Leading systems change & ecosystems in Americas Unsung States Date: January 23 Time: 9 PT, 11 CT, 12 noon ET Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration) Register for the webinar here. #Womxn leading #ecosystems and #systemschange in the unsung states of the US. I interviewed 35 womxn and their collective voices are a balm needed for this moment of polarization in the US. So I am going to share a quote from one of them, once a day, for a month. I will be hosting a webinar to convene people interested in learning more about this work:? Webinar: Womxn Leading systems change & ecosystems in Americas Unsung States Date: January 23 Time: 9 PT, 11 CT, 12 noon ET Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration) Register for the webinar here. https://lnkd.in/gpV73-GP Saras Chung The Systems Studio

#Womxn leading #ecosystems and #systemschange in the unsung states of the US. I interviewed 35 womxn and their collective voices are a balm needed for this moment of polarization in the US. So I am going to share a quote from one of them, once a day, for a month. I will be hosting a webinar to convene people interested in learning more about this work-? join us in January 2025! Webinar: Womxn Leading systems change & ecosystems in Americas Unsung States Date: January 23 Time: 9 PT, 11 CT, 12 noon ET Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration) Register for the webinar here. https://lnkd.in/gpV73-GP Claire Reid The Systems Studio

#Womxn leading #ecosystems and #systemschange in the unsung states of the US. I interviewed 35 womxn and their collective voices are a balm needed for this moment of polarization in the US. So I am going to share a quote from one of them, once a day, for a month. I will be hosting a webinar to convene people interested in learning more about this work:? Webinar: Womxn Leading systems change & ecosystems in Americas Unsung States Date: January 23 Time: 9 PT, 11 CT, 12 noon ET Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration) Register for the webinar here. https://lnkd.in/gpV73-GP The Systems Studio Susan Lightfoot Schempf

#Womxn leading #ecosystems and #systemschange in the unsung states of the US. I interviewed 35 womxn this summer and their collective voices are a balm needed for this moment of polarization in the US. So I am going to share a quote from one of them, once a day, for a month. From my research: “These womxn collectively are exceptionally skilled at forging relationships across political and ideological divides. It was so inspiring to hear the many, many stories of how these womxn build bridges in their work and I think the wider field of systems change could learn a huge amount from them.” I will be hosting a webinar to convene people interested in learning more about this work:? Webinar: Womxn Leading systems change & ecosystems in Americas Unsung States Date: January 23 Time: 9 PT, 11 CT, 12 noon ET Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration) Register for the webinar here. https://lnkd.in/gpV73-GP This was a project that I began while I was at The Systems Sanctuary Sanctuary and has traveled with me as I transitioned out to The Systems Studio H/T to #scalingdeep because these womxn are certainly doing a great deal of that! #bridging #systemschange?Anika Horn, Samantha Shaak, Claire Reid, Jackie Hansom, Jess Limbird, Pennie Foster-Fishman, Cecilia Wessinger, Gail Francis, Katie Rock, Shantel Wilkins, Katie Kaufmann , Saras Chung, Heather B. Navarro, Freya Bradford, Susan Lightfoot Schempf, Hannah Lancaster, MPA, Jill Pereira, Teri Garstka, Irma Chávez, Fay Horwitt, Norika Kida Betti, Maxine Clark, Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter, Ellie Scott (she/her), Sarah C. Murphy, Brittany Sickler, Melissa Roberts Chapman, Emily Hemingway, Srijita Ghosh, Kristy Klein Davis, Jasmine N. Hall Ratliff, Natalie Self, MSW, SHRM-CP, Mari Hicks PMP

Great to be SOCAP Global this year. My Bold & Brief speech: "I spent this past summer interviewing 35 womxn leading systems change and ecosystems across flyover country, Middle America, the Rustbelt, the Sunshine belt. As a Brit I’m not sure what to call this land exactly, but it's those States of the US that raise the eyebrows of my coastal colleagues... My takeaway is this - the womxn I interviewed have so much to teach us all. I lost count of the number who were working from lived experience of the systemic problem they were trying to solve. They were ex-psychologists, ex-sociologists, ex-teachers, and entrepreneurs themselves. In the professionalized field of systems change, this stands out. They are Master Bridge Builders. As Gail said? “People can get ideas in their heads, what a type of person is like. One of the things that ReAmp is good at is helping people get through that.” These womxn collectively are exceptionally skilled at forging relationships across political and ideological divides.?There is a humility among these them that I have found refreshing, and a deep commitment to the work because they care so much about the place they live. These are skills we so badly need at this moment in history. And as the old Feminist adage goes -’Whoever names the world, owns the world.’??As the field of systems change solidifies. As evaluation frameworks take hold and money starts to flow in new ways, we must be mindful of the unintended consequences for the people we leave behind. I know from my experience that many of the leaders who build the models of systems change and fund it, live and work in some of the most progressive cities in the world.?In places like London, New York, Boston, San Francisco. Some of you might be in this room. You might have moved out of the big city, but you probably live in the suburbs - surrounded by people who used to live in the big city!? My plea to you is this- as we fix these concepts and as you design your strategies, please do not forget the brilliant womxn who are blazing a trail in often very difficult political circumstances, in places you might not expect.?They are building infrastructure for long-lasting systemic change. I have learned that flyover country is a hotbed for systems change work.?And I believe strongly that these womxn deserve a seat at the table, they deserve your respect, and they would love to partner with you to make their work stronger. Thank you." You can read the full speech here: https://lnkd.in/gbAxi8Ny Register your interest for updates on this project here: https://lnkd.in/gqfbX3ch Thank you so much Laura Packer and other speakers: Brendan Lehan, New Capitalism Project Rachel Sinha The Systems Studio Jill Johnson, Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) Michael Hungerford, Seven Generations Capital Jared Yarnall-Schane, The Biomimicry Institute Jasmine Rashid, The Financial Activist Playbook #socap #systemschange #ecosystems #women

I will be speaking at #SOCAP this year and it feels like such a full circle moment for me.? I still remember when Charlotte Millar and I managed to make it there from the UK when we were working on The Finance Innovation Lab, over 10 years ago. I dug out an old blog and tried to find a photo, and I can’t, but I did find a picture of me with my F-Lab crew in London around the same time. Jennifer Morgan Richard Spencer- happy days. That conference planted so many important seeds for me. It was there I met David Hodgson and Timothy Draimin, who both went on to introduce me to a zillion people, including Tatiana Fraser - who went on to be my co-founder of the The Systems Sanctuary Sanctuary for 7 years. It set me thinking about what it would be like to move to the US. I’d hardly visited before and I fell in love with the pastel houses in SF.? 10 years later I became a US citizen. At a certain point along the way I was talking to? Kevin Doyle Jones about the need for creating a “SOCAP for Systems change”, to convene the emerging field of practice in the way that SOCAP had done for #ImpactInvesting. But alas it was just before I was about to have baby no. 3 and I had to be realistic about my ability to rally!?So glad the theme this year is #systemschange. My speech next Wednesday will be a slightly terrifying 7 minutes, no notes allowed, entitled “An English woman in Missouri: Stories of womxn leading systems change in the flyover states.” I will be sharing stories of the 35 brilliant womxn I have interviewed in the Center of America, who are blazing a trail in often very difficult circumstances.?Brief & Bold Talks: Deepening on Systems Change Wednesday 30 10.45. Sneak peak - it will begin like this:? “Four years ago I was sitting on the dusty floor of my kids' walk-in wardrobe, 2 miles up the road, here in the Inner Sunset in San Francisco, surrounded by princess costumes and robot uniforms, and I was crying."??? I’m super grateful to Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter, Who invited me to speak and to Laura Packer who is the most brilliant storytelling coach eva. If you will be at SOCAP, are interested in #funding #systemschange or building #ecosystems for positive change, I’d love to meet you. Who knows what collaboration could be sparked as a result?! https://lnkd.in/gUBgYj8p X Rachel?

Some things you may not know about me. I am from a long line of teachers. Both my parents were teachers (Drama/English and Textiles). On my dad's side, my Father, Grandfather and Great Great Grandfather were Headmasters. I grew up with the line ‘you can do anything, but don't become a teacher’, with a wry chuckle at home. Well I broke that promise - I’ve been teaching systems change internationally for 7 years, to mid-career professionals pushing for social and environmental change in my role as Co-Founder of The Systems Sanctuary. My Great Grandfather broke the line and was an artist. Harold Bird, was a cartoonist for Punch, a political satire magazine of the time and he drew anti-suffragette cartoons. I think I’ve been rebelling against that one ever since, championing women leading #systemschange and creating spaces for them to make sense of their experience as systems leaders. I like to think I channel that creative side too. I have always loved art and am a champion doodler as all work colleagues and classmates will attest. I use this to bring my systems change work to life- capturing key themes and creating a creative atmosphere in my work. My mother is one of the most down to earth people I know. She is from Lancashire, in the North of England, where they don't suffer fools gladly, and the worst thing you can do is be a big show off. They are also known for their sense of humor, and this sense of lightness is an important part of the culture I try to create everywhere I go, even when we’re talking about big, serious things.? I’ve lived in #London, #Sydney, #NewYork, #SanFrancisco and now I live in #StLouis in Missouri. Bit of a change, often met with an eyebrow raise, but I can’t rave about it enough to my skeptical friends in big cities. I love the natural beauty and the fact that we genuinely know our neighbors and take care of each other (flowers from my lovely STL friends when I was having a bad week earlier this year).? I am part of a big global network and I am also committed to bringing what I’ve learnt about systems change and ecosystem building to the region where I’m now raising my three kids (11, 9 and 6).

I have spent my summer interviewing womxn who are leading systems change in the middle of America, the sunshine coast, Americas Heartland, The South, The Rustbelt, the ‘flyover states’. Or as I define them - the places which result in a raised eyebrow if I mention them to people on the coasts. My own journey to this has been that I have been working in the international field of systems change for a long time. In 2020 we moved here St Louis. I was somewhat terrified at the thought. I grew up in the English countryside, but went on to live in Sydney, London, New York and San Francisco.?But St Louis has surprised?me. It is a place where I have found community like no other. (See pic of my fridge covered in thank you notes from the community gatherings we host, and are part of here).? And the womxn here leading systems change are doing it with heart and love for place. I have lost count of the number of Womxn who work in systems change and come from lived experience or are ex social workers, psychologists, teachers or front line workers. They face very specific challenges around politics that don’t support their work and they march forward anyway, navigating a way through by building deep relationships, listening to understand rather than judge, and building incredible ecosystems and networks for positive change on health, racial inequity, climate change, food an beyond. I am left inspired by the 35 stories I have heard and will be sharing more on this as it is in coming weeks. If you are interested in learning more about this research on #womxn #systemschange and #ecosystembuilding then please reach out. I’d love to find a way to share this near and far. Anika Horn, Samantha Shaak, Claire Reid, Jackie Hansom, Jess Limbird, Pennie Foster-Fishman, Cecilia Wessinger, Gail Francis, Katie Rock, Shantel Wilkins, Katie Kaufmann , Saras Chung, Heather B. Navarro, Freya Bradford, Susan Lightfoot Schempf, Hannah Lancaster, MPA, Jill Pereira, Teri Garstka, Irma Chávez, Fay Horwitt, Norika Kida Betti, Maxine Clark, Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter, Ellie Scott (she/her), Sarah C. Murphy, Brittany Sickler,?Melissa Roberts Chapman, Emily Hemingway,?Srijita Ghosh, Kristy Klein Davis,?Michele Battle-Fisher,?Jasmine N. Hall Ratliff, Natalie Self, MSW, SHRM-CP