We are in complex times. If we want to contribute to shaping the systems of the future, we need to know how systems change. And we need the communities and inspiration that help us contributing to shifting those systems, together.
We know there is interest in this work… but what even is it?
In October 2025, with a simple email and a LinkedIn post, 100 people signed up for a call titled “The Future of Systems Change Education” hosted by Daniela Papi-Thornton of Systems-led Leadership and Anna Birney of the School of Systems Change.
One thing that was clear from the group was that there were many view points on what “systems change education” is, why it is needed, and what roles there are to play within it.
Rather than trying to take a linear approach to come to consensus on a definition, we realized something: the different views and different roles are NEEDED.
Here are some of the pathways to “systems change education” that community members put forth:
Some are prioritizing the role of having their educational offerings MODEL systems change:
Centering Indigenous knowledge, focusing on inner work as well as outer action, encouraging radical self-reflection and humility, and other pathways of changing their own educational offerings to align with a future vision of the world they want to contribute to creating
Some are prioritizing education FOR systems change:
With goals of helping those in their programs have the mindsets, skills-sets, tools, case studies, and strategies for understanding and contributing to systems change
Some are prioritizing education IN systems change:
Integrating opportunities for them, or the learners they work with, to explore, research, map, or design contributions to the immediate current contexts shifting around them in these times
Some are prioritizing broader ways of CONTRIBUTING to changing the education systems around them:
Being agents of change in their own institutions for rethinking and redesigning how, why, and for whom those internal systems function
And some are prioritizing BEING the change:
Doing the inner work, practicing presence, building a stronger connection to nature and the sacred, building and being interconnected to communities of practice that are also bringing in more grounded and grounding ways of being in the world, and so much more…
It’s time for all of it. It’s time we educate for systems change. It’s time we take actions to support systems change. It’s time to embrace being in and being a part of systems change. And to do that, it’s time to collectively understand how systems change.
One thing we know for certain about systems change…
…it is never something that happens simply by one person acting alone - it takes many varied contributions. Another thing we know: systems change is happening, even if we take a nap. So if you want to contribute to shaping the systems you care about - the education system, the economic systems, or far beyond - then you need to know how to contribute. And you need the community and inspiration to find our own unique you-shaped hole in the world where you can contribute your gifts into the collective change that is possible, together.
You might find that community here if:
You work in “systems”
If your skills, experience, or passion are related to systems understanding, systems thinking, or systems change, we’d love to have you here.
You work in “change”
If you work in “change” - i.e. innovation, social change, entrepreneurship, internal systems change work, or anything change/innovation related, join us!
And/or you are an “educator”
If you educate, from classrooms and boardrooms, to coaching and facilitation, there is room for you. Learn directly from educators bringing systems thinking into their work, organizations, and communities.
