State of the Field of Network Leadership Development

Authors

  • Bruce Evan Goldstein Associate Professor, Environmental Design Program, University of Colorado - Boulder, USA. Corresponding Author: brugo@colorado.edu
  • Kim Sensener Research and Operations, Transformations Community - Malmö, Sweden
  • Liz Weaver Co-CEO, Tamarack Institute - Hamilton, Canada
  • Russ Gaskin Manager, CoCreative - Washington DC, USA
  • Nono Sekhoto Sector Lead for Agribusiness Network, African Leadership Academy - Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Kerstin Tebbe Founder, Collective Mind - Washington DC, USA

Keywords:

Transformation, Systems change, Network leadership development, Sustainability leadership

Abstract

This article explores core themes of network leadership, collective impact, and capacity building for systems change, as discussed in a “State of the Field” panel at the Transformations Conference 2023. Leading system change experts examined the training of systems leaders, essential competencies, and challenges to the field. They suggested team-based and reflective leadership strategies and discussed entry points for early-career professionals. The panelists also shared their transformative experiences in network leadership, highlighting the need to develop more opportunities for systemic change capacity-building in the Global South and other underserved communities.

Author Biographies

Bruce Evan Goldstein, Associate Professor, Environmental Design Program, University of Colorado - Boulder, USA. Corresponding Author: brugo@colorado.edu

Bruce Evan Goldstein serves as the Lead Weaver of the Transformations Community and Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, in the Program in Environmental Design. He deeply values the TC and is dedicated to nurturing it. His research and practice focus on supporting transformative networks and communities.

Corresponding Author: brugo@colorado.edu

Kim Sensener, Research and Operations, Transformations Community - Malmö, Sweden

Kim has an undergraduate degree in Design + Change from Linnaeus University in Sweden. During her education, she built up and coordinated a local climate student association to push for climate action. With her multidisciplinary background in design, sustainability, research and political science, Kim is striving to contribute to a future beyond sustainability.

Liz Weaver, Co-CEO, Tamarack Institute - Hamilton, Canada

Liz Weaver is the Co-CEO of Tamarack Institute, an organization that champions collective impact and collaborative leadership. Under her guidance, the Tamarack Learning Centre focuses on enhancing community change leadership. Liz describes network leadership as being at the core of Tamarack's operations, even if not always labelled as such. Emphasizing equity, inclusivity, and the importance of involving those directly affected by the issues, Tamarack has witnessed the transformative power of collective action, evidenced by the notable reduction in Canada's poverty rate.

Russ Gaskin, Manager, CoCreative - Washington DC, USA

Russ Gaskin is the Managing Member of CoCreative, a consultancy that has nurtured nearly 60 impact networks aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. By contrasting the 'programme mind' with the 'network mind', Russ highlights the rising significance of a collaborative, collective decision-making approach. His journey into network leadership highlighted the necessity of embracing and leveraging differences for systemic change. This has led CoCreative to celebrate differences and support collaborations to harness them for deeper innovation.

Nono Sekhoto, Sector Lead for Agribusiness Network, African Leadership Academy - Johannesburg, South Africa

Nono Sekhoto is a multifaceted leader with a background in financial services, farming, and global agricultural stakeholder engagement. As a key advocate for youth in agriculture, she believes in the power of networks to unlock vast opportunities. Through her work with the African Leadership Academy and training from the "Converge Network Leadership Series", Nono has refined her skills to efficiently support and cultivate network relationships, underlining the importance of trust and mutual understanding.

Kerstin Tebbe, Founder, Collective Mind - Washington DC, USA

Kerstin Tebbe, the founder of Collective Mind, has dedicated two decades to backing networks and multi-stakeholder collaboration. She views network leadership as a unique blend of mindset, skill set, and approach that differs from conventional norms. Having worked within a global network, Kerstin realized the need for specialized understanding to operate effectively in such environments. With Collective Mind, she aims to bridge the gap between individuals in the network field, fostering collective learning and promoting innovative network practices to drive change.

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Published

2023-12-19

How to Cite

Goldstein, B. E., Sensener, K., Weaver, L., Gaskin, R., Sekhoto, N., & Tebbe, K. (2023). State of the Field of Network Leadership Development. Social Innovations Journal, 22. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/6956

Issue

Vol. 22 (2023): Transformative Partnerships: Proceedings of Transformations Conference '23

Section

Sensemaking and States of the Field

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2023 Bruce Evan Goldstein, Kim Sensener, Liz Weaver, Russ Gaskin, Nono Sekhoto, Kerstin Tebbe (Author)

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