Shows
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#16 Lieteke van Vucht Tijssen: Courageous executives - realising a cultural turnaround in a collaborative mannerWhat is the role of executive leaders in a collaborative change process? In this inspiring episode, we sit down withsociologist and former university executive, Lieteke van Vucht Tijssen. She takes us back to a pivotal moment in her career: stepping in as interim board member at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences in crisis. With financial instability and declining educational quality, Lieteke faced the challenge of turning things around—without resorting to yet another costly reorganization. Instead, she championed a bold cultural shift: moving from a rigid, top-down management style to a participatory, quality-driven educational ethos. She takes us be...
2025-06-1842 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#15 Babah Tarawally: The wisdom of Ubuntu - a path to connectionIn this episode, we welcome Babah Tarawally, a journalist, columnist, and author originally from Sierra Leone. Baba discusses the philosophy of Ubuntu and its relevance to creating a level playing field for collaboration. He shares his experiences as a migrant from Sierra Leone to the Netherlands, highlighting the challenges of integration and the importance of seeing each other as human beings. The discussion also touches on the need for reciprocity in relationships, the differences in how migrants and refugees are welcomed, and the role of community support systems in fostering a sense of belonging. Reflecting on the broader journey...
2025-05-0227 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#14 Siddharth GJ - The essence of collaboration beyond disabilitiesIn this episode, we welcome Siddharth, a senior banker from Bengaluru, India, with over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. Siddharth shares his inspiring journey of living with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his coordination, and how he has overcome numerous challenges to achieve success. He holds multiple master's degrees and has authored a book titled "Simply Being Sidd." Siddharth is also a motivational speaker who enjoys discussing topics such as leadership, management, and self-awareness. He shares stories of how his childhood experiences have made him mentally stronger and how he has learned to take control of...
2025-04-1824 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#13 Fiona Frank: Creating inclusive activism - courageous and intersectional leadershipJoin us for an inspiring episode with Fiona Frank, an educator, politician, activist, and consultant from the Netherlands. With over 22 years of experience, she teaches at the University of Applied Science in Amsterdam and the University for Humanistic Studies in Utrecht. In our conversation, Fiona shares her political journey and dedication to activism, particularly in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She recounts coordinating the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Utrecht during the COVID-19 lockdown, emphasizing the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in activism. Fiona advocates for courageous leadership that challenges the status quo to create real change. She highlights the...
2025-04-0433 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#12 Tineke Abma: Redefining research - the power of sitting next to, not in front of peopleIn this episode, we welcome Tineke Abma, a professor of arts and health at Erasmus University and Leiden Medical Center and executive director of Leiden Academy on Vitality and Aging. Tineke shares her fascinating experiences and insights on participatory research, particularly with older adults and people with disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of experiential knowledge and collaboration in making research relevant and impactful. This implies seeing people as a whole and creating a level playing field by sitting next to them rather than sitting in front of them and asking questions. For example, taking nursing home residents seriously and...
2025-03-1930 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#11 Rekha Nair: Dignity in mergers, acquisitions and restructuringIn this episode, we welcome Rekha Nair, an experienced HR consultant and founder of Align HR, based in Chennai, India. Rekha shares her extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and organizational restructuring, highlighting the importance of building trust, respect, and transparent communication.Key Highlights: Mergers and Acquisitions: Rekha discusses the significance of showing respect and building trust during M&A processes. She shares anecdotes about how small gestures of respect from senior leaders can create a strong foundation for successful integration. Continuous and transparent communication is emphasized as a crucial factor in reducing anxi...
2025-03-0134 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#10 Lucy Wairimu Mukuria: The essence of humanity, unpacking colonialism and identityIn this episode, we welcome Lucy Wairimu Mukuria from Nairobi, Kenya. Lucy shares her insights on how Western people often unconsciously reinforce colonial practices. She recounts personal stories about her experiences with racism and colourism, both in Kenya and internationally. Lucy emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and identity and how these factors contribute to the ability of Africans to stand up for themselves. She also discusses the challenges of social expectations and the impact of historical traumas on contemporary society. Lucy reflects on her 20 years of experience in psychology and the limitations of Western approaches to mental health. She...
2025-02-0839 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#9 - Ben Roberts: Power shift - collaborating to reimagine funding governance for systemic transformationDiscover how a group of visionaries broke traditional hierarchies to develop a collaborative model for funding governance. In this episode, we delve into the challenges and successes of co-creating a blueprint for systemic transformation. Learn how shared ownership and action learning led to blueprints for innovative funding practices. Hear firsthand accounts of how the team of the Blueprint Project 2023 navigated the complexities of shifting power dynamics and fostering a truly inclusive process. Tune in and be inspired by Ben’s stories of regenerative funding, the power of collaboration, and the potential for creating a more equitable future.Tr...
2025-01-3034 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#8 - Cihan Koral: From blue-collar workers to CEOs - facilitating change of perspectivesIn this episode, we welcome Cihan Koral, a seasoned facilitator and consultant based in Istanbul. Cihan shares her rich experiences working with diverse groups, focusing on social change and inclusivity within organizations. She provides stories illustrating the importance of consciousness, trust, and perspective in facilitation. Cihan emphasizes the need for understanding privilege and guilt in organizational settings and advocates for Deep Democracy practices to foster open dialogue and transformation. She concludes with a vision for the future of facilitation, highlighting its potential for healing and empowerment. Tune in to learn from real-life examples and gain practical insights into the...
2025-01-0927 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#7 - Laure Bruère - Dawson: Reconnecting through the Conversation Forum - the impact of listening to youthJoin us as Laure Bruère-Dawson shares her journey as a French facilitator, creating safe spaces for conversations that matter. She talks about the Conversation Forum, an event designed to bring people together during COVID-19, and how it developed into a yearly event. Laure highlights the importance of diversity, youth involvement, and listening across generations. She shares striking stories about the impact of young participants. Discover how these forums build strong connections and inspire inclusive dialogue. The theme of the event for 2025 is ‘If we shared the topics we really care about for next year, what might we discover?’. Laure...
2024-12-2033 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#6 - Craig Freshley: Bridging divides - The art of neutral facilitation in politically charged conversationsCraig Freshley is an expert in neutral facilitation and guiding good group decisions. He shares his experiences with Make-Shift Coffee Houses, designed to bridge divides between differing political views. He gives criteria and techniques for engaging diverse perspectives and creating a welcoming and safe conversation space. He emphasises the importance of a neutral venue, welcoming live music, and providing a set of ground rules. He describes the neutral facilitator as a 'referee' who ensures equitable participation. Additionally, Craig explains how he encourages involvement from underrepresented groups and addresses power imbalances in conversations and decision-making. Transcript.
Chapters
2024-12-1030 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#5 - Nancy Bragard: Understanding Cultural DNA - embracing diversity by practicing the Art of PossibilityNancy Bragard is an expert in intercultural consulting and collective intelligence. She shares a compelling story about the workshops she led for Dutch and French HR teams who were facing cultural misunderstandings. Through creative activities like developing cultural DNA profiles, she helped them uncover and appreciate their own cultural values as well as those of each other. The Dutch and French teams learned to navigate their differences, such as the Dutch tendency toward directness and the French preference for nuanced communication. She emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for open dialogue and highlights the value of diversity within te...
2024-12-0234 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#4 - Harold Shinsato: Self-discovery, taking responsibility for your own path
Harold Shinsato shares his journey in discovering the principles of Open Space Technology. He recounts his experiences as a consultant dealing with conflicts in large companies, his participation in self-organized Rainbow Gatherings that attracted 25,000 people, the transformative impact of COVID-19, and how what recently happened at the WOSonOS in Istanbul motivates him to take new steps in his professional path. He explores the connections between family constellations and Open Space Technology, highlighting the importance of ancestral wisdom. Additionally, he reflects on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and emphasizes the necessity of maintaining authenticity as human beings in a...
2024-11-2529 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#3 - Tova Averbuch: Shared Leadership - Challenges and OpportunitiesTova Averbuch shares insights from her extensive experience as a consultant, teacher, and facilitator of Organizational Development. Opening space on a level playing field means sharing leadership and power, which must have a good reason. She provides striking examples of when and how this works, even better in hierarchical organizations. Consultants/facilitators adopt the role of a midwife, fostering authentic participation of the formal leaders and inviting everyone needed in ever-widening circles in the system. Transcript
Chapters
Introduction
Looking for a new paradigm, bumping into Open Space Technology
My first Open Space experience
...
2024-11-0935 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#2 - Peggy Holman: Getting the whole system in the room for collective ownershipPeggy Holman talks about the importance of purpose and of diversity and inclusion in change processes. She shares insights from her extensive experience in journalism and facilitation, emphasizing the need for open spaces where all voices can be heard and valued. In her examples, she highlights the significance of purpose, the role of diversity in collective ownership, how deep listening breaks through tensions, and the ethical responsibility of facilitators to create hospitable environments that encourage authenticity and belonging. Read Transcript
Chapters:
Introduction
Inviting people to take responsibility for what they love
What is...
2024-10-2725 min
Creating a level playing field for collaboration#1 - Jane E. Lewis: Creating an environment where everyone feels successfulJane Lewis talks about collaborative spaces and creating an environment where everyone can feel successful. She tells the story of how this works in Studio Tainan, in Taiwan—a self-organizing space for co-creation. It starts with listening and understanding what people feel passionate about so creative energy can lead. Jane is an experienced facilitator and researcher, having lived and worked in Taiwan for over 30 years. TranscriptMusic: "Morning" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ChaptersIntroductionThe importance of listening and understandingLearning to think for yo...
2024-10-1629 min
VONK - PodcastsImpactvol AfstuderenIn deze podcast vertelt Tonnie van der Zouwen, voormalig Lector Sustainable Working en Organizing, over het project Impactvol Afstuderen. Een cocreatief onderzoek naar afstuderen in het economisch domein dat heeft geleid tot concrete handreikingen voor docenten, opleidingen maar ook studenten.
Meer informatie vind je op impactvolafstuderen.nl
2024-03-2133 min