About the Academy

The Academy for Systems Change is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing the field of awareness-based systemic change in order to accelerate ecological, social, and economic well-being.

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What is systems change?

Systems change is inherently an “inner” and “outer” process or journey. This work involves deep shifts in paradigms, mental models, relational practices, and taken-for-granted ways of operating, as much as it involves shifts in organizational structures, metrics, goals, policies, and procedures. Because of this, we believe that the development of self is foundational. This inner work – which involves developing awareness, compassion, and analysis – also extends to teams, networks, organizations, and ultimately to the larger systems within which we work.

Our guiding principles and values

Inspired by the words of Donella Meadows, who was a colleague and teacher to many of us, our values include:

  • Love and care: nurturing values that encompass self-respect, inclusiveness, tolerance, responsibility and equality;
  • Collaboration: acknowledging we can’t be transformative by acting alone, we must work across geographical and functional boundaries to create more just and sustainable communities and organizations across the world;
  • Community: reaching out to communities to develop the synergies created when individuals work together;
  • Thoughtfulness: being open to new ideas and sensing our impacts on the wider system as a means of bridging to a more sustainable future;
  • Whole System Vision: learning to see, and helping others to see, the continually emerging, inter-connected nature of living systems;
  • Leadership: developing a network of Systems Leaders who can balance the personal, intellectual, emotional and social aspects of leading;
  • Thriving: imagining systems – communities, nations and ecosystems – that can regenerate and prosper in spirit and physical wellbeing;
  • Transcendence/transformation: fostering hope, which is the doorway to new action;
  • Sufficiency: challenging the myth of material growth as the answer to all problems and demonstrating the benefits that accrue when we live and work in harmony with each other and Nature.