UPCOMING EVENTS
we. are. msls.
For 20 years the Master´s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) has been at the forefront of using education to cultivate leadership in the context of the sustainability crisis and create leaders capable of addressing the complex challenges humanity faces.
This outcome has been driven by the belief that society needs more strategic leaders, driven by sustainability values, and the ability to make wise decisions to cultivate a sustainable future. A leadership that is also required to respond to the increasing disruption and impacts caused by unsustainable systems. At MSLS, the Leading in Complexity (LiC) course has played a key role in developing these core leadership qualities in its students. The unique pedagogy and approach of the LiC course have meant much interest has developed in the MSLS programme and how it uses learning to teach students to lead in complexity. To explain this and discuss the programme as a whole, MSLS hosted an Open House for prospective students where we clarified more precisely why this type of education is needed, just how exactly it can be taught, and considered the question why it is important to learn how to lead in complexity. Hosted by the programme Co-Director Dr. James Ayers, he talked through the design and content of the Leading in Complexity course and spoke to some of the research that had emerged from the study of the MSLS programme that looked at the qualities needed by sustainability leaders to act in complexity. You could also meet students and alumni from the MSLS programme to learn more about their learning experience and how they apply what they learned at MSLS in their work. |
We were thrilled to offer yet another exciting MSLS Deep Dive session with you on the 3rd of December. This time dove deeper into the theme of climate-neutral European cities with Thomas Osdoba, the programme Director for NetZeroCities - an EU-funded collaborative platform of 33 organisations supporting the European Mission.
|
We were thrilled to offer this MSLS Deep Dive: In Conversation with Christiana Figueres event!
The conversation with Christiana built on a scaffolding of questions sourced from MSLS Alumni and deep-dive into topics surrounding sustainability, climate change, leadership, personal practice, and more. About Christiana Figueres Christiana Figueres is a globally recognized leader on climate change. She was the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2010-2016, where she played a pivotal role in the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement. Known for her ability to build consensus and drive transformative action, Christiana is a powerful advocate for a just and sustainable future. She currently leads Global Optimism, an organization dedicated to inspiring climate action, and co-hosts the podcast "Outrage and Optimism." |
In 2024, 200+ alumni from all over the world came back “home” to Karlskrona to celebrate 20 years of MSLS, and to re-connect with old and new friends.
MSLS would not be such a vibrant global tribe of changemakers were it not for the pioneers Göran Broman and Karl-Henrik Robèrt who started the MSLS programme at BTH back in 2004. Happy 20th birthday MSLS and thank you to the programme founders who have made this transformative learning experience possible! |
The Art of Hosting is an approach to leadership that scales up from the personal to the systemic using personal practice, dialogue, facilitation, and the co-creation of innovation to address complex challenges.
The Art of Hosting Training in Karlskrona in 2024 centered around the question of how practicing participatory leadership methods can transform our capacity to lead, both individually but also collectively in order to co-create a thriving future for all. For four days, 60 people from over 20 countries and with diverse backgrounds explored what this question means for them and how they can use participatory leadership methods to inform their own lives and work. |
|
Join us in applauding Dr. James Ayers for his successful PhD defense this summer!
James' research focused on what educators should consider when designing and implementing learning environments that promote leaders´ capabilities to lead effectively in complexity towards sustainability. His dissertation is a treasure trove of insights (link below). Congratulations Dr. James Ayers and a big shout out to MSLS alumna Alessandra Zaffiro for the beautiful graphic recording of the defense! |
This was an exciting online event with renowned complexity expert Jennifer Garvey Berger.
On Tue Dec 12, 2023, at 20:00 CET, Jennifer guided us through an interactive session where we have explored common mindtraps that hinder our ability to navigate complexity effectively. |
|
This trial lecture was a profound exploration of Dr. Merlina Missimer´s invaluable contributions to the field, dating back to her PhD dissertation on "Social Sustainability within the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development."
Merlina delved into various topics, including the intricate process of implementing social sustainability initiatives in corporate and municipal settings, her significant work in enhancing leadership capabilities for sustainability, and the essential knowledge she's gained about crafting learning designs that empower individuals to work strategically towards sustainability in these contexts. You could not attend the lecture or want to watch it again? Here is the recorded version for you, enjoy! |
Join us in applauding Dr. Jayne Bryant for her successful PhD defense in the summer of 2023!
Jayne's research focused on supporting and empowering sustainability transformation agents. Her dissertation is a filled with valuable insights:
|
We are living in an increasingly uncertain world with an accelerating speed and scope of ecological and social disruptions. As we witness the dying of old structures and ways of thinking, we lean into inviting emerging patterns and practices to weave our new social fabric. What connects us in the transition from this current reality to a thriving future for all is the sense of urgency and taking agency for change. Being in the flow of the transition requires us to listen attentively to the needs of our communities and respond wisely within our collective capacities.
With curiosity and open hearts, a group of students from MSLS opened the invitation for the 12th Art of Hosting training in Karlskrona to learn and reflect on the ways we are leading and participating in the transition towards sustainability. Together, we inspired each other to take courageous actions towards a future that is led by participation and togetherness. |
In this 90 min session, Dave Snowden guided us in an exploration of the latest thinking and practice around the Cynefin Framework.
This free online event was open for everyone and organized by MSLS. |
“There are unexpected possibilities that await in another order of parallel approaches. There is a territory of communication, relationships and daily living that allows for a total change — it is within reach, but not in the solutions currently being reached for.” - Nora Bateson
On 10 May the MSLS Programme invited Anders Wijkman to speak at the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona. Anders, a Swedish opinion leader, author and regular guest speaker at MSLS, presented and discussed ”Earth4All” - a report that is launched in summer 2022, partly as a 50-year follow-up to the Limits to Growth.
”Earth4All" is an international initiative, supported by the Club of Rome, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Studies, Stockholm Resilience Center and the Norwegian Business School. The purpose is to accelerate the systems-changes we need for an equitable future on a finite planet. For those of you who could not join us, watch the recording below!
|
We welcomed all change agents, facilitators, designers, hosts, and leadership practitioners to join Adam Kahane, director of Reos Partners, and the MSLS Programme for a conversation about his latest book ‘Facilitating Breakthrough: How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward Together’.
Adam has spent his career working as a leading thinker, organizer, designer, and facilitator of processes through which business, government, and civil society leaders can lead social change and move through 'tough problems'. He has written numerous books including: Solving Tough Problems, Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change and his work and thinking has been a source of inspiration to the MSLS Programme. We stepped into a conversation about how transformative facilitation can help create thriving, sustainable and just societies. This event was held in collaboration with Reos Partners and hosted by MSLS alumnus and Reos Associate Yannick Wassmer. For those of you who could not join us, watch the recording! |
|
In a world with increasingly big challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, migration, poverty and general divisions between people, it is vital we come together to make sense of and address them. We face these challenges as individuals, citizens of the Earth, and as communities and organisations. Engaging and energizing ourselves at these different levels requires skills in dialogue, working in complex systems, and helping the whole be more than the sum of its parts. This is why we called the 10th Art of Hosting Karlskrona training with the question:
How can we build our capacity to co-create the world we want to live in as humans, communities, organisations, and citizens of Earth? What capacities are required to work with these diverse groups within a complex and rapidly changing world? What is the individual’s role and how can we empower each other? The Art of Hosting training provided us with the space for such inquiries. It gave us the necessary methods and practices to explore our individual and collective roles in the world through meaningful conversations. |
“Will there be enough leaders in time?” It is this simple yet powerful question that Dr. Göran Broman and Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt put out in the world in 2004 and lies at the core of MSLS.
Over the years more than 700 of us - sustainability leaders from 86 countries - have said yes to this invitation to embark on a journey of transformation on the beautiful archipelago of Karlskrona. And now it´s time to come home! Our intention for the reunion was to renew and strengthen the sense of our community - to celebrate life and the work we do in the world. |