2023 Marks a Historical Inflection Point
A Call for Adaptive Leadership in the Age of the Polycrisis and GenAI
Introduction
The year 2023 marks a historical inflection point where the demand for adaptive, responsive leadership intersects with the emergence of the Polycrisis and the advent of Generative AI (GenAI). Never before has there been such a pronounced need for leaders across all facets of life to navigate complexities with agility and foresight. There’s an urgent need to cultivate leadership insight at all levels and ages to harness the transformative potential of GenAI while mitigating the diverse challenges of the Polycrisis.
As the world grapples with unprecedented global challenges, the role of leadership has magnified its importance. The confluence of the Polycrisis with the rapid evolution of GenAI technology presents a unique opportunity and imperative for leadership development. The imperative is clear: to thrive in 2023 and beyond, individuals across all sectors must adopt leadership principles as dynamic and multifaceted as the challenges they face.
Leadership for All Ages
Acknowledging the expansive reach of the Polycrisis and the pervasive influence of GenAI, it becomes evident that leadership is no longer a skillset reserved for the few. Instead, it is an essential competency for all ages. Democratizing leadership development can empower individuals to make informed decisions, drive positive change, and navigate the complexities of our times with a sense of purpose and vision.
Intergenerational Responsibility and Leadership Renewal
As we delve deeper into the heart of the Polycrisis, it becomes increasingly clear that previous generations — notably the Boomers and Millennials — have not fully met their stewardship obligations to our planet. This lapse has set the stage for Gen Z and the forthcoming Gen Alpha to shoulder the responsibility of making profound decisions essential for restoring Earth’s life-sustaining systems. This scenario motivates designing the Innovator’s Journey learning program and the associated pedagogical model and formative assessment system. Innovator’s Journey is not just a program; it’s a clarion call for emergent generations to rise to the unprecedented challenge of ecological and societal restoration.
Intergenerational Call to Action
The year 2023 not only stands as a critical moment in history but also marks a turning point in generational accountability. The Innovator’s Journey equips the vanguard of Gen Z and Gen Alpha with the foresight, innovation, and ethical compass to undertake the arduous task left to them — the task of healing our planet. This white paper is an appeal for all sectors to invest in the leadership capacities of our youngest minds. By doing so, we empower them to rectify the oversights of the past and steer us toward a more sustainable and equitable future, harnessing the lessons learned to build a legacy of care, repair, and renewal for Earth.
About the Innovator’s Journey logo and wording
The slogan “interpret — insight — impact” encapsulates a progressive journey, symbolizing an innovator's analytical and insightful path to achieve meaningful impact. Coupling this with “Innovator’s Journey” reflects a narrative of growth and active engagement with challenges, resonating well with the ethos of proactive learning and transformation. It articulates a process of understanding, reflection, and action foundational to innovation and impactful change. The tagline encapsulates a thoughtful and action-oriented approach towards innovation and leadership skills development.
About the author: Greg Twemlow, Co-Founder of Future Skills Studio.
Greg Twemlow: Sharing what I’ve learned from my career of 35 years as a citizen of the world, parent, corporate executive, entrepreneur, and, since 2018, CEO of Future Skills Studio, focused on experiential learning programs.
