“It’s been such a privilege to work with Adaptive Edge— who is really the learning journey expert. We learned so much… most of all about the presence of mind and the heart that’s required to take participants to the edge of chaos and guiding them back gently to a place of groundedness with new visions of the future. Thank you Nicole!”
This customized program helps senior leaders accelerate new thinking and shift their assumptions about the future in order to implement effective strategic transformation. Flexible modules blend cutting edge content, curricula, field work and action learning so participants can “learn as they do,” building new adaptive skills at both the individual and team level. Programs range from one week to three months.
Convening great minds from business, government and civil society, we work collaboratively to “unstick” complex social problems whose solutions are vital to a better future. We use proven methods such as the U-Process to catalyze systemic change on everything from climate change to political conflicts, trade negotiations and unsustainable business models. Change labs are long term engagements, lasting one or more years, and are funded by the participants along with third-party donors.
Many of the leaders who come to us have the desire to catalyze disruptive change in their organizations or across a sector or system. Often combined with a multi-stakeholder “Change Lab” or strategic transformation project, this training helps them build the capacities to manage these challenges in a creative and empowering way.
Underlying all our work is a mastery of the fundamental methodologies for foresight, collaboration and communication. This list serves as a primer for these fields and gives context to our approach. Most research is based on extrapolating data and trends from the past. Foresight research is focused on trend-breaks and discontinuities that may transform the future. As part of our offerings, we often provide curated multimedia “primers” on key future trends, ideas and developments.
Using proven dialogue and facilitation techniques, we enable groups to find common ground and co-create a shared future. Be it at a conference, workshop, meeting or negotiation, we carve out safe, productive spaces for these authentic conversations to emerge.
This customized training is designed to prepare future leaders to deal with uncertainty, manage through change and build strategic decision-making competencies. Programs range from one to five days and include a combination of classroom and field work.
Just as the name implies, this practice focuses on identifying key trends, drivers and indicators that improve an organization’s ability to expect and prepare for the unexpected. A common output is a future dashboard tool that can be embedded into the organization.
A comprehensive process, we help organizations create their own innovation “greenhouses” where new disruptive ideas can grow and flourish. These labs are usually a six-month to multi-year process, including project design, team selection, ethnographic research, prototyping new models and identifying key metrics for success.
Ranging from one to a series, these workshops focus on identifying an organizations’ innovation strategy. Key outcomes include identifying and prioritizing key innovation opportunities, projects and prototypes.
For over ten years, we have been pioneering a new kind of conference, one that knocks down the podium to accelerate collaboration, insight and action. Using a range of technologies, crowdsourcing approaches, platforms, immersions and more, these sessions engage participants in unique content and memorable, productive experiences – the kind that foment ongoing participation.
These eye-opening “in the field” experiences help leaders discover the future in the present— the key strategic “aha!” moments that often elude market research and mainstream media.
Customized experiences expose leaders to cutting edge ideas, innovations, people, projects and places. Journeys range from one to ten days for groups large or small, and can be conducted anywhere in the world, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo, Mumbai and Mombasa. With our multi-sector international expertise, we’ll take you to a place of unexpected inspiration. Learning Journey White Paper
Using scenario planning and foresight tools, we take a longer view approach to risk assessment, which helps examine key uncertainties and identify shifting assumptions over time. Not only does this improve decision-making in the short term; it enables an organization to be more adaptive in the long run.
The most widely used long term planning tool, scenario planning provides a structured way to think about the future—whether it be two or 20 years out. Unlike single point forecasting, the scenario approach explores a range of futures, opening leaders up to broader possibilities and strategic choices. The process builds new knowledge, generates innovative ideas, improves decision-making and aligns organizations around goals and decisions. Engagements range from three months to two years, depending on depth and complexity.
Developed for time-constrained senior executives, these retreats are facilitated conversations on key longer-term strategic issues (10-40 years). Using proven dialogue methods, participants are quickly guided to the heart of the matter, generating clear choices and tangible outcomes.
These inspiring interactive talks cover multiple areas of expertise, from globalization to technology innovation, sustainability, resiliency and any other field that should be on the organization’s radar. This horizontal, cross-sector approach results in insights not often captured in mainstream media.
