DAY 1 - Who are we and what can we offer, to each other and the world?
The arrival day was exciting and joyful. Well-known faces lit up from seeing familiar faces and new connections were quickly made with the extended family. The feeling to be back to Rotundan and sit in a circle with all these lovely people was beyond expectations.
After some playful games on the field near the pier, we went back to Rotundan and we looked into the question on an individual level: Why is it important for me to be here? After some heart-warming discussions we stepped on the collective level and looked into the capacity needs of our MSLS community so we can reach the aspirations of our network.
We were astounded to see how deep the conversations went already on the first day and how similar needs and experiences are occurring all over the world. We are one community, no matter where we are and we need this community to be actively supporting each one of us!
With this feeling we were excited to leave for the class dinners and continue our conversations over a traditional Karlskrona meal :)
After some playful games on the field near the pier, we went back to Rotundan and we looked into the question on an individual level: Why is it important for me to be here? After some heart-warming discussions we stepped on the collective level and looked into the capacity needs of our MSLS community so we can reach the aspirations of our network.
We were astounded to see how deep the conversations went already on the first day and how similar needs and experiences are occurring all over the world. We are one community, no matter where we are and we need this community to be actively supporting each one of us!
With this feeling we were excited to leave for the class dinners and continue our conversations over a traditional Karlskrona meal :)
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Email message from Scott Grierson
_____________________________________ Dear friends, I'm sitting here late in the evening on a cold winter's day in Melbourne, looking at the photos of the celebration and gathering in Karlskrona as they materialise before my eyes. Its somewhat sobering to think that 'social media' didn't really even exist when the program began 10 years ago and yet here it is connecting me to the alumni network in all sorts of new and wonderful ways?! Suffice it to say, that though the years may pass, the significance of what you inaugurated on that August day in 2004 continues to resonate for me personally in so many profound ways, as I know it does for many others who were blessed with the opportunity of participating. I can't put into words how it feels to be a part of this 'family' and I would dearly like to be in Sweden right now, 'co-creating' with you all and simply 'hangin' out'! Happily though and by way of consolation, I am this very evening caring for my beautiful little fella - now 18 weeks old and, ironically, named 'Archie' (let's hope he has half the chutzpah and 'get up' of his namesake?!) - which gives me good reason to be here at home at this time! The years since graduating from the program have been challenging albeit continuously full of learning and reflection, made all the more richer for the gift of insight that you each inspired in me. The 'lens' through which I view the world is forever changed - there is no going back, and I wouldn't have it any other way! This strategic sustainability thing is no easier than it was before, nor any less pressing, and many a day nurturing this mission is lonely and hard...but slowly, almost imperceptibly, I do see positive change happening around me ("it is as if something is crumbling, decaying and exhausting itself, whilst something else still indistinct, is arising from the rubble"). |
You guys had the courage and the foresight to take a cheeky bite out of a really seriously big and hairy audacious problem and did it, in truth, well before anyone else I know of elsewhere in the world was able to articulate it, let alone structure it and give it quite so much meaning at the time. Sure, there were teething problems, but we all knew it and the experience was not diminished in any way because of it. Today, as you know, the world is full of inspiring and interesting sustainability initiatives and programs that have mushroomed as this agenda has swept the globe. Part of me likes to think that, if leadership is as much about 'creating an example' as anything else, then this 'movement' had a massive push from the likes of the MSLS program and the shockwaves it has created on an international scale. In signing off, I am reminded of the narrative behind a major advertising campaign run by the global recruitment firm, Manpower, one of my former employers - I can't recall if I have shared it previously but it seems appropriate at this point & went something like this: "Legend has it that the Spirits worried about the enormity of human potential - what would they do with all that power? Some said it should be cast from the mountaintops; others, that it should be cut adrift in space. And so, after much deliberation, they decided to put a little bit of it inside each of us, because it wouldn't occur to us to look there." So, thanks for revealing the potential guys, happy 10th birthday celebration MSLS and congratulations for everything you did in breathing life into your dream! Very Best Regards and proud vibes (with lots of red wine & good cheer!), Scotty Grierson |
DAY 2 - MSLS: A Journey into the Sustainability Challenge. Why us, why now?
A day where we stepped into the power of stories. The morning featured the premiere of the story of MSLS from the unique personal perspectives of the program founders and directors, in the afternoon current sustainability research at BTH and projects by alumni worldwide were presented.
Morning:
For the first time ever, the program founders and all five program directors that have served in the history of MSLS were present in the same room, at the same time. We couldn’t let this opportunity go by to invite them to tell the story of MSLS. The real one, not the glossy version.
Goran Broman and Karl-Hendrik Robert (founders), Dave Waldron, Pong Leung, Tamara Connell, and Tracy Meisterheim (program directors), and Bob Willard (longtime friend of the program) were invited to share their experiences in a chronological order to get a clear picture on where MSLS has come from, where it is now, and where it is going.
Goran kicked off with an anecdote about a phone call, one early Saturday morning with Kalle: what would happen if we would bring together sustainability thinking with leadership? It started with these two courageous men, asking a question that no one had asked yet.
Challenges and struggles came up, about working within a rigid system, limited finances, building the curriculum and structure along the way, the feeling of going down the Niagara Waterfalls with a kayak: what else can you do than let go and enjoy the ride? There was lots of laughter too, reminiscing a poor phone connection during the job interview just at the moment of negotiating salary, international potlucks, a fieldtrip to Belgium via Amsterdam (‘whatever happens in Amsterdam, stays in Amsterdam’).
If the story of MSLS is about one thing, it might be about collaboration, about building something together. As each spoke about their experiences, the program directors shared they couldn’t have done their work without the whole team.
Such power lies in listening and witnessing a beautiful story collectively. In deep gratitude for its continuous unfolding.
Morning:
For the first time ever, the program founders and all five program directors that have served in the history of MSLS were present in the same room, at the same time. We couldn’t let this opportunity go by to invite them to tell the story of MSLS. The real one, not the glossy version.
Goran Broman and Karl-Hendrik Robert (founders), Dave Waldron, Pong Leung, Tamara Connell, and Tracy Meisterheim (program directors), and Bob Willard (longtime friend of the program) were invited to share their experiences in a chronological order to get a clear picture on where MSLS has come from, where it is now, and where it is going.
Goran kicked off with an anecdote about a phone call, one early Saturday morning with Kalle: what would happen if we would bring together sustainability thinking with leadership? It started with these two courageous men, asking a question that no one had asked yet.
Challenges and struggles came up, about working within a rigid system, limited finances, building the curriculum and structure along the way, the feeling of going down the Niagara Waterfalls with a kayak: what else can you do than let go and enjoy the ride? There was lots of laughter too, reminiscing a poor phone connection during the job interview just at the moment of negotiating salary, international potlucks, a fieldtrip to Belgium via Amsterdam (‘whatever happens in Amsterdam, stays in Amsterdam’).
If the story of MSLS is about one thing, it might be about collaboration, about building something together. As each spoke about their experiences, the program directors shared they couldn’t have done their work without the whole team.
Such power lies in listening and witnessing a beautiful story collectively. In deep gratitude for its continuous unfolding.
MSLS History
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MSLS Research at BTH and beyond
BTH Research Göran - overview of Research Alliance for SSD Sven Cesar André Merlina Tita |
Research beyond BTH - friends Brendan George Kalle Bob |
PDF download of MSLS Related Research & Projects
Breakout into deeper conversation/presentation around presented research topics
Anders Nielsen
Blekinge Offshore Project
one man's big vision - playing the master chess game anticipating needs
Research beyond BTH - MSLS Alumni
Breakout into deeper conversation/presentation around presented research topics
Anders Nielsen
Blekinge Offshore Project
one man's big vision - playing the master chess game anticipating needs
Research beyond BTH - MSLS Alumni
Gala Dinner
DAY 3 - Practicing Sustainability in Life and Work
Open Space
Open Space Topics
MSLS Conference
Sustaining MSLS
Templates for Sustainable Product Development
Groundwork: How To Prepare the Field for Effective Collaboration
Leverage Points to Open the Hearts & Minds of CEOs to Sustainability
Words Create World - words that introduce ideas for the future we want
How can MSLS Network? Help promoting the law against Ecocide
Energy Futures Lab
How To Make the Card.COOP Web Campus Thrive
MSLS Conference
Sustaining MSLS
Templates for Sustainable Product Development
Groundwork: How To Prepare the Field for Effective Collaboration
Leverage Points to Open the Hearts & Minds of CEOs to Sustainability
Words Create World - words that introduce ideas for the future we want
How can MSLS Network? Help promoting the law against Ecocide
Energy Futures Lab
How To Make the Card.COOP Web Campus Thrive
DAY 4 - Tapping the Potential of the Network
Ideas, Groups and Commitments
Convergence
Day Hosts: Anne Madsen and Scott Perret
Sensing the Need
We started by looking at what people said they wanted out of the reunion at the start of the week, then looking at how the flow of the week had gone so far to see what had emerged, shifted or been confirmed about that, so we could see what the group most needed to converge about in order to feel the reunion had been a success. It turned out convergence was needed around clarifying shared purpose and getting down to action.
We noticed:
- Diversity of opinion around shared purpose—what the Alumni should do and be together, and around “the Network” and type of relationship people want with it
- Hunger to enhance the visibility and success of the network
- Hunger to step into action and not just keep talking about things
We then heard the commitments from all the groups, and “accountability cops” volunteered to follow up with all groups to check on their success in achieving their actions by their chosen deadlines, then report back to the whole group.
We understood these were many small beginnings, but it was a concrete start on the many areas requiring attention, that people had energy to pursue. A lot was accomplished in a short, 4-hour session with 70 people!
Groups & Commitments
Below is an overview of the groups that formed on Thursday. See who joined them and what they all committed to in this document.
MSLS Meta Purpose
A world class resource to trust and learn from. - Big Purpose to stand for. - Systematic Sustainability - Passion - Our way of seeing the world and how we are an integral part of it. - United voice for sustainable future & opportunity.
Network Function - Legal Entity
Create a legal entity with a strong brand to find and apply for funding.
Business case for alumni to raise 100k,
to focus on further funding, by hiring two people for one year.
Specific Actions & Projects - Association
Create association with committee representative from each year.
Start Google Doc or folder as stepping stone for a website.
Network Function - Website
Enabling tech & communication tool.
Network Structure
To create the infrastructure for the network to collaborate.
Specific Actions & Projects - Map
Create a map with more functions of all MSLS alumni.
Have a plan B for another Google Map.
Webinars?
Connect with other networks.
Community of Practice & Support - Community of Practice
Spreadsheet as a database
with bios, contacts, keywords, search function.
Community of Practice & Support - Co-learning
Co-learning relationship structure
Network Function - Learning Community
Learning community around education.
Act as a platform and resource to the outside world.
Network (family) Culture
