Kara Connell, MBA’s Post

Did you know that over the weekend we celebrated International Day of Democracy? Democracy thrives when people feel a sense of belonging and the power to co-create a common world. However, the reality is that our systems were not built to cultivate connection, trust, and agency for all. Many people remain unengaged or unaware of the roles they could play, or, are unconvinced of their power to make a difference. Democracy, equity, and well-being are all inextricably linked - so how do we start to change this perception and encourage everyone to participate? 💡 One thing we do is identify and amplify what stewards across the U.S. are doing to build civic muscle and cultivate belonging within their communities. More and more changemakers believe we can and must bridge differences and move beyond issues that divide us and stifle progress—and they are showing us how. Developing and supporting the capacities of stewards—and creating a movement around it—can help us get closer to building a vibrant, just, and multiracial democracy. Let's tap into and lift up the lived experiences and brilliance of everyday Americans who are working to transform their communities. Below and in the comments are just a couple of resources you can explore and share to get started or reinvigorate your journey to fully participating in our democracy. 💡 Learn about the Building the Will to Thrive Together movement to get involved today: https://lnkd.in/eJK86G62 💡 Listen to the Unsung Stewards podcast and read about this work on our Stewards Rising platform: https://lnkd.in/gdaDJeYm and https://lnkd.in/eejRePmb #democracy #internationaldayofdemocracy #stewardship

Consistent competence yields excellent results. 📌Today, one of our social media platforms reminded us that a year ago on this day, 31 August, we ran a successful campaign inviting leaders from the public, private and social impact sectors to join us at the 2nd edition of #TheNGOWhispererSummit2023, under the theme, 'The Future is Here' held virtually on 29-30 Nov. 2023. We are at it again! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 🗣️Join us at the 3rd edition of #TheNGOWhispererSummit2024, under the theme, 'SDG2030 - Every Action Counts'. 🎯 This is a summit like no other. Your contribution will be part of the collective report that we will submit on the #SDG2030Platform this year. ⁉️Someone asked, can I join you online? 🌐 Yes, you can join us virtually across the globe and in-person in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. ⁉️How can I participate? 🤝🏿 You can participate as a #delegate, #abstractpresenter or as a summit #partner: ✅ DATE: 19 - 20 November 2024 ✅ TIME: 09:00 - 21:00 GMT ✅ LINK: https://lnkd.in/e9K3eUMq 🛒Get your early bird ticket by 30 September 2024 and save 50% See you at the Summit. ~ Carolyne A. Opinde Dr.h.c., Convenor and Global Chair Ramona Houston, PhD, PMP, US Chair #socialinnovation #socialinvestment #socialimpact #TheNGOWhispererSummit #sdg2030action #sdg2030

Join me today at #UKREiiF2024 as I answer the question: 'Is social value the key to productive people and prosperous places?' I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments...

How did you do this year? If you’re reviewing your 2024, ask yourself if you met your own expectations (not the expectations of others). I didn’t. Despite it being a year full of personal highlights, I felt I had to pivot towards convening the health innovation ecosystem to address the problems with the innovation journey. My thinking is based on the following 4 points: 1) We face a generational crisis in health and care (workforce, ageing, NCDs etc.) 2) Innovation at scale is essential to address this, rather than a nice-to-have, although it requires nuance. Importantly, this requires innovation adoption at scale, not just deployment or spread 3) We won’t get innovation at scale unless we make it easier for innovators, specifically by aligning the innovation journey which is so misaligned that we are pushing innovators towards other markets  4) There’s a gap here because the pressing need to correct the misalignment of the innovation journey is not well understood or high up enough on the agenda (despite the consistent feedback of vendors, investors, commissioners, policy makers, frontline staff, innovation agencies etc.) It’s this gap that I am now focused on. Apart from that unexpected pivot, it's been an amazing year. I ran my LinkedIn profile through coauthor[dot]studio (image below), and I didn't expect my vibe to be 'Architect, Mentor, Director', but here are a few of many highlights from 145 (!) LinkedIn posts in 2024: Jan - The Vita Dinner at Arab Health - https://lnkd.in/eVxXRqwH Feb - The response to me speaking out about Gaza - https://lnkd.in/eKgAn-X3 Mar - Wondering why people feel sorry for me in Ramadhan, Iftar at Rewired, and launching The Equity Charter - https://lnkd.in/einsZvPG Apr - Hitting 500k+ impressions in 90 days on LinkedIn - https://lnkd.in/eCcWGeUc June - HLTH Europe, the best event of the year - https://lnkd.in/er4NnrNs July - Rejoining GOSH as their Head of Commercial, The Equity Charter Summit, a 4 city tour of China, and Honorary Fellowship of the APM - https://lnkd.in/eNpeCvCf Sep - APNA NHS awarding me The Shining Light Award, and being named by EqualityX in the list of 50 Influential Muslims in Europe (in between trips to Singapore and Shanghai) - https://lnkd.in/e5wHRU6a Nov - The success of the LIHE Breakfast -https://lnkd.in/efvjTvxr

Great to see you in Boston, Shannon Kennedy! Welcome to The Digital Economist. Shannon is the Founder & CEO of Sekhmet Advisors, bringing 30 years of experience in healthcare policy, regulation, compliance, and privacy leadership. With a strong focus on technology transformation and artificial intelligence ethics, Shannon is passionate about democratizing innovation for rural and community health organizations. A dedicated advocate for the ethical use of AI, Shannon donates strategic consulting to healthcare startups developing technologies that improve humanity’s health. Her expertise and commitment to advancing equitable healthcare solutions align closely with The Digital Economist’s mission to create systemic change and foster a human-centered global economy. I look forward to the impactful contributions Shannon will bring to this transformative fellowship community. Learn more and apply for the 2025-26 Executive Fellowship: https://lnkd.in/d6hbU-Ps JOIN THE DIGITAL ECONOMIST DAVOS 2025 DELEGATION Davos 2025 marks our 5-year anniversary of leading transformative discussions, advancing sustainable global economic change. We are accepting expressions of interest to join our delegation until November 30, 2024. For more information, contact us at davos@thedigitaleconomist.com. 🗓️ Join our annual roundtable series on December 12-13, 2024 📍 Virtual | Global Request invitation: https://lnkd.in/dT5ET2m6 The Digital Economist's annual roundtable series under the theme, Fractured Futures, convenes leaders to confront these realities and establish how inclusion, innovation, and determination can overcome division. By rethinking policy, harnessing transformative technologies, and championing human-centered economic models, we can shape a future that leaves no one behind. #SeniorExecutiveFellows #TheDigitalEconomist #Leadership #HealthcarePolicy #AIEthics #TechnologyTransformation #HumanCenteredEconomy #InnovationForGood #HealthcareCompliance #GlobalImpact #EthicalTechnology #SystemicChange #VisionaryLeaders #RuralHealth #CommunityHealth #DigitalTransformation

➡ The Ashoka Changemaker Summit kicks-off today in Hamburg, Germany. The Summit will offer conversations and experiences that will challenge prevailing preconceptions about who can contribute to real change. And it will provide new answers, showcasing the work of leading social innovators who are already building a future in which truly everyone can be a part of creating solutions. Re-Imagine Europa will proudly participate in the session "The Participation Lasagna: How Does Citizen Participation Look on European, National and City Levels?", tomorrow September 6th, at 10:45 AM (CEST). The session will delve into the layers of #citizenparticipation in #governance across the European Union (#EU), national, and city contexts. From EU #policymaking to #grassroots initiatives in local communities, explore the diverse forms of participation and their impact on decision-making processes. Find out more about it here: https://lnkd.in/ghs_-Ere #TrueParticipation

Is social value the key to productive people and prosperous places?... 🗓 Join Bidwells and Socius at #UKREIIF2024 for an educational session on how investing in long-term social impact can lead to better development decisions, attract top-tier talent, and foster resilient, prosperous communities. 🌟 What to expect from the panel: • Practical insights from industry leaders using case study examples • A deep dive into how societal well-being and diversity can drive a more productive economy • Followed by a networking drinks reception where you can connect with professionals who are reshaping the industry 📍 Don’t miss out! No need to register – just make sure it’s in your diary, and come along to find out more! Mark Teasdale, Liam Ronan-Chlond, Isabelle Parasram OBE, Sophie White, Nicola Mathers #ProductivityEngine #SocialValue #BusinessResilience #DiversityInclusion

🎉 Reflecting on a Year of Impact and Innovation 🎉 As 2024 comes to a close, the ThinkPlace UK team reflects on the challenges we’ve tackled, the partnerships we’ve forged, and the meaningful impact we’ve created together. 🌍✨ This year has been one of immense growth and collaboration, driven by our commitment to designing with—not for—the communities we serve. Our 2024 highlights include: 🌟 Co-creating inclusive solutions: Empowering over 100 SMEs across Africa and the Middle East through innovative, design-led approaches, advancing youth employment and social impact with initiatives like the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE). 🌟 Strengthening partnerships: Building trust and alignment for long-term success, including supporting Cambridge Cleantech in brokering and strengthening connections among ClimateTech ecosystem actors in the UK and Europe’s 'SuperCluster' to advance collaborative innovation. 🌟 Driving insights into action: Partnering with Wellcome Trust to inform global infectious disease strategies by capturing grassroots insights, ensuring vulnerable communities are central to health solutions. 🌟 Expanding our reach: Connecting people and ideas globally to address critical challenges. Highlights include collaborating with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change to explore low-orbit satellites for digital connectivity in disaster-affected areas. At the heart of all these achievements is the power of collaboration. None of this would have been possible without our incredible clients, partners, and the communities we’ve worked alongside. 🏞️ The Road Ahead: Shaping 2025 In 2025, we’ll build on these lessons, focusing on diversifying funding, deepening expertise in areas like climate engagement, and leveraging our strengths in systems thinking and social behaviour change. We’ll continue fostering partnerships with universities, private sector actors, and local organisations to amplify impact and align with global priorities, creating scalable, sustainable solutions for the challenges ahead. To everyone who has been part of our journey—thank you for your dedication, creativity, and vision. Here’s to an even greater impact in 2025! 💡🌟 #SocialImpact #DesignForImpact #ThinkPlace #InclusiveInnovation #YearInReview #2025Goals

Hello Changemakers and Social Innovators, Welcome to an amazing week! Today, we want you to embrace creativity and think outside the box to solve pressing problems this week! As changemakers and social innovators, our mission is to tackle the world's most pressing issues with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. Creativity isn't just a tool—it's the heartbeat of social change. By thinking outside the box, we open up a world of possibilities, foster innovation, and inspire others to join us in creating a better world. Our creative endeavours can break free from conventional constraints and pave the way for groundbreaking solutions. Let's commit to embracing our creative potential. Challenge yourself to innovate and collaborate with others to bring visionary ideas to life. Together, we can reimagine and reshape our world for the better. Let's inspire, innovate, and lead with creativity. #MondayMotivation #IdeationHubAfrica #SocialInnovation #GlobalImpact

PSA 📢 Have you heard about the world's largest research on Changemakers? Joining this movement as a youth and now approaching the end of that age bracket, I've never felt more understood. The practical challenges faced by Changemakers and why some motivated ones may still 'drop-out' midway due to life circumstances are seldom discussed. While it can be seen as 'just' another research initiative, it marks a crucial step in supporting those young people striving to truly make a positive impact on society. For organizations advocating for changemaking and social innovation among youths, consider becoming a Network Partner for The Possibilists to amplify the voices of your Changemakers (by sharing the upcoming survey in February). It is a small action, that could make a whole lot of difference. I have reached out to a couple of organisations in Singapore and Asia personally, but I am sure there are still many that I do not know of that should be represented. So friends of linkedin, please help share this message / drop me a DM to recommend/ let me know if your organisation is keen to join 🙏 There is an upcoming Info Call today (Thursday Jan 16 2025) at 13:00 CET [Register here: https://lnkd.in/gTPDcV7A] or on Tuesday Feb 4 2025 at 13:00 CET [Register here: https://lnkd.in/g9yPsGzy]. 👉 Learn more about The Possibilists here: https://lnkd.in/dCXJ7Ffs 👉 See current Network Partners: https://lnkd.in/d2eVUUJR