3 Ways, Changemakers Chase the Impossible Dreams

Welcome to the 7th edition of Creative Change Newsletter, which now has 35,000 changemakers from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe who subscribe to this! Join in the conversations about views, ideas and balm for changemakers to remake our world for good here.

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In the city of Geneva, which is a city of audacious changemakers, here is what I learnt about the city and from the community of Globethics

1. Chase the impossible dream

2. Build with the dream in mind

3. Inspire changemakers to chase their dreams

Everyone knows the symbol of the Red Cross which in recent years due to rising conflicts is being seen too often. But few may know or remember the relationship of this critical humanitarian organization to the city or even its founder, Henry Dunant.

Other than the fact that Geneva is really a beautiful city, it is the home to a number of audacious changemakers who challenged the status quo of their time, whether it is faith, peace-building or coming to the aid of the wounded and dying.

The city breathes changemaking and is a monument to different impossible dreams. One such dream is the aim to end all wars in the concept of the League of Nations, the dream of President Woodrow Wilson who entrusted this vision to the city - the first intergovernmental organization established “to promote international cooperation and to achieve international peace and security”. As we know now, it did not work but it was the precursor to the United Nations . Peace is an impossible dream yet there are still thousands of people committed to try and make it come true.

1. Chase the Impossible Dream: Henry Dunant

Henry Dunant was born in Geneva, a young man with ambition and had a bravado spirit. He was determined to succeed in business and since he had experience in North Africa, he structured a financial scheme in Algeria. But there was one problem with his plan, the project required water rights. Keen to make it work, he decided to take his case to the then Emperor Napoleon who was in the midst of fighting a war in Italy. Not even war could deter him.

So young Henry made his way to the battlefield in the northern Italian town of Solferino where Napoleon was engaged in a vicious battle with Austrians. Henry arrived to a scene where one of the bloodiest battle was fought. Shocked by what he witnessed he quickly helped to organise as much aid as possible. The horrifying scene continued to haunt him so he eventually published a small book titled: Un Souvenir de Solférino [A Memory of Solferino]

It was a book that not only presented what he saw, it was a holistic blueprint to help the wounded and dying with a clear plan that would eventually lead to the founding of the Red Cross. When it was mooted, not many believed it would take off. But today, the Red Cross stands as one of humanity was important organisation that comes to the aid of people in war and disaster. Henry Dunant gave his all for his dream and in 1901 would become the first person to receive the Nobel Peace prize.

2. Build with the dream in mind: Globethics

Both Fadi Daou and I connected on LinkedIn; we observed the work of both our organizations in chasing our respective impossible dreams. Globethics that Fadi leads aims to bring about greater awareness and the necessity for ethical leadership in today’s world. It is a subject I care deeply about when I wrote in my book, that one of the 'four horsemen’ of our time is ‘Extremism Leadership’. The deficit of good leadership is a devastating cost to humanity. Without good leaders, we cannot enable an Economy of Communion, the impossible dream that Consulus is chasing.

Both our organisations recognise the fact that the dreams we chase are filled with wicked hurdles. So what unites us in terms of our approach is that we believe in building multi-stakeholder alliances to overcome the hurdles one step at a time.

During this event, I met policy makers, philanthropists, multinationals, NGOs, diplomats, who care deeply about devastating damage caused by the impunity of unethical leaders and see the necessity of designing systems that enable the rise of ethical leadership.

In our bilateral meeting with Wallace S. Cheng of Globethics, Stanislav Lencz and I agreed to exploring a few possibilities to extend our networks to help amplify each other’s impact. More importantly we identified one common project to build together that has a systemic impact on ethical leadership and inclusive economy by June next year.

3. Inspire changemakers to chase their dreams

During my book event, I was asked why did I write my book and who is it for? I shared that it was for young people who invited me to deliver two different TEDx talks. And when I engaged with these promising young leaders, I understood the value of sharing how changemaking changed my life and that we are not alone.

After I shared my experience about why I wrote my book, I met many changemakers who felt affirmed by my experience. One of them is Charlotte Qin who cried and thanked me for giving her hope. I shared that I am inspired by her and many others here and not to stop but to go ahead and be a gift to help others too.

Indeed during this event, it was a galore of inspiring changemakers. One of which is His Excellency, Dr. Miloslav Cerar, the former Prime Minister of Slovenia. As a former leader of the nation, he came not only to speak but to learn from everyone, young or wise. He was attentive and wholehearted in listening. I was so inspired by his example and thanked him for inspiring me by his presence, his authentic self.

He shared about his accidental journey to becoming Prime Minister and I asked how come power did not go to his head and how he managed to remain authentic. He shared that he was always determined to be himself as he was not meant to be a politician. This one encounter convinced me there are indeed changemakers everywhere !

But the ultimate changemaker who inspired me to dream the impossible dream during the event was Dr. Christoph Stueckelberger , the founder of Globethics! Without patron or certainty of funding, he founded the institute, believing that ethics matter in an increasingly complex world. And simply because he had the audacity to preach about it, from a small organisation of young students, it has now become a global institute of influence.

From the center of Europe, it now has offices at the peripheries of the world in Bueno Aires, Jogjakarta and Johannesburg. I told him that I hope that by the time I reach his wise age, I will remain as joyful as he is.

Today also marked the day, he handed over the presidency of Globethics to Dr Dietrich Werner, another inspiring Changemaker. In greeting the new President, I assured him of the unity of the Consulus family and that both institutions will work together to shape the world for good. I am especially grateful that Dr Dietrich quoted me in his acceptance speech, deeply humbled by this gesture.

All in, it was great that Consulus is a knowledge partner of this esteemed institution for change in the world. And we made many lifelong friendships to cheer each other on as we both chase our respective impossible dreams, ethics and the economy of communion.

Book Presentation to the Geneva Graduate Institute

Thanks to our friends at Globethics, we managed to present the Creative Change book to Dr. Marie Laure SALLES of Geneva Graduate Institute for students so as to inspire them to be changemakers.

Till the next time fellow Changemakers, be not afraid, chase the impossible dreams, it is possible if you try!