Session 1:Introduction to Each Other and the Program

In our first session, we will meet each other and share the experiences we have had that has led each of us to the program. We will set intentions and ensure that the facilitation is curated to the specific needs of each participant. Knowledge gaps will be established and individualized learning goals established. You will be placed in your regional group, and the tone and expectations for the program will be set.

Session 2: Framing, Narratives, Core Concepts and Misconceptions

As all the participants will have experience with sustainability, regeneration and the circular economy in some way, this session will ensure we are all on the same page with the current framing. Concepts, issues and opportunities will be explored as the status quo of these arenas will be dissected and discussed. A snapshot of the global trends will allow each participant to get a multidimensional view of what's happening in the space.

Session 3: Systems Change

We get into the depths of systems thinking as it relates to creating systems change. Ensuring everyone is proficient and confident with the foundations of systems thinking, we explore ways to intervene into a system, the potential for leveraging systems change and the ways we can facilitate systems with groups.

Session 4: Transformational Leadership

As we continue to explore systems dynamics, this session will focus on each of the participant's capacity to apply systems toward transformational change. By exploring the ways in which we can each bring our own unique approach to facilitation, this session will be about embodying a dynamic systems approach to each person's work and career.

Session 5: Cognitive Experience Design, Gamification and Motivational Economics

Change requires us to think differently about the way we approach each other and the problems we are seeking to address, so in this session, we will be exploring the cognitive experiences that affect people in change processes, the incredibly powerful tool of gamification, and the intrinsic/extrinsic motivators that drive engagement and willingness to change.

Session 6: Cultural Conventions and Group Dynamics

It's not enough to just change behaviors; the real impact comes when we shift cultural conventions and redirect personal practices away from unsustainable habits that have become the status quo. In this session, we will explore the science of cultural change and ensure that you can apply this to different group contexts to effect change.

Session 7: Technical Sustainability (Impact Assessment)

There are many sides to sustainability with emerging trends such as ESG and cirucal design being important to stay up to date with. This session will cover all the different ways sustainability can be measured, designed and implemented.

Session 8: Advanced Circular Economy Models

Here we ensure everyone is confident in the different approaches to enacting the circular economy, using your areas of expertise and industry of interest we will explore the best-case scenarios and the boundary-pushing ways we can create circular solutions with our businesses and clients.

Session 9: Overcoming Inertia and Resistance in Facilitating Change

Whether it's a group of CEOs, high school students, or a few hundred tech industry professionals at a conference, the mechanisms for motivating change and engagement can be applied to develop your own effective methods of ensuring people are listening, participating, and motivated to take action. In this session you will start to develop your own approach to this.

Session 10: Facilitating the Circular Redesign Approach

We will ensure you can facilitate the full circular design process from functionality assessment through to circular redesign of existing business models and products. You will also be exposed to strategic foresight and backcasting as tools for supporting the circular transition. This session will allow you to apply your own methods developed in the last session to this process of designing change with companies and clients.

Session 11: Dealing with Complex Dynamics

We stress test and explore the different ways you will encounter complex dynamics in change processes and workshop the ways you can effectively overcome these. In developing your own style of leadership, it's vital you role-play and build contingencies for complex scenarios so that when you encounter variations of these, you are prepared and stress-free.

Session 12: Communication and Experience Design

How you deliver content, the tone, pace, style, visual design, room layout - even the snacks provided - can affect how people show up to an experience. This session is all about designing highly engaging and effective experiences from the presentation down to the table layouts.

Sessions 13 & 14: Halfway Reflection and Action Setting

This month we take a break for the holidays and have two sessions in one. We take a moment to pause and reflect on what we have learned so far, as well as set intentions and actions for the new year and the second half of the program.

Session 15: Regenerative Systems Design

Sustainability is a pathway to regeneration, but being regenerative is more than a theory, it's an embodied worldview that is built through experiences that shift the way you show up and interact with the world around you. Here we explore the ways you can facilitate this type of experience for others by developing your own approach of regenerative learning.

Session 16: Working with/in Complex Adaptive Systems

Social-ecological systems, Complex adaptive systems, the adaptive cycle and panarchy are all important frameworks to explore dynamic systems relationships and ensure regeneration is not watered down. Here, we look at the theories and the applied experiences this has for First Nations worldviews and the opportunity for an embodiment of regenerative practices.

Session 17: Disruptive Design Method

A tool that enables a rapid process of problem exploration, systems dynamics and targeted solutions building, the disruptive design method is a useful approach for designing your programs and projects. In this session, we run through it and detail the ways it can be used in facilitation and initiatives.

Session 18: Individual Project Establishment

We are 9 months in and whilst you would have done many micro activations personally and in groups, now you will set up a larger self-directed project to apply all that you have explored so far. Lots of inspiring examples are shared in this session where you will set up your project plan.

Session 19: Advanced Systems Dynamics

Applying advanced systems dynamics to the projects you are working on will enable you to explore different scenarios and case studies for affecting change and getting people to move from the status quo and change willingly. We look at a variety of different tools and techniques you can apply here.

Session 20: Supply Chain Sustainability and Social Impact

Be it Scope 3 emissions or social impacts in apply chains, there is a lot to gauge when dealing with complex systems like value chains. This session is designed to ensure that you are able to identify, map and transform complex systems like supply chains so that social and environmentally positive outcomes are achieved.

Session 21: Developing Gamified Experiences

Working through a gamified experience process to explore the ways you can bring different dynamics to your facilitation or management style. Gamification is not just about making things “fun”; it's also about applying game mechanics to non-gaming environments, and therefore, it is a very useful tool for activating people to get engaged and motivated. You will design and test a gamified experience based on the project area you are exploring.

Session 22: Troubleshooting and Capacity Building

In these final few sessions, we shift gears towards solidifying what you have acquired, ensuring that your knowledge gaps are filled, confidence expanded, and capacity leveled up. This session is about troubleshooting scenarios you are concerned about and ensuring you are equipped with the core skills and concepts you need to move forward confidently.

Session 23: Expanding Impact

As we come to our last session together, we explore inspiring case studies for making change, look at the journey we have come together through and identify ways that we can continue to expand our impact over time.

Session 24: Final Presentations, Completion and Closing Out

In our last group session, you will share what you have been working on, detailing your capacity-building outcomes and demonstrating your acquired skills. After the final group session, you will have the chance to have your final one-on-one mentoring session within the following 3 months.

We will keep the cohort intentionally small, so expect 12-20 people in the program. Unlike other programs that take large groups of people in and don’t focus on your specific learning needs, we are dedicated to expanding your individual skills and ensuring you gain the confidence to lead.

Our UnMasters and Educator tracks include different content and a different type of certification at the end.

This program is specific to sustainability (technical application), the circular economy (professional guidance and real-world support) and regenerative systems design (theory and application, facilitating support).

There will be elements of the Disruptive Design Method, but it's not covered in a dedicated way as with the UnSchool Certification Tracks.

Leyla Acaroglu is the primary facilitator on this year-long program but she will also invite experts to present throughout your year.

Additional mentoring is provided by our dedicated team.

At the end of the 12 months, all participants who completed the required elements automatically get a certificate of completion.

To get certified as a facilitator, you will have 6 months post-program to sit for a panel review. If successful, you will be issued full certification which is valid for 2 years.

This certification needs to be renewed every 2 years to maintain the credential.

Certified facilitators get access to a suite of our tools and gain a place on our list of who we consider when we need additional contractors to work on commissioned projects.

Our certifications are issued directly by us through the Accredible blockchain system. All leadership and facilitation training participants get the certificate of completion issued through Accredible and all approved certified facilitators get a badge that can be used on email, LinkedIn and websites.

This system shows your full credentials, informs viewers what you have had to do to achieve it, and offers verifiability and transparency. Our goal is to ensure that all certified people are excellent and uphold the credibility and trust of our program.

There are specific things you will need to accomplish in order to demonstrate your capacity to be certified.

The details of the requirements are provided at the start of the program. Upon completing the activities and 12 months of the program, you will be invited to sit an optional panel review for certification.

If successful, you will be issued an official certification badge valid for 24 months. You can sit the panel to renew it every 24 months.

This system is to ensure that certification is provided to those that can demonstrate their facilitation skills, and are incorporating the latest and most relevant content in this rapidly changing professional landscape.

We get that life happens and 12 months is a long time. However, we expect you to attend at least 75% of live sessions where participation is critical to leadership and facilitation.

All sessions will be recorded and uploaded to our dedicated online system.