Designing Systemic Change | The path of a regenerative practitioner with Ashley Scarborough | 001

Navigating the delicate balance between radical innovation and stability

In this episode, we sit down with Ashley Scarborough, a designer-turned-system-thinker, to explore her journey from interior architecture to the world of regenerative practices and systems change. Ashley shares how she transitioned from the corporate design world into tackling wicked problems - complex global challenges that cannot be solved with single solutions. We discuss the limitations of circular economy models, the realities of working in the regenerative field, and the delicate balance between radical innovation and financial stability. Ashley also reflects on defining her role in a field that is still emerging and the importance of thought leadership within organisations. This conversation offers an honest look into the challenges and possibilities of shaping a more regenerative future by creating your own path and collaborating with others.

 

Episode Highlights

Ashley’s career transition from interior design to system change

Understanding wicked problems and why they require a holistic approach

The limits of circular economy and why regeneration is a necessary step

The realities of working in an emerging field

Finding financial stability within current conditions while challenging the current system

 

ABOUT Ashley Scarborough

Ashley is a system change consultant, designer, and facilitator based in Berlin. Ashley combines systems thinking and design methodology to tackle complex systemic problems we are facing in the world, having gained expertise during the System Change Practitioner program with the School of System Change in 2022, and a Masters in Product Design from the Royal College of Art in 2018. She also founded How We Eat, an experiential learning initiative that uses food to explore regenerative principles and systems thinking with leaders. Ashley is driven by the power of systems thinking and design towards a future where humans and nature live in symbiosis.

 

LINKS to Ashley and her current work

How we eat

Ashley's Homepage

Ashley on LinkedIn

 

Ashley's Recommendations on Books & Courses

BOOKS

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

The patterning Instinct by Jeremy Lent

Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows

Systems One: An Introduction to Systems Thinking by Draper L. Kauffman

COURSES

Basecamp from the School of System Change

Regenesis

The Art of Hosting

The Capra Course

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💌 Connect & Engage with us

Feel free to connect with me personally, your host Pia, on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work.

 

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Social Media Platforms

YouTube Channel

Instagram

LinkedIn

 

#SocialRegeneration #SystemsThinking #RegenerativeDesign #CircularEconomy #SystemChange #WickedProblems #SustainableFuture #DesignForChange #FinancialStability #ThoughtLeadership