The MSL is an immersive journey in systems thinking, shifting systems and leadership, equipping you to navigate complexity, drive transformation, and seek out pathways to a new regenerative future.
Despite decades of warnings of accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss, we find ourselves with increasing emissions, mass species loss and a prevalence of natural disasters. And despite warnings of increasing wealth inequality, rising mental health challenges and democratic decline, we live at a time when the very social systems that were designed to support human thriving are fracturing and failing, while trust in our institutions is evaporating and increased polarisation, spurred on by social media and AI algorithms, threatens to lead to violence and conflict.
The poly-crisis identifies that these challenges are both deeply interconnected and also threaten the very foundations of our way of life - consider the potential of climate change, artificial intelligence or another global war. Not only are the challenges historically linked through an economic and social order rooted in dominance, exploitation and extraction but they are linked in our current moment through amplifying and reinforcing feedback loops. Climate change is intertwined with inequality, mental health decline is linked to a disconnection from nature, the housing crisis is connected to gendered violence, etc. In this context, it is clear that iterative approaches and siloed solutions, while no doubt having the potential to reduce immediate harm, can achieve little in regard to deep-rooted systemic change. New approaches are needed.
“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” - Archbishop, Desmund Tutu
With the convergence of ecological collapse, economic fragility and social unraveling upon us, we cannot afford incrementalism or the illusion of control anymore. Within every breakdown lies the potential for a breakthrough.
That’s why we’ve brought together some of the most radical and brilliant thinkers at the forefront of systems change - Nora Bateson, Daniel Schmachtenberger, Indy Johar and Kate Raworth, to name a few - to co-design a program as ambitious as the moment demands. This is not just about understanding complexity; it’s about stepping into it fully. It’s about moving beyond the collapsing paradigms of our time, forging bold new pathways, and cultivating the wisdom to lead in ways that regenerate, restore, and reimagine what is possible.
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Whether your path lies in strategy, policy, philanthropy or community leadership, this journey equips you with the tools, mindsets and networks to lead across different disciplines and shift interconnected paradigms. If you’re ready to move beyond siloed solutions and embrace new models of leadership, MSL is for you.
Systems thinking, for me, is not an object exercise in drawing a map or seeing the world and going, ‘I see a system.’ It's a profound transformation in who we are and how we imagine ourselves. We ourselves are multitudes of humans and non-human organisms in cohabitation.
This work is a real counter to how we are trained to think, and the muscles that you develop. We're often trained and directed into isolated crisis by crisis, moving from one issue to the other, and to me, the real beauty of taking a systemic approach is, and this is the simplest way I can describe it, seeing the greater story.
“This is not a moment to fix a machine, this is a moment to compose new cultures... This is that moment when the doctor says that without a drastic lifestyle change, your odds are not good. The old patterns, the logic, the history, have to be harmonised into what is possible."
Nora Bateson, Institute for Systemic Leadership
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Kaj (pronounced Kai) is the CEO of Regen Melbourne, an engine for ambitious collaboration, in service ofMelbourne. Powered by an alliance of more than 200 organisations, Regen Melbourne is the host of bold projects that are moving Melbourne towards a regenerative future
Kaj is also the Director of Action Labs atSmall Giants Academywhere he leads the creation of newinitiatives and collaborates on the Academy’s education and storytelling programs.
Kaj (pronounced Kai) is the CEO of Regen Melbourne, an engine for ambitious collaboration, in service ofMelbourne. Powered by an alliance of more than 200 organisations, Regen Melbourne is the host of bold projects that are moving Melbourne towards a regenerative future
Kaj is also the Director of Action Labs atSmall Giants Academywhere he leads the creation of newinitiatives and collaborates on the Academy’s education and storytelling programs.
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Ali is an author, journalist and facilitator focused on bringing new ways of seeing and being from the margins of culture into the mainstream. Through writing, and by creating transformative experiences that invite us to find ways to evolve and thrive in the chaotic times we live in. Previously as Founder of Rebel Wisdom, Ali continues to explore the cutting-edge of systems change and cultural cohesion. He joins the team as Chief Sensemaking Officer, stewarding the curation of our programs.
Ali is an author, journalist and facilitator focused on bringing new ways of seeing and being from the margins of culture into the mainstream. Through writing, and by creating transformative experiences that invite us to find ways to evolve and thrive in the chaotic times we live in. Previously as Founder of Rebel Wisdom, Ali continues to explore the cutting-edge of systems change and cultural cohesion. He joins the team as Chief Sensemaking Officer, stewarding the curation of our programs.
Anne is a systems thinker, unapologetic ecofeminist, and CEO of Be The Earth, where she oversees the organisation’s work across a spectrum of philanthropic initiatives, regenerative businesses, and ethical investments. With 15 years of experience in community building and political hacking in Brazil, she is deeply committed to participatory democracy, care-centered economies, and deep adaptation in the face of global crises. Before stepping into transformative capital and systems change, Anne served as a co-Member of State Parliament in São Paulo, following years of activism for women and children. While making and nurturing the life of her three children, she founded and co-led numerous grassroots initiatives, centering mothers as key agents in democratic participation and social justice movements. Originally trained as an artist, Anne brings a rare balance of logic and mysticism to her leadership, navigating complexity with both strategic clarity and intuitive depth. She holds a postgraduate degree in Public Policies for Children and Youth and a Mastery in Business and Empathy from Small Giants Academy. Her work is driven by the belief that economic systems must transition toward care and regeneration, while also embracing the necessity of radical adaptation.
Anne is a systems thinker, unapologetic ecofeminist, and CEO of Be The Earth, where she oversees the organisation’s work across a spectrum of philanthropic initiatives, regenerative businesses, and ethical investments. With 15 years of experience in community building and political hacking in Brazil, she is deeply committed to participatory democracy, care-centered economies, and deep adaptation in the face of global crises. Before stepping into transformative capital and systems change, Anne served as a co-Member of State Parliament in São Paulo, following years of activism for women and children. While making and nurturing the life of her three children, she founded and co-led numerous grassroots initiatives, centering mothers as key agents in democratic participation and social justice movements. Originally trained as an artist, Anne brings a rare balance of logic and mysticism to her leadership, navigating complexity with both strategic clarity and intuitive depth. She holds a postgraduate degree in Public Policies for Children and Youth and a Mastery in Business and Empathy from Small Giants Academy. Her work is driven by the belief that economic systems must transition toward care and regeneration, while also embracing the necessity of radical adaptation.
Eleanor is a curator of immersive experiences, bringing people together to explore the ideas defining our time.
Eleanor is the Executive & Creative Director of TEDxSydney, most recently co-curated the Forest Economics Congress with MONA (Museum of Old and New Art, Tasmania) and designed the Climate Leadership Accelerator for Small Giants Academy.
She was previously the Head of Programs at Small Giants Academy, co-creating deep impact learning journeys including the Mastery of Business and Empathy, Impact Safaris to Israel and Palestine (conflict & innovation), Bhutan (GNH & systems of measurement) and the Tarkine Rainforest (regeneration of people and place), as well as various courses exploring the interplay of wisdom and action required to meet global challenges.
Prior to this, Eleanor was the Managing Director of The School of Life Australia, a platform exploring emotional intelligence through philosophy, anthropology and culture, staging ambitious public programming with interdisciplinary thought leaders across the country.
Eleanor co-founded First Light to contribute to the growing global community investing in climate responses. She is a board director for Groundswell Giving and co-chair of the Atelier Council at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Eleanor is a curator of immersive experiences, bringing people together to explore the ideas defining our time.
Eleanor is the Executive & Creative Director of TEDxSydney, most recently co-curated the Forest Economics Congress with MONA (Museum of Old and New Art, Tasmania) and designed the Climate Leadership Accelerator for Small Giants Academy.
She was previously the Head of Programs at Small Giants Academy, co-creating deep impact learning journeys including the Mastery of Business and Empathy, Impact Safaris to Israel and Palestine (conflict & innovation), Bhutan (GNH & systems of measurement) and the Tarkine Rainforest (regeneration of people and place), as well as various courses exploring the interplay of wisdom and action required to meet global challenges.
Prior to this, Eleanor was the Managing Director of The School of Life Australia, a platform exploring emotional intelligence through philosophy, anthropology and culture, staging ambitious public programming with interdisciplinary thought leaders across the country.
Eleanor co-founded First Light to contribute to the growing global community investing in climate responses. She is a board director for Groundswell Giving and co-chair of the Atelier Council at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Danny Almagor is co-founder (with his wife Berry) and the Executive Chair of Small Giants. Danny was the inaugural Social Entrepreneur in Residence at RMIT, the founder and former CEO of Engineers Without Borders Australia and is the co-founder and Chair of the Impact Investment Group. He has founded over a dozen for profit and non profit organisations including The Sociable Weaver, The Impact Club, and Beyond Creative. He has served on numerous boards, including Tom Organic, The School of Life, The Cape ecovillage, Pacific Biotechnologies, Smiling Mind, The Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan.
He has studied Aerospace Engineering, Business Administration and outdoor education. He loves to cook, read, rock climb, talk about philosophy, garden, travel and jump on the trampoline with his three kids. He doesn’t like to run marathons, watch horror films, drink beer, spend time on social media, or invest in anything that isn’t impact.
Danny Almagor is co-founder (with his wife Berry) and the Executive Chair of Small Giants. Danny was the inaugural Social Entrepreneur in Residence at RMIT, the founder and former CEO of Engineers Without Borders Australia and is the co-founder and Chair of the Impact Investment Group. He has founded over a dozen for profit and non profit organisations including The Sociable Weaver, The Impact Club, and Beyond Creative. He has served on numerous boards, including Tom Organic, The School of Life, The Cape ecovillage, Pacific Biotechnologies, Smiling Mind, The Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan.
He has studied Aerospace Engineering, Business Administration and outdoor education. He loves to cook, read, rock climb, talk about philosophy, garden, travel and jump on the trampoline with his three kids. He doesn’t like to run marathons, watch horror films, drink beer, spend time on social media, or invest in anything that isn’t impact.
Kate Raworth (pronounced ‘Ray-worth’) is a renegade economist focused on making economics fit for 21st century realities. She is the creator of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries, and co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab.
Her internationally best-selling book Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist has been translated into over 20 languages and has been widely influential with diverse audiences, from the UN General Assembly to Pope Francis to Extinction Rebellion.
Nora Bateson is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and educator, as well as President of the International Bateson Institute, based in Sweden. Her work asks the question “How we can improve our perception of the complexity we live within, so we may improve our interaction with the world?”. An international lecturer, researcher and writer, Nora wrote, directed and produced the award-winning documentary, An Ecology of Mind, a portrait of her father, Gregory Bateson. Her work brings the fields of biology, cognition, art, anthropology, psychology, and information technology together into a study of the patterns in ecology of living systems. Her book, Small Arcs of Larger Circles, released by Triarchy Press, UK, 2016 is a revolutionary personal approach to the study of systems and complexity.
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Indy Johar is an architect, teacher and leader focused on systemically changing the way we build our urban environments through regenerative redesign, distributional care and democratising access to spaces. He is the founding Executive Director of both Architecture 00 and Dark Matter Labs and co-founder of Impact Hub Birmingham and Open Systems Lab. He was a Senior Innovation Associate at the Young Foundation, has lectured at many universities globally and is currently teaching at RMIT. His work includes concern for aligning our incentives across civic systems to more accurately orient our lives toward intrinsic value.
The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal.
Listen to Dumbo Feather Podcast: Daniel Schmachtenberger PART 1: social philosopher, thought leader, sensemaker
Dr. Julia Kim joined the Gross National Happiness Centre of Bhutan in 2013, after serving as a member of the International Expert Working Group for a New Development Paradigm. Julia brings a background in programs, policy, and research in the fields of global health and sustainable development with the UN. Julia co-hosts our safaris in Bhutan.
Katherine is a political economist, writer, and advocate for economic system change. She co-founded the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) and its Scottish hub, and played a key role in forming the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) initiative. She is Writer-at-Large at the University of Edinburgh, Economic Change Lead at The Next Economy, and Strategic Advisor to the Centre for Policy Development. A member of the Club of Rome, she also serves on boards including the Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity and The Democracy Collaborative. Katherine is currently a 2024 Thinker-in-Residence with the Australian Health Promotion Association and a Senior Fellow at the ZOE Institute.
Ingrid is Co-Director of The Good Shift, a women-led enterprise supporting systems innovation for green and just futures. With a background in design, social work, economics, and business, she has worked across sectors and geographies to shift systems for better outcomes for people, places, and the planet. Formerly Professor and Director of the Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation, she has founded five social ventures and led work in areas including social procurement, impact investment, and place-based innovation. She is a Past President and Honorary Ambassador of the International Association for Community Development and continues to foster participatory approaches to regenerative futures.
Charly Kleissner is an impact investor who sees true wealth as contributing to humanity and the planet. A leader in the deep impact movement, he focuses on addressing the root causes of systemic issues with a non-anthropocentric perspective. For him, impact investing is an expression of identity, not just an intellectual pursuit. He co-founded KL Felicitas Foundation, Social-Impact International, Toniic, and the 100% Network, which directs over $10 billion toward impact. He serves on multiple boards, including The Club of Rome and the Schwab Foundation. A former Silicon Valley executive at NeXT and Ariba, he holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Technology, Vienna.
Dominic initiated and incubated the TransCap Initiative when he was the Director of Capital and Investments at EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest climate innovation initiative, where he was responsible for building the organisation’s nascent investment function. Before joining EIT Climate-KIC in 2015, Dominic had worked as an entrepreneur at the renewable energy start-up Electrochaea, as a private equity investor at Hudson Clean Energy Partners, and as a finance professional in the institutional asset management division of Credit Suisse. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an MSc from the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford.
The MSL program is offered at AUD 25,800 (incl. GST), approx. €15,100, please check the current exchange rate.
We offer limited partial scholarships to ensure the program remains accessible to a diverse community of leaders. If you'd like to learn more about the program and scholarship opportunities, we invite you to contact our program producer (msl@smallgiants.com.au). We're here to support you in finding the right path forward and answering any questions you may have about the program experience.
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Be The Earth Foundation is a small family foundation exploring ethical ways to redistribute wealth and regenerate ecosystems.
We are part of a global movement of individuals and organisations committed to nurturing life and nature. Together, we create economies that prioritise the regeneration of all life over the pursuit of profit and power.
Founded by Seth Tabatznik and Renata Minerbo in 2019, we combine trust-based philanthropy and impact investment to serve life in all its forms. In 2025, Seth joined the Small Giants board as Guardian of Purpose.
Deeply inspired and influenced by Small Giants, we are proud to be the funding partner for the Mastery of Systems Leadership.
Our advisory board is made up of close collaborators who support each key milestone in bringing the Mastery of Systems Leadership (MSL) to life. They offer guidance on the program’s structure, themes, and materials, and many will also engage directly with participants as guest speakers or session facilitators.
We offer limited partial scholarships to make the program more accessible. These are reviewed on a case-by-case basis after an application is submitted and shortlisted. Scholarships typically cover 15% and up to a maximum of 50% of the total program fee and are awarded based on financial need, availability, and the makeup of the applicant pool.
Yes. We offer standard 3-month and 10-month payment plans.
The Mastery of Systems Leadership isn’t a formally accredited program and doesn’t lead to a qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework, so HECS/HELP funding isn’t available. This is a deliberate decision. We designed the program outside traditional academic structures to focus on what truly matters: learning that’s experiential, grounded, and deeply connected to the real world. The aim is not just to build knowledge, but to learn through practice and application, cycling wisdom and action quickly and applying insights in ways that resonate with your own goals and vision.
If you’re seeking to deepen your leadership practice, grow your capacity to navigate complexity, and connect with a global community of peers doing meaningful work across sectors, MSL may be a fit. The program is designed for those ready to integrate systems thinking, personal development, and real-world application. If you're unsure, we’d be happy to talk it through with you.
MSL is a participatory, immersive learning experience. Weekly sessions include guest speakers, case work, and peer-to-peer dialogue. While we understand that life can be unpredictable, we encourage regular participation to get the most out of the experience. Most sessions will be recorded for those who occasionally need to catch up.
Graduating from the Mastery of Systems Leadership involves active engagement throughout the year. This includes attending sessions, participating in group and individual reflection, and completing a personal or collaborative project that integrates the learning into your context.
Graduates become part of the Small Giants Fellows network, a growing global community of values-aligned leaders. Fellows continue to receive access to content, updates, invitations to special events, and opportunities to connect across programs, projects, sectors, and geographies. This journey continues beyond the course, supported by a vibrant and engaged community.
Our advisory board is made up of close collaborators who support each key milestone in bringing the Mastery of Systems Leadership (MSL) to life. They offer guidance on the program’s structure, themes, and materials, and many will also engage directly with participants as guest speakers or session facilitators.
We offer limited partial scholarships to make the program more accessible. These are reviewed on a case-by-case basis after an application is submitted and shortlisted. Scholarships typically cover 15% and up to a maximum of 50% of the total program fee and are awarded based on financial need, availability, and the makeup of the applicant pool.
Yes. We offer standard 3-month and 10-month payment plans.
The Mastery of Systems Leadership isn’t a formally accredited program and doesn’t lead to a qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework, so HECS/HELP funding isn’t available. This is a deliberate decision. We designed the program outside traditional academic structures to focus on what truly matters: learning that’s experiential, grounded, and deeply connected to the real world. The aim is not just to build knowledge, but to learn through practice and application, cycling wisdom and action quickly and applying insights in ways that resonate with your own goals and vision.
If you’re seeking to deepen your leadership practice, grow your capacity to navigate complexity, and connect with a global community of peers doing meaningful work across sectors, MSL may be a fit. The program is designed for those ready to integrate systems thinking, personal development, and real-world application. If you're unsure, we’d be happy to talk it through with you.
MSL is a participatory, immersive learning experience. Weekly sessions include guest speakers, case work, and peer-to-peer dialogue. While we understand that life can be unpredictable, we encourage regular participation to get the most out of the experience. Most sessions will be recorded for those who occasionally need to catch up.
Graduating from the Mastery of Systems Leadership involves active engagement throughout the year. This includes attending sessions, participating in group and individual reflection, and completing a personal or collaborative project that integrates the learning into your context.
Graduates become part of the Small Giants Fellows network, a growing global community of values-aligned leaders. Fellows continue to receive access to content, updates, invitations to special events, and opportunities to connect across programs, projects, sectors, and geographies. This journey continues beyond the course, supported by a vibrant and engaged community.
If you’re interested in learning more about the MSL, we’d love to speak with you.
Express your interest, schedule a conversation with our team or reach out to us at msl@smallgiants.com.au
Support the growth of systems-minded, future-fit leaders within your organisation.
The Mastery of Systems Leadership is a transformative learning journey that accelerates the personal and professional evolution of your top talent, cultivating the capacity, clarity, and courage needed to lead in complexity.
By sponsoring an employee, you’re investing in leadership that strengthens your organisation’s ability to navigate change, hold nuance, and contribute meaningfully to a thriving future. Participants join a fellowship of visionary leaders committed to reimagining business as a force for regeneration, equity, and long-term resilience.
Small Giants is located on the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
With thanks to our partners
