Networks as Catalysts for Change: Reflections on My Network Leadership Journey
By Scott Unwin
NLS Participant April 2025
Exploring broader systems change
As someone who has been motivated by social impact throughout my career, the question of broader systems change is never far from my mind. Inspiring, daunting and seductive, this question encourages us to frame the localised impact we are driving in the context of myriad global challenges and deteriorating socio-economic landscapes. It can surface uncomfortable feelings about the scale and effectiveness of the ‘solutions’ we are working to develop relative to the immense, seemingly intractable ‘problems’ we are trying to solve.
What if we could get genuine, cross-sector consensus on the need to urgently address climate change?
How can we reverse the alarming trend of growing wealth inequality?
Is it possible to shift the systemic roots of these issues and allow new ways of cooperating to grow and flourish?
These questions should in no way distract us from the important, focused work we are committed to within our communities and regions. The green transport networks are crucial, as are the small-scale agriculture initiatives, the community mental health programmes and the school feeding schemes. Without the dedication of so many passionate people working towards economic justice, environmental stewardship and social equality, those immense ‘problems’ would be so much worse. As Margaret Mead reminds us, “it is small groups of thoughtful and committed citizens who can, and do, change the world.” But it is those same citizens who no doubt dream of more equitable and just systems, and wonder if and how we will bring that about.
Networks show what’s possible
It was this nagging question that periodically surfaced and demanded my attention, which ultimately encouraged me to start thinking and acting with more of a systems-change lens. And, it was through interesting conversations and research that I came across some great examples of social impact networks. While not a new concept to me, the power and effectiveness of these networks was inspiring. They show what’s possible when those same groups of thoughtful and dedicated citizens collaborate for greater impact, scaling their passion and enabling change by acting together. It felt like a meaningful step towards broader systemic change, which led me to explore how I might get involved with, or even start my own impact network.
I’m at an interesting inflection point in my career, leveraging my experience in education, social impact and sustainability, while making a pivot towards mental health and leadership development. I became curious about how building networks might be a way of connecting the dots between these unique but overlapping areas, and fostering new ways of thinking and engaging in problem solving. It was through this exploration of what’s possible with impact networks that I discovered the Network Leadership Series (NLS) course offered by Circle Generation.
A relational approach
“The course provided me with a nuanced and human-centred approach to network building and leadership. ”
The NLS course was the ideal way to learn quickly in a safe and nurturing environment. Developed and facilitated by passionate network experts Nono Sekhoto, Carri Munn and Elsa Henderson, the course provided me with a nuanced and human-centred approach to network building and leadership. At the heart of the programme is an emphasis on the importance of a relational approach to network cultivation. The key ingredient in any successful impact network is the relationships between the network participants, and the NLS team exemplified this in the way they built relationships with the NLS cohort, and motivated us to do the same and connect with each other.
From the outset, the facilitators brought us along on a journey, encouraging us to think of networks as biological systems and grounding some of the practical complexities of network leadership in a simple yet robust theory of change: connecting stakeholders, coordinating efforts, and driving meaningful collaboration leads to wider system impact. Something that stuck with me was the notion of networks having emergent properties. This means that new and unexpected things can emerge through the process of network building and facilitation, reminding us to be open to the process and alive to new possibilities rather than being too rigidly fixed on specific outcomes. A pretty good life lesson in there too, I have to say.
We were guided on how to foster meaningful participant engagement within networks, where trust plays such an important role, and on the intricacies of effective network coordination through clear communication and framing. The art of network weaving was also emphasised as a key skill, which requires deep commitment to the shared purpose of the network, along with patience and sometimes a thick skin. Across all the modules, the NLS team took care to bring us back to the bigger picture and to remind us of the sometimes messy, occasionally frustrating, but ultimately crucial work of building and effectively leading impact networks to drive real change.
Global changemakers working collaboratively
The cohort I was part of was a diverse mix of change makers from all over the world and I’m grateful to have listened and learned, conversed and collaborated, and taken so much inspiration about what’s possible. Each session had a unique structure and feeling, with plenty of engagement and shared learning among participants. We were encouraged to apply the concepts from each module to our active work of network leadership, which was a challenge for me given that I am still at the beginning of this process. Nonetheless, the peer-to-peer engagement allowed me to glean useful practical examples and understand from the anecdotes and real-world experiences of the other participants how the theory can be applied in effective ways.
Facilitating an online cohort can be challenging, particularly with such a diverse cohort representing many different geographies. But the NLS team took this in their stride and guided us into thoughtful breakout sessions and group discussions, ensuring a good balance of content and conversation. I particularly enjoyed how Nono, Carri and Elsa shared facilitation duties across the sessions so that they could each bring their unique energy and style into the learning process.
“Building my own impact network now feels possible and has become a longer-term goal as a means of driving change on a broader scale.”
The NLS course provided me with more than just knowledge and tools, it broadened my personal network and gave me plenty of inspiration as I keep exploring new and interesting areas of impact. Building my own impact network now feels possible and has become a longer-term goal as a means of driving change on a broader scale. At the crux of this whole learning journey, and at the heart of what impact networks represent, is the notion that working collaboratively is increasingly important as we face evermore scary and urgent global issues. I hope that more people are inspired to research, explore, join or even start their own impact networks, so that broader systems change feels like a reality within our control rather than a hopeful dream that will always be out of reach.
Learn more and sign up for the next cohort of Network Leadership Series!