In this episode, we share how Criterion approaches systems change—by paying close attention to where leverage actually lives, how power moves through relationships, and why timing matters as much as ideas. You’ll hear how we think about staying close to the people and systems that can shift outcomes, even when it looks like we’re waiting. This perspective reframes strategy as readiness: noticing signals, building trust, and being prepared to step forward when the moment to act genuinely arrives.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction to Systems Change and Strategy

03:01 Understanding Systems Opportunities

05:49 The Role of Timing in Systems Change

09:13 Defining System Tensions and Opportunities

12:06 Strategic Posture and Approach

14:58 The Importance of Relationships in Systems Change

17:55 Conclusion and Call to Action

Relevant Links

1. Criterion Institute website and LinkedIn
2. Joy’s LinkedIn
3. Criterion’s Strategic Plan
4. Donella Meadow’s Leverage Points

If this episode resonates, you may also want to listen to “Clarity Is Relational,” which explores how sense‑making and strategy emerge through relationships, and “Navigating Paradoxes,” which looks at how leverage and emergence show up in real market systems.

Part of the ImpactAlpha Podcast Network https://impactalpha.com/podcasts