Thank God It's Monday

In this episode, Katherine Long and Selio Verzera explore the complexities of today's era, organizations, and their dis-connection with nature-based thinking. Katherine offers a different perspective on how we can weave our dreams and our individual intentions into a cohesive fabric, fostering community and societal growth and bridging the gap between personal aspirations and collective fulfillment. 

How do we weave and organize ourselves at whatever level, individual, community, societal, as nature? How might we bridge individual aspirations with community growth?

Drawing from her childhood and work, Katherine explained the profound experience of being in close contact with nature, even for a few minutes. Being in nature in a certain way automatically takes people to an intense place where they feel, on different levels, the feeling of “own insignificance” standing at the foot of thousands of years old trees. Then, it is possible to recreate the proper condition for all living systems' innate capacity to heal. 

When we understand that, some core principles and practices can support that healing at any level, and then we bring that healing or regenerative presence wherever we go, also in an organization. Katherine and Stelio speak about regenerative work as a pathway to peace—a different idea of working with the ecology of competition and collaboration, looking at what happens in nature and letting her teach us a more healthy ecology at work. 

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Ketherine hosts liberating dialogue spaces exploring themes such as regenerative practice, applying healing principles in all of life, and navigating the journey into Elderhood. Her work centres on leadership, organisation development and Nature-based inquiry.

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Would you like to listen to this episode in Italian or Spanish? Let us know here: [email protected] 

In questo episodio Letizia Piangerelli e Rita Sinorita Fierro esplorano il legame invisibile che esiste tra bellezza del lavoro, razzismo e giustizia sociale. Traendo spunto dalle sue diverse esperienze di vita e lavoro a cavallo tra Italia e Stati Uniti, Rita condivide la sua visione su come fare scelte giuste in un mondo ingiusto, vedere la bellezza e l'umanità anche nelle situazioni più difficili e su come portare avanti trasformazioni sociali sistemiche in istituzioni resistenti al cambiamento, partendo dal lavoro su di sé. 

Nel condividere storie personali e collettive di guarigione e resilienza, Rita riflette sul ruolo della paura nel perpetuare le ingiustizie e sull'impatto del trauma istituzionalizzato nella nostra società, sottolineando come sia possibile immaginare e costruire un mondo più giusto, dove la compassione, il dialogo e la comprensione prendano il posto di forme di giustizia punitive e divisive.

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Rita è autrice, speaker e coach a livello internazionale, esperta di temi relativi alla giustizia sociale. Nel suo lavoro supporta i changemaker che desiderano fare la differenza anche quando lavorano in istituzioni che resistono al cambiamento. Ha un dottorato in Studi Afro-Americani presso la Temple University di Philadelphia e un master in Sociologia presso l'Università di Roma. Con la società di cui è fondatrice, Fierro Consulting, da oltre 30 anni porta avanti progetti di ricerca, valutazione e facilitazione con enti profit e non profit e agenzie internazionali, tra cui le Nazioni Unite, su quattro continenti.

Link e risorse: 

Rita su Linkedin

Il suo libro: Digging up the seeds of White supremacy 

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In this episode, Isabela Caria and Rafael Perez explore the multifaceted nature of work environments and the beauty that lies within them. Drawing from his diverse experiences across entrepreneurship, HR and design, Rafael shares his insights on:

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Here is how Rafael Perez presents himself: I’m Rafael, an open-minded explorer from Brazil. I’ve been living in Barcelona since 2020, where I got my masters in Design Management. Since college I’ve developed a desire to get to know the world, so I traveled and lived in 4 different countries before coming to Spain. In my free time, I like to practice coffee and my skills as a barista, one of my favorite hobbies beyond my profession as designer. I have a strong background and passion for people management, change management and strategy, and it is inside this sweet spot that I’ve been trying to work and improve organizations. During 4 years in Brazil I had my own consultancy company, supporting big companies on their transformation path using design thinking as an approach. And now since I got to Spain I'm working with Nacar Design, a design agency based in Barcelona, first as HR Manager and then as Principal Designer, being the focal point between design teams, client and the agency.

Link and resources: Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness - Frederic Laloux, Ken Wilber https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20787425-reinventing-organizations 

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Would you like to listen to this episode in Italian or Spanish? Let us know here: [email protected]  

En este episodio, Anna Montanari y Alfons Cornella exploran la idea de estar presente en el trabajo y de vivirlo de manera auténtica. ¿Acabas el día y piensas o recuerdas qué es lo que has hecho o ha simplemente sido cumplir con una rutina?

A través de anécdotas, metáforas y ejemplos desde su extensa experiencia profesional, Alfons destaca la importancia de tener una actitud rebelde y apasionada - es decir, la capacidad de hacer preguntas poderosas y cuestionar el status quo, tanto a nivel personal como organizacional. 

Además, nos invita a reflexionar sobre cómo la inteligencia artificial puede ser una herramienta poderosa para resolver problemas rutinarios sin reemplazar la plasticidad y el aprendizaje del cerebro humano; tanto como la colaboración intergeneracional puede aportar valor para enfrentar los desafíos futuros.

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Alfons es consultor y fundador de Infonomia y del Institute of Next (https://www.instituteofnext.com/), empresas de servicios para repensar el futuro de las empresas y las organizaciones, con un enfoque especial en Innovación de modelos de negocio. En la actualidad, también se enfoca en la Curiosidad como ventaja competitiva de las organizaciones (curiosityatelier.com), y en la formación de profesionales Edgers que transforman las empresas (somosedgers.com). Ha escrito 40 libros, así como cientos de artículos breves sobre innovación, negocios y tecnología, desde la perspectiva de la transformación de las organizaciones. Participa como profesor invitado en programas de diversas universidades y escuelas de negocio.

¿Te gustaría escuchar este episodio en inglés o en italiano? Háznoslo saber aquí: [email protected] 

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Enlaces y recursos: 

El orden del tiempo - Carlo Rovelli 

In this episode Anna Montanari and Rachel Hentsch delve into the intricate relationship between life and work, challenging conventional definitions and exploring the blurred lines between professional endeavors and personal fulfillment.

How do you find comfort in taking risks, and when do you trust the process versus letting go? What does work look like when it combines different mediums and emerges from collaborative processes? What lessons can flying ultralight planes teach about following instincts? 

Drawing from a rich ​spectrum​ ​of​ ​professional​ ​experience​, adventurous hobbies and the rollercoasters of motherhood, Rachel uncovers the profound value of generosity and community in work. With brave vulnerability, humility and intuitive power she offers a unique perspective on what it takes to embrace uncertainties and serendipity. Her approach emphasises the importance of ‘being together’ to explore new potential and tap into purposeful endeavors that transcends personal limitations.

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Rachel is an Innovative Communications Strategist & Connector who brings more than 20 years of practical organizational wizardry to the table. She’s Communications Lead at Presencing Institute and Visual DJ at International Bateson Institute where she mixes artistry and innovation to craft visual tales that ignite minds and inspire conversations, turning the abstract into the unforgettable. From navigating the joyful chaos of raising a family of five to pursuing a kaleidoscope of personal passions  (including winning the 2015 Lazio regional dirt biking title), Rachel thrives on a vibrant, offbeat approach to life. Her daily mantra? Carpe diem with a side of quirk.

Link and resources: 

21 days of Abundance - Meditation series. Deepak Chopra

Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don't Agree with or Like or Trust - Adam Kahane

Combining - Nora Bateson 

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In questo episodio Letizia Piangerelli e Viviana Premazzi esplorano il rapporto tra mondo del lavoro e diversità culturale e di come sviluppare un mindset globale rappresenti una sfida e un’opportunità chiave per qualsiasi organizzazione, non solo quelle che operano su mercati internazionali. Quali sono i benefici di una diffusione dell’intelligenza culturale nei contesti lavorativi? Quali sono gli ostacoli a cui le organizzazioni devono fare più attenzione e da che cosa ti accorgi se un’iniziativa ha avuto impatto? 

Nel ripercorrere la traiettoria che l’ha portata da studiosa di migrazioni a diventare imprenditrice in un paese che non è il suo, Viviana offre spunti preziosi sulle risorse utili e i cambiamenti necessari per trasformare la diversità culturale in ricchezza, sia per il business delle organizzazioni che per il benessere delle comunità nel quale si trovano ad operare. 

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Viviana e’ formatrice interculturale e imprenditrice sociale. Italiana, residente a Malta, la sua casa e’ il mondo. Con la sua azienda Global Mindset Development aiuta le persone a disporre delle conoscenze e degli strumenti per approcciarsi alla diversità culturale e religiosa con curiosità, rispetto e senza paura. Ovunque va porta complessità ma anche tanto colore e passione per la vita in tutte le sue forme. 

Link e risorse: 

Viviana Premazzi

Global Mindset Development

BNI - Business Network International 

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In this episode, Stelio Verzera and Bruce McTague dive into why Mondays can feel particularly pressuring and how we can gain a new perspective not only on starting off the week but also on reshaping business practices. What kind of future do we want to shape? What's the relationship between pragmatism and possibilities, and what roles do they play in a changing world?

Bruce shares stories from his life journey and extensive experience working with think tanks, advocating for Mondays as a time to focus on possibilities. From technology to education to making the invisible visible, he argues that we need to completely redesign society and the way we think. Tune in to explore these ideas and gain valuable insights on navigating the evolving landscape of work and society.

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Here is how Bruce McTague presents himself: “I’m in an odd position in that I work with a number of different think tanks and think tanks typically project things out to the future so that businesses can envision how they would fit into it. I, on the other hand, am typically tasked with thinking about how a business can shape a future, and encourage them to think they can do so, within which they can thrive. The two things often offer different thoughts.”

Link and resources: 

The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy—What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny - Neil Howe and William Strauss

Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control- Stuart Russel

Education in a Time Between Worlds: Essays on the Future of Schools, Technology, and Society - Zachary Stein

Vulture Capitalism - Grace Blakeley

A girl I knew - J.D. Salinger

En este episodio, Anna Montanari y Marquel Cormenzana discuten sobre la importancia de utilizar el diseño de manera consciente para crear el mundo en el que queremos vivir. ¿Qué responsabilidad tiene el diseño en la creación de mundos más justos y sostenibles?

A través de relatos de su experiencia profesional, Markel explora la idea de tener un trabajo bonito, es decir, un trabajo que sea satisfactorio y alineado con los valores personales. ¿Qué papel juegan la autonomía en el trabajo y sentirse parte de un proyecto con impacto positivo? ¿Cómo encontramos ese equilibrio entre seguridad y libertad?

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Markel Cormenzana Uriarte, Diseñador de Transición, es Ingeniero Mecánico especializado en Desarrollo de Producto por la Universidad del País Vasco y la Universidad del Sur de Dinamarca (SDU). Ha canalizado su actividad profesional hacia el Diseño y la innovación para bailar con los retos sociales, económicos y medioambientales a los que nos enfrentamos como civilización. Markel es socio de Holon y co-fundador del Espai Puntal. Complementariamente, es profesor invitado habitual en varias escuelas de diseño de Barcelona como IED, BAU, Elisava o IAAC. 

¿Te gustaría escuchar este episodio en inglés o en italiano? Háznoslo saber aquí: [email protected] 

Enlaces y recursos: 

How to with John Wilson

Límites - Ecología y libertad. Giorgos KallisMetafísica de los tubos. Amélie Nothomb

In questo episodio Giorgia Carloni e Andrea Montuschi esplorano le sfide e le soddisfazioni che affronta chi oggi si mette in testa di migliorare in modo tangibile gli ambienti di lavoro. Qual è legame tra aspettative e felicità quando si parla di lavoro? In che modo la curiosità e la propensione alla diversità delle nuove generazioni può diventare un'arma a doppio taglio per le aziende che non sanno valorizzarle a pieno? Che cosa simboleggia davvero una piramide nei contesti lavorativi?

Attingendo alle sue esperienze personali e professionali - da workshop di action planning in fabbrica al lavoro con grandi multinazionali - Andrea usa spirito critico e ironia per sfidarci a rivedere le metafore con cui descriviamo i nostri posti di lavoro e ci invita a considerare il potenziale di una visione del lavoro basata sulla bellezza, sull'inclusione e sul rispetto reciproco.

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Andrea Montuschi è un consulente, formatore e facilitatore creativo, focalizzato in particolare sulla motivazione dei collaboratori e sulla missione di migliorare gli ambienti di lavoro.

È anche public speaker e autore di numerosi articoli sui temi della Employee Experience.

Link e risorse: 

Andrea Montuschi

Presencing Institute: Theory U 

Daniel Pink: Drive - When

Brené Brown: Dare to lead 

Adam Grant: Think Again 

Barry Johnson: Polarity Management 

In this episode Stelio Verzera and Michelle Holliday explore what it means to cultivate the conditions for life to thrive when we speak about work.

What does it mean to create beauty in our work and organizational spaces? How can we cultivate environments where individuals feel truly at home, inspired, and deeply connected to their contributions?

Michelle Holiday shares her insights on:

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Michelle Holliday is a globally recognised thought leader on regenerative approaches to organizations and community, working across a wide range of sectors, including tourism and agriculture. Her research, perspectives and practical experience are brought together in the highly acclaimed book, The Age of Thrivability: Vital Perspectives and Practices for a Better World. 

Link and resources: 

Michelle Holliday

The boys and the boat (book and movie)

About Tolu Ilesanmi 

The Business Romantic