⁠⁠What does leading systems change in carbon removal look like?

Episode 46 is with Josh Albert, Associate Partner with KONU

You’ll often hear people say climate is a systems problem, but we in the carbon removal field don’t have a useful framework for driving systems change. In this episode, we explore the complexities of climate change, going beyond single solutions and acknowledging the diverse stakeholders and shifting systems involved. Our guest introduces the Adaptive Leadership Framework, a unique approach to driving systems change. We'll discuss its potential in combatting climate change and scaling carbon removal.

In this episode, Na’im and Josh discuss:

• Josh’s journey from working on the global health sector to his current role;

• Josh’s experience at KONU and the organization’s focus around leadership development;

• Key concepts around Social Systems and Adaptive Leadership

• Challenges in tackling complex problems;

• Case Study: Gina Raimondo's Leadership in Pension Reform;

• Systems Change in Carbon Removal: Technical vs. Adaptive Problem Solving;

• Ways to address resistance to change and identifying stakeholder losses; and

• Engaging skeptical stakeholders and building trust among stakeholders

Relevant Links:

• KONU - Website

• On the Balcony - Podcast by KONU

• The Leadership Life - Blog by KONU

• Adaptive Leadership in 12 Minutes (YouTube)

• Adaptive Leadership - Harvard Business Publishing Education (paywall)

• The Theory Behind the Practice: A Brief Introduction to the Adaptive Leadership Framework - Harvard Busines Review Press (paywall)

• 5 Key Essentials Of Adaptive Leadership - Brent Gleeson (paywall)

• Leading Pension Reform in Rhode Island - HKS Case Program (paywall)

About Josh Albert:

Josh is an Associate Partner with KONU, a leadership development and change advising firm. He brings expertise in team leadership and systems change, and he is a trained adaptive leadership coach and facilitator. Josh holds a Master’s in Public Policy with a focus on leadership and institutional development from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Previously, Josh spent eight years with Last Mile Health, a health justice nonprofit that partners with governments to build health systems serving remote communities. During his time there, he served as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing in-country operations in Liberia for four years, including during the Ebola outbreak. Josh played a key role in establishing the organization as a national leader within Liberia’s health system. Together, he and Na’im collaborated to orchestrate a partnership with the Liberian government that scaled Last Mile Health’s model for delivering remote health systems to every community in the country.

About Konu:

KONU partners with mission-driven organizations to craft adult learning experiences that help people unlock progress on their most difficult leadership challenges and change goals. Clients include the UN, the World Bank, US National Park Service, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, Marriott International.

This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.

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This episode was created and published by Na’im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.

Na’im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na’im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.

Tank Chen is the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.