The Social Regeneration Podcast

The (In)visible Tensions of Change: What We're Learning from This Decade's Major Shifts | 013

About mines, memes, mindsets, and multilateralism
In this electrifying and deeply reflective conversation, we dive into the complex interplay between sustainability, geopolitics, and narratives. I speak with Maximiliano, whose unconventional path - from growing up in a mining region in Chile to shaping UN development programs - offers a rare perspective on global transformation.We discuss why sustainability doesn't happen in a vacuum, how power struggles and security fears distort our collective action, and why memes might be as important as policy papers.We unpack the hidden tensions in supply chains, EU carbon policies, and the role of language in shaping minds - and ultimately, the future.Should we be diplomatic or disruptive? Strategic or stubborn? The answer might just be: all of the above.💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode✨ Why sustainability and security are two sides of the same coin✨ The political economy behind global resource extraction✨ Maximiliano’s personal journey from Chile’s mining north to UN diplomacy✨ How shifting narratives (and even emojis) shape sustainability training and strategies✨ Why value-driven language—and compromise—can both drive change👋 ABOUT Maximiliano Cortes Sotomayor (he/him)Maximiliano is a passionate professional with extensive experience in sustainable development, international project management, and environmental policy. Over the past decade, he had the opportunity to design and lead impactful programs across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and beyond, collaborating with organizations like GIZ, UNSSC, and Mercedes-Benz’s beVisioneers Fellowship.
🔗 CONNECT & follow Maximiliano's work 👉 LinkedIn💌 CONNECT & engage with PiaFeel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂#sustainability #geopolitics #climatejustice #regeneration #systemsthinking #carbonfootprint #security #supplychains #policychange #transformation

From Performance Reviews to Purpose - Breaking the Corporate Spell | 012

How a former industrial engineer found freedom in sustainability work
In this episode, I speak with my friend and colleague Kurt Klusch about his radical transformation from industrial engineer to sustainability consultant. We both share a passion for systems thinking and the FSSD framework, which we actively use in our work with organisations. Kurt opens up about the pivotal moments that led him to quit a high-paying corporate job with an american company and embark on a painful, yet liberating three-year inner journey towards alignment with his inner compass. He shares how coaching, self-reflection, and introspection shaped his shift toward meaningful work.Together, we explore the tension between corporate logic and purpose-driven change, and how resistance in organisations often collides with the urgency of sustainability. Kurt also explains why emotional literacy, credibility, and pragmatic strategies are essential when facilitating transformation. We reflect on the limits of change in rigid systems and the power of individuals. His story shows what’s possible when you dare to leave behind what no longer serves you.💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode✨ How a bonfire and a missed flight sparked a profound career change✨ The emotional cost of chasing promotions without purpose✨ Concrete tools and practices that helped Kurt find his path to becoming a sustainability practitioner✨ Honest reflections on resistance to sustainability in big companies✨ Why internal transformation is key to external impact👋 ABOUT Kurt (him/he)
Kurt has extensive experience in both the educational NGO field and industry sector, specialising in climate action, systems thinking, and transformational leadership development. He is a seasoned learning program designer and facilitator who has partnered with organisations such as the Joint Research Council, EIT Climate KIC, and the United Nations PRME to deliver impactful programs for policymakers, innovators, and students.He brings deep expertise in climate strategy consulting, sustainability leadership mentoring, and supporting NGOs globally in advancing systems transformation. His work is grounded in strategic sustainability, participatory approaches, and leadership capacity building. Kurt holds a Master’s in Industrial Engineering and an M.Sc. in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability, complemented by advanced certifications in systems thinking, multi-stakeholder facilitation, and behavior change for sustainability.🔗 CONNECT & follow Kurt's work 👉 LinkedIn💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
 
You want to change career paths and don't know where to start?
I accompany people on their "pathway to sustainability" through my 1:1 and Group Mentoring programmes for aspiring purpose-professionals.
To see if we are a match, let's get to know each other in a Free Exploration Call. ☎️
👉 Share a few details about yourself in advance via this survey to see if I could help you with your goal.
 
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂
 
#careerchange #sustainability #systemsthinking #innerwork #career #careerladder #corporatejob #coaching #careercoaching #changemanagement #purpose #leadership #transformation #changemaker #impactdriven

About Your Inner Capitalist & Self-Leadership | 011

Why escaping to a Sabbatical will not heal your BurnoutIn this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow regenerator Judit Saez. We dive into the challenges of redefining work and success beyond the capitalist grind. Judit shares her own story of burnout and how it became a turning point for her personal transformation. We talk about the importance of community, the trap of perfectionism - even in purpose-driven work - and why quick fixes won’t heal a deep-rooted crisis. Judit brings powerful insights from her work as a systemic coach and mentor. We reflect on the tension between wanting to escape the system and the need to transform it from within. Regeneration, as we explore, is not just about nature or systems - it starts with self-leadership.
 
💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ The trap of hustle culture in the "sustainability field"
✨ Why burnout isn’t solved with sabbaticals or retreat centers
✨ Inner capitalism: how the system lives in our mindset
✨ The importance of community in the healing process
✨ Practical reflections on creating healthier work structures
 
👋 ABOUT Judit (she/her)
Judit is a Change Nurturer, Mentor, and Systemic Coach rooted in Regenerative Leadership, who helps individuals and teams reclaim what the system has stolen: balance, purpose, and the ability to thrive.
She works with those who feel burned out, misaligned, or quietly questioning the grind, to move from surviving to regenerating, anchored in balance and confidence. She guides people to reconnect with themselves and each other because she believes change isn’t just individual; it happens between us, our relationships, and the cultures we foster.
A burnout survivor herself, with over 15 years of experience leading teams in marketing and advertising, building communities, shaping organisational culture, and developing businesses, she now does this work through her project Connection Camino and contributes to the regenerative paradigm shift as part of the team Regenerators.
🔗 CONNECT & follow Judit's work
👉 Connection Camino
👉 Regenerators
👉 LinkedIn
👉 Blog
💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
🔔 I have 3 open spots for May/June in my 1:1 Impact Mentoring 🤗
If you are looking to integrate sustainability into your work and foster regeneration in your life, check out the program here. 🌸
☎️ Let's have a free Exploration Call first to make sure I the program and my approach are conducive to your goals and situation.
👉 Tell me about yourself and your impact project in this 2-minute survey and we will set up a call.
 
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋☺
 
#burnout #regeneration #newwork #healingjourney #systemchange #innerwork #purpose #sustainableliving #communitycare #redefiningsuccess

Regeneration begins Within | 010

Conflict, leadership, and why Inner Work is crucial for Outer ImpactIn this episode, I sit down with a pioneer in regenerative leadership and business. We talk about transforming organisationsinternally by supporting leaders on their personal journeys. Our conversation touches on conflict, leadership, and why inner work iscrucial for outer impact. We highlight how regenerative practices not only change businesses but also improve relationships athome and in society. With stories from the field and personal reflections, we offer a powerful case for integrating emotionalintelligence, cultural awareness, and strategic thinking into everyday leadership.💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode✨ Why internal culture is key to external impact✨ How to hold tension and conflict as creative forces✨ Leadership redefined: from bottlenecks to space-holders✨ Practical insights into building psychological safety in teams👋 ABOUT Mike (he/him)Mike helps CEOs of purpose-driven SMEs and NGO leaders build regenerative organisations — ones that are resilient, impactful, and give back more than they take.Many of the leaders Mike works with are in transition: growing quickly, facing team overwhelm, or needing stronger leadership alignment to meet ambitious goals. They believe in people and purpose — but their internal systems don’t always reflect that.Mike is based in Berlin. He works across Europe and beyond, with deep experience in the MENA region.Through Purpose+Motion, he supports leaders and teams with: Leadership Coaching & Retreats, Team Development & Culture Work, Strategy Processes, Internal Gamechanger Network Activation.🔗 CONNECT & follow Mike's work👉 Purpose+Motion👉 LinkedIn💌 CONNECT & engage with PiaFeel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
 
🔔 I have 3 open spots for May/June in my 1:1 Impact Mentoring 🤗
If you are looking to integrate sustainability into your work and foster regeneration in your life, check out the program here. 🌸
☎️ Let's have a free Exploration Call first to make sure I the program and my approach are conducive to your goals and situation.
👉 Tell me about yourself and your impact project in this 2-minute survey and we will set up a call.
 
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂
 
#RegenerativeLeadership #InnerWork #OuterImpact #ConflictTransformation #FutureOfWork #EmpoweredTeams #LeadershipEvolution #SocialRegeneration #EmotionalIntelligence #SustainableCulture #RegenerativeBusiness

Responsible Rule Breaking - at Work! - with Alex Barker | 009

How to be a constructive Rebel, tell Stories & drive Change from within organisationSUMMARYIn this episode, I speak with Alex Barker about the art of driving change from within organisations. We reflect on our shared experience as "kind challengers" and what it means to challenge power structures with empathy. Alex shares insights from her work in both the public and private sectors, highlighting how to be an activist in the workplace. We talk about the importance of storytelling and language in shifting mindsets and creating lasting change.We share personal experiences how fatigue, climate anxiety, and a misalignment with values affect individuals at work. Together, we discuss practical tools and mindset shifts to navigate organisational complexity with courage. This conversation is an invitation to reimagine leadership and bring more purpose and responsible rebellions into the professional world.💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode✨ What it means to be a “kind challenger” in an organisation✨ How to use storytelling and language as tools for change✨ Practical examples of applying "Be More Pirate" principles in business✨ Why language like “empowerment” may unintentionally disempower✨ Tools and exercises to help individuals realign their work with their values👋 ABOUT Alex Barker (she/her)Alex Barker is passionate about the intersection of personal growth and societal change, focusing on how individuals can unlearn ingrained social conditioning. She holds a BA in Comparative Literature from King’s College London and an MA in International Relations, with a focus on Middle Eastern conflict. After an internship at Global Citizen and a stint in social care, Alex spent seven years at the RSA as communications manager.After nearly a decade in the NGO sector, she felt a disconnect between leaders and the problems they aimed to solve. This led her to a freelance career, working with authors like Onjali Q. Rauf and Alastair Humphreys, and later partnering with Sam Conniff on "Be More Pirate" in 2019. Alex believes in the power of everyday experiments fuelled by imagination and courage, which has influenced her work with organizations like the NHS and Salesforce.
In 2020, she co-authored "How to: Be More Pirate" and launched their podcast in 2021. For Alex, "Be More Pirate" is more than a philosophy; it's a practice lived through action.🔗 CONNECT & follow Alex Barker👉 Website👉 Instagram👉 LinkedIn📚 RESOURCES to dive deeper
➡ YouTube-Channel "Surfers Against Sewage"
➡ Website Surfers Against Sewage
➡ Be More Pirate Book💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓⚖For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂
 
#WorkplaceChange #BeMorePirate #KindLeadership #OrganisationalActivism #StorytellingForChange #PurposeAtWork #Empathy #Leadership #BreakTheRules #WorkReimagined #ChangeMakersUnite
 

Unpacking Energy Transition, Social Justice, and Economic Systems with Linus Beer | 008

How true impact requires shifting resources, responsibilities and power structures - not just technology
 
SUMMARY
In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Linus Beer, whose commitment to environmental and social justice has deeply inspired me since our shared volunteer year in Ecuador.
We reflect on our early learning journeys, from waste collection with rural communities to eye-opening encounters with extractive industries in the Amazon. Linus shares how these experiences led him to study economics and work at the forefront of energy research in Germany and the US. We explore why understanding energy markets is essential to solving the climate crisis and what lessons can be learned from different countries and continents.
 
Linus opens up about his time at Harvard and the power of community, mission, and humility in leadership. He speaks with clarity and passion about his current research in climate finance and the importance of avoiding new coal plants. We discuss how true impact requires shifting resources—not just technology—and how a just energy transition is still possible. Throughout the conversation, we stay grounded in a sense of shared responsibility and hope. This is a deeply personal and globally relevant exchange.
 
💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ Why our volunteer year in Ecuador was a turning point for both of us
✨ How Linus' work bridges energy, justice, and economic systems
✨ Harvard dreams, humble leadership, and staying true to your mission
✨ How climate finance could change the future of coal in the Global South
 
 
👋 ABOUT Linus Beer (he/him)
Linus dedicates his professional life to slowing global warming and strengthening communities to become socially, environmentally, and economically resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.
 
After working almost six years in energy and carbon market analytics with businesses, investors, and governments,he is now using his time at the Harvard Kennedy School to explore the mutually reinforcing intersection of Climatetech innovation, governance, and economic development with a focus on carbon pricing, climate finance, the energy transition, and industrial decarbonization.
 
 
🔗 CONNECT & follow Linus Beer
👉 LinkedIn
 
 
💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
 
If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓⚖
 
👉 Want to take action and drive change in your organisation or community and need a sparringspartner for your project idea?
Let's talk. Apply for an Exploration Call with me.
 
For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓
 
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂
 
#ClimateJustice #EnergyTransition #SustainableFuture #RenewableEnergy #GlobalSolutions
#EnvironmentalJustice #CarbonFinance #Harvard #YouthActivism #ClimateSolutions

Reviewing the Narratives of Identity & Nurturing Belonging | 007

Co-creating inclusive Communities through Stories, Startups, and "Social Capital"
 
Today I welcome Sen Zahn, Co-Director of SINGA Germany, who shares about the transformative power of changing narratives about identity and belonging. We reflect on our shared roots in social innovation and how our paths, like satellites, keep intersecting.
 
Sen’s leadership deeply moved me at a recent SINGA event, where her intentional design, presence and authenticity left a lasting impression.
Together, we discuss how migration is often framed through the lens of deficiency - and how SINGA seeks to shift that towards one of exchange, agency, and mutual contribution.
Sen introduces key SINGA programs such as the Berlin and Rheinpreneur Newcomer Startup Awards and a new series of community events on Belonging - and shares some behind the scenes principles that the team follows.
 
We unpack the social constructs that shape perception and explore how to create spaces where everyone’s potential is recognized. You’ll hear why entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for transformation when it’s rooted in purpose.
 
This conversation is for anyone curious about inclusive innovation, social justice, and collaborative systems change. Tune in to hear how we can collectively review stories, starting with your own. And with that change systems that are not nurturing belonging, inclusivity and diversity.
 
💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ Why Belonging and mutual Recognition are foundational for inclusive societies
✨ How collaboration across sectors and narratives can fuel social transformation
✨ How SINGA Berlin is reframing migration from a one-way support model to a dynamic exchange
✨ The role of community-based awards like the Newcomer Startup Award in empowering entrepreneurs with lived experiences in different places
✨ Real-life challenges and creative tensions of using entrepreneurial tools for systemic change
 
 
👋 ABOUT Sen Zhan
Sen is a lifelong cultural chameleon, navigating the spaces between diverse worlds with over 30 years of experience living in China, Canada, and Germany. She explores the complexities of intercultural identity - how global citizens build a sense of self, balance cultural contradictions, and cope with challenges like linguistic identity, multigenerational family dynamics, and intergenerational trauma.
Passionate about fostering understanding and championing wholeness, Sen connects with others to explore what it means to belong across cultures.
Currently she is Co-Director of SINGA Germany.
 
 
🔗 CONNECT & follow Sen's work
👉 SINGA Germany
👉 LinkedIn
👉 Podcast "Beyond Asian"
 
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💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
All information about the 1:1 Mentoring Program for #impactpreneurs that I mentioned in this Episode can be found here.
→ Let's schedule a quick Exploration Call to talk about your idea and get you ready for the Newcomer Award 😉
 
If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓⚖
 
For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓
 
🔔 Other Opportunity to get to know me and my work: OPEN WORKSHOP for #impactpreneurs
Very excited for this collaboration with the ASEYA community.
📌 How to Bring Your Impact Idea to Life: Creative & Courageous Action Planning for Changemakers
📅 April 28 - 4:30 PM CET
👉 All Registration infos at ASEYA
 
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂
 
#SocialInnovation #InclusiveEntrepreneurship #MigrationMatters #Belonging #ImpactStartups #NarrativeShift #RegenerativeChange #PurposeDriven #Empowerment #SocialJusticeNow

Grief as a Natural Response to Change: The importance of pausing to honor what came before | 006

Why social innovation begins with rethinking loss and letting go
In this deep and humbling episode of the Social Regeneration Podcast, I welcome innovation expert and grief counselor Fenja Jensen. Together, we explore the powerful intersection between creating "the New" and letting go of "the Old".
Every change process inevitably involves some form of loss. From corporate restructures to personal life transitions, pausing to acknowledge what we leave behind is crucial for transformational processes. Fenja shares insights from her design thinking background and her current work supporting people through irreversible loss. The conversation touches on how grief is often unrecognized - even in everyday moments like birthdays, holidays, or endings of routines.
We challenge the belief that progress is only forward motion and make a case for honoring what has been.
Whether you’re a change agent, team leader, or navigating personal shifts, this episode offers tools and wisdom for embracing the full transition spectrum.
Grief is not something to “fix” but a natural response to change.
By learning to hold space for endings, we can more intentionally shape the beginnings that follow. A must-listen for those working at the edge of social innovation, sustainability, and emotional intelligence.
 
💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ Why every change process include a grieving process
✨ How innovation and grief counseling complement each other
✨ The importance of pausing to honor what came before
✨ How grief shows up in everyday life - not just after death
✨ Practical reflections on creating more compassionate transitions in systems and organizations
 
👋 ABOUT Fenja
As a facilitator for Systemic Transformation, Fenja designs and moderates workshops and seminars around innovation & collaboration. She enables teams to work together in new ways by guiding them through creative methods and processes.
Fenja is passionate about the potential of interdisciplinary cooperation and holistic collaboration on order to navigate the complexity of the challenges of the present and the future.
As a Grief Coach, she supports individuals through the moments of irreversible loss in their lives. Fenja invites individuals and groups to engage in open, honest, and daring conversations about grief - to explore how grief can be expressed and processed on personal, interpersonal, organizational, and systemic levels.
 
🔗 CONNECT & follow Fenja's work
👉 Website
👉 LinkedIn
👉 Club Wider Willen
👉 Trauerbegleitung Berlin
 
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💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓
For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 😊
 
#GriefAndInnovation #SocialRegeneration #EmbraceChange #Grief #loss #extinction #innovation #transformation #DesignForChange #EmotionalIntelligence #SustainableSystems #LivingSystems #SystemChange #HonoringThePast #EndingsMatter #PersonalDevelopment #ChangeLeadership #CompassionInBusiness #TransitionsWithGrace #IrrevirsibleLoss #GriefCounceling

From Neighbours to Change Agents: Reclaiming Urban Spaces & Social Justice | 005

Transformational empowerment through community organizing
Knock, Talk, Organise: Inside the Work of a Tenants’ Movement
In this episode, we speak with Tanja Rakočević, a tenants’ organiser and climate justice activist based in Berlin. Tanja shares her inspiring journey from activist to full-time community organiser, shedding light on what it means to create change from the ground up. She talks about the challenges and joys of building tenant initiatives, how door-to-door conversations can spark collective empowerment, and why social infrastructure is as vital as physical infrastructure in today’s urban life.
We discuss the importance of knowledge-sharing, community education, and long-term relationship-building in grassroots work.
Tanja also addresses the nuanced role of paid organisers and unpaid activists in movements, and the delicate balance of power, trust, and self-reliant and resilient structures. This episode is a compelling look at the often-invisible labor behind social change — why it matters and how you can be part of it - no matter your "role in society".
 
💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ What it means to be a tenants’ organiser and community catalyst
✨ How door-to-door work builds collective power in neighbourhoods successfully
✨ The role of education and empathy in movement building
✨ Challenges in organising: burnout, hierarchy, and sustaining momentum
✨ Why knowing your rights and knowing your neighbours both matter
 
👋 ABOUT Tanja (she/her)
Tanja is a transformative community organizer and climate justice activist. She works as a tenant's organizer at Kiezprojekt Berlin with a focus on marginalised groups. Her activism concentrates on climate, decolonisation and migration. She does educational work with her group BiPoC for Future, highlighting the struggles of most affected people and areas. She is also a dog mum and loves hosting and bringing people together - her own way of community building.
 
🔗 CONNECT & follow Tanja's work
👉 https://kiezprojekt.berlin/
👉 LinkedIn
👉 Instagram: @plastophobia || @bipocforfuture.de || @bipoc4future.berlin
 
📚 RESOURCES to dive deeper
➡ The intersectional environmentalist (Leah Thomas, 2022)
➡ Braiding Sweetgrass (Robin Wall Kimmerer, 2021)
➡ It's not just you (Tori Tsui, 2023)
➡ All we can save (Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson, 2020)
➡ The Quest for Environmental Justice (Robert D. Bullard, 2005)
➡ Black Faces, White Spaces (Carolyn Finney, 2014)
 
You have an idea for an impact project in your community? 💡
As an Innovation Coach and System Change Facilitator I have helped multiple #impactpreneurs in taking the first steps to create their own sustainability projects and businesses.
❗️There are two 1:1 Mentoring Spots left for April.
👉 Check out the 1:1 Mentoring here and schedule us in for a Free Exploration Call of your initial idea(s). 🤗
 
Don't want to start your own community initiative?
You want to work in sustainability full-time - in an employed situation of an existing project? but don't know how...⬇️
🔔 Last Chance to join the Group Mentoring for #ImpactJobSeeker❗
🔍 Program Details: https://impacthills.com/impactjobseeker-group-mentoring/
👉 Sign-up here (first Live Session and Door Close is on April 8th!)
 
💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓⚖
For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓
 
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋
 
#CommunityOrganising #TenantRights #GrassrootsMovements #SocialChange #ClimateJustice #UrbanActivism #EmpowermentThroughAction #BerlinMovements #NeighbourhoodPower #TransformativeEducation #MovementBuilding #SocialJustice #Organizing

From Cities to Countryside: Why Redesigning Rural Spaces could hold the Key to Healthier Living | 004

Liandra Vianna's Journey towards Sustainable Rural Development & Tourism
 
In this episode, I speak with one of my former Mentees, Liandra Vianna, about her unique, non-linear career journey - from architecture, operations, and UX design to rural development and sustainable tourism.
 
Born in Rio de Janeiro and now living in Lisbon, Liandra opens up about how city life sparked her passion to address the mental and social toll of urbanization. She highlights the loneliness epidemic in crowded cities and the hidden costs of being disconnected from community - in comparison to smaller villages.
 
In her thesis, Liandra explored the demographic desertification of rural towns and how decentralizing people and resources could revive these spaces.
Through touching field experiences in Italy and Portugal, she uncovers the barriers - such as lack of opportunity and funding - that prevent people and small businesses from thriving in rural areas. We also discuss systemic challenges, including governmental neglect and short-term political interests.
 
This episode offers a powerful reminder that small towns have significant potential - if given the chance and attention. Tune in for an honest and hopeful discussion on how reimagining rural life can lead to a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle - a stepping stone towards social regeneration.
 
 
💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ Why and how Liandra is shifting from UX design to sustainable rural development
✨ About mental health challenges caused by urban living and isolation
✨ Learn about the concept of “demographic desertification” and its global impact
✨ Hear real stories from small towns in Portugal and Italy about barriers to entrepreneurship
✨ Explore ideas for how rural areas can become thriving, connected communities again
 
👋 ABOUT Liandra Vianna (she/her)
Brazilian Operations Strategist and Experience Designer, passionate about rural development and sustainable tourism. She moved to Portugal 4 years ago to study how a designer's mindset and a systems-thinking approach could help boost rural development in demographic deserts across Europe.
 
🔗 CONNECT & follow Liandra's work
👉 LinkedIn
 
📚 RESOURCES to dive deeper
➡ The Lonely Century - Noreena Hertz
➡ The Biology of Belief - Bruce Lipton
➡ Rural Move - Organisation on Rural Entrepreneurship in Portugal that Liandra is associated with
➡ FELLA - Organisation on Rural Female Entrepreneurship in Germany that Pia's former Mentors founded
 
 
***
You want to experience the same transformative mentoring program as Liandra to pivot your career? ⬇️
Join the next cohort, today! 💕
🔔 Next Group Mentoring for #ImpactJobSeeker starts on April 1st ❗
🔍 This is the program: https://impacthills.com/impactjobseeker-group-mentoring/
👉 Sign-up here (limited spots!)
 
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💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗
 
If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓⚖
 
For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓
 
Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍
 
P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋😊
 
#SustainableLiving #RuralDevelopment #DemographicChange #UrbanVsRural #Urbanism #SocialInnovation #SustainableTourism #CommunityBuilding #EnvironmentalJustice #LonelinessEpidemic #LifeBeyondCities #DigitalNomads #RuralBusiness #Entrepreneurship