CON38 | [Workshop] The Power of AND: Rewiring Leadership for Complexity
[Workshop] The Power of AND: Rewiring Leadership for Complexity
Convener: Wendy Smith

Leaders working to protect our planet face relentless tensions—between conservation and development, local needs and global priorities, urgency and patience. The instinct is to choose one side, but either/or thinking narrows our options and undermines lasting impact. This workshop introduces both/and thinking as a critical leadership skill for navigating the complexity of biodiversity and sustainability challenges. Drawing on cutting-edge research and global case studies, participants will learn how to embrace paradoxes as a source of strategic clarity, innovation, and more regenerative solutions.
Participants will be able to

- Recognize common leadership paradoxes in biodiversity and leadership and why they are intensifying in today’s world.
- Diagnose and escape three vicious cycles of either/or thinking: rabbit holes, wrecking balls, and trench warfare.
- Apply practical tools and case-based frameworks to reframe tensions and lead with greater agility, resilience, and clarity.