INFLECTION

“Inflection” is the title of the first salon series. It will explore, in detail, the reasons we are at an inflection point in human history.

In our past, pivotal moments have irrevocably reshaped our societies and propelled us forward. The first Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution that followed, were such moments. The changes we are now living through will come to be recognised as another inflection point.

If we make the right decisions, we can achieve another leap of progress in the human story. But the nature of the challenges we face mean the future of humanity is threatened if we make the wrong decisions. And the quality of our existence during the transition is also threated. In this context, our ability to make the right choices has never been more important.

The Existential Crisis

Warnings that our survival is in jeopardy are not new, but global warming and climate change related natural disasters mean we really do face an existential crisis. We are at an inflection point and must take significant and immediate action. Additionally, the changes needed are numerous, large in scale, and highly complex in nature.

The crisis is felt at all levels, from the individual to the nation, and in businesses and organisations of all types. Many individuals are seeing incomes and living standards stagnate or decline. Suicide, substance abuse, mental illness, and many other related problems are on the increase.

Companies often find themselves on a “burning platform”. Few survive. The very short lifespan of companies offers us the evidence of that. And research by PwC indicates 45% of CEOs recognise the company they lead will not survive a decade without transformational change.

Confidence in the leaders of nations, and their ability to ensure our safety, security and prosperity. So is our trust and confidence in most institutions.

Crises & The Burning Platform

Many of us recognise a “New Enlightenment” is needed, to identify pathways to a future beyond the Polycrisis, Permacrisis and Metacrisis as the challenges we face are being called. New ideas and solutions are needed to move beyond the “burning platform.”

The term, “burning platform,” first used by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop in a memo, refers to a situation where significant and immediate action is required due to impending danger or crisis. That was the situation Nokia had found itself in then. A situation we are all in today. We are all on a burning platform.

Complex Systemic Problems

The climate emergency caused by global warming is creating a growing number of disasters and eco-systems are threatened. Many of these problems are man-made. And many of our other man-made systems are also failing us, or pose real risks to our wellbeing and prosperity: healthcare, energy, education, the economy, technology, politics, etc.

All these systems are interrelated and interdependent in ways most people cannot comprehend. The “systems thinking capabilities gap” is one we must address.

Practical Perspectives From Leading Thinkers

Our first Salon series will make the case we are at an inflection point. It will explore how we got to this position and investigate what must be done about it.

A systematic investigation of the issues from multiple perspectives will involve experts from a wide range of disciplines. Given the issues are global in nature, we will engage experts from many parts of the world to take part in interactive dialogues with our global audience.

To find practical solutions and identify pathways to a brighter future is our focus. We will invite contributors to suggest actions we can take as individuals, organisations, or societies.

Recorded Interviews & Live Dialogues

Each expert is interviewed by Paul Barnett in a pre-recorded video. This is shared in advance of a live online dialogue a few weeks later, giving viewers ample time to prepare questions.

Members of the Enlightened Enterprise Academy Faculty offer their reflections on the interview to get the conversation started. But each two hour long live dialogue gives participants the opportunity to engage in the dialogue.

Both the live dialogues are also recorded to for subscribers who were unable to attend, or who wish to re-watch them.

You can take a look at the examples shown above on our YouTube channel. Here is a link to the Interview. And here is a link to the Live Dialogue Recording

Check out other sections of this site for all the interviews and dialogues.