How do you balance conflicting viewpoints within a clear mission?
The complexities of social change require that organizations have a clear strategic vision. However, they must also remain open to the critical perspectives of diverse partners and stakeholders. This combination can result in challenging and dynamic tensions.
In 2024, McConnell developed a five-year strategy to accelerate the inclusive transition to an equitable net-zero carbon economy. While this process didn’t result in convergence around a single strategy, it improved our approach and strengthened relationships among diverse actors. This experience prompts us to ask how foundations can set up open partnerships and ongoing consultations to make room for constructive disagreement, shared learning and stronger alignment across different sectors of society.