Reframing Crisis to Creation - Preparing Now for What’s Next
Oct 15, 2026By Trista Harris and Siobhán O'Riordan
Trista Harris is a philanthropic futurist and President of FutureGood. Connect with her on LinkedIn or reach out to her by email at [email protected].
Siobhán O’Riordan is a certified coach and advisor at Big Sea Strategies and author of the book “Reframe - How Generalists Thrive in a Changing World”. Connect with her on LinkedIn or reach out to her by email at [email protected].
Some days it feels like we are in a space movie, pummeled by satellites and debris as we propel through the atmosphere: before we understand one moment, we are in the next.
It isn't just the speed of change or the bombardment of information that makes us feel overwhelmed; it is the possibility of what it could mean. The systemic changes that support the social justice we have long dreamed of are both tantalizingly near and seemingly impossible: the difference lies in our values, actions, and the dance of stability and adaptability. To twist an already over-wrought metaphor further, we have to build the spaceship while flying it, with possibility as a design principle.
Reframe - What to Flex Now for What’s Next
The fact remains that the speed and complexity of today's (and tomorrow's) change cannot be met with the strategies, tools, and talents we used yesterday. While not as complex, we have faced times that required adaptation before, and we must do so again. The good news? Our collective social sector dreams give us a vision, and Generalists – the ubiquitous yet invisible “jacks of all trades” – exist in every organization, already flexing what we need next.
Hope is a Verb
Some say hope is neither a strategy nor a plan. It’s far more than that; hope is a mindset, generative and catalytic as ancient as we are. Hope counters fear and reframes the familiar as what we build from, not return to. As a practice, hope seeds the creativity and curiosity essential to shaping the future.
Adaptability - Cultivating Curiosity, Creativity & Critical Thinking
As a species, we vacillate between adaptability and familiarity; changing when we must and resisting when we can. Adaptability is essential to the world we wish to create. Curiosity, creativity, and the ability to think critically are qualities that belong to all of us, not just the select few. Generalists are a good example of being broadly curious and creating new solutions as the organizational “glue” and essential partner to specialists.
Values & Strengths Matter More Than Skills & Knowledge
We all have preferred values and inherent talents that, when flexed, help us make decisions and use our superpowers. As information becomes rapidly outdated or incomplete and hierarchical structures flatten in the face of the unknown, we will rely more on values than information to make decisions. Similarly, as specific skills and knowledge become outdated, we will rely more on our strengths to discern and act upon possibilities.
Better Together: Action, Imagination & Next Generation of Leaders
The individuality celebrated as part of the Great American experiment will not survive the future. What will be collective power enacting shared values inspired by what is possible, not just achievable. Imagination fuels the spirit and action of the body. We have a responsibility now to cultivate the next generation of leaders with what they need: the ability to discern, not just decide.
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 1 pm ET /10 am PT
