Stories for the future

In order to create the future, we first need to be able to imagine it. Today, on this last episode of the season, I'm joined by Merlin Bola, an enthusiast in ecology, psychology and storytelling. Merlin's journey began with a deep interest in environmental studies, leading him to some really big questions about life and humanity. Merlin advocates for the use of imagination as a tool to envision future possibilities, emphasizing the role of storytelling in bringing these concepts to life. His current focus is on integrating these ideas to support initiatives aimed at environmental regeneration. He believes in the power of storytelling to effectively communicate complex environmental challenges and solutions.This is one of the most philosophical conversations I've had on this podcast, but Merlin also manages make complex ideas easy to understand so that we can make it easier for people to rally around causes that matter. Merlin Bola on LinkedIn.GrowintoflowFor more information about this podcast and the rest of my work, please visit bycause.co

My guest today is an expert in climate communication. Her name is Katherine Duarte, and the reason I fist noticed her, was because she was a fresh breath on my Instagram feed. I noticed that she shared important, serious and very interesting stuff about climate and sustainability, but she did it in a very funny way. Today we discuss the complex, difficult, but very interesting topic about how to communicate hard issues like climate change. Katherine has her very own approach where she mixes in humour and relatebility with the hard facts. She has a very interesting career journey behind her, going from academia, via teaching and media, to now helping businesses communicate better about their sustainability initiatives without greenwashing. Links: Katherine's LinkedIn profile. Katherine's Instagram profile greenkathytaFor more information about what I'm up to in my own business, check out Bycause.co

In this solo episode I share more details around my recent shift in my own career, and why this is so important to me. I also tell you about my plans for next week and how you can get involved. You can register for the 5 Day Challenge here. On November 2nd I am doing an event together with Terra.do. If you are quick, you can still join it here. More details about my work, can be found at bycause.co

Meet Jøril Korperud Johnsen, a seasoned leader with 25 years' experience in leadership, innovation, and sustainability. Discover her journey from being the head of sustainability at IKEA Norway to establishing her own company, Fremvekst.Join us in this conversation where Jøril raises important questions like:What kind of world could we co-create, if each of us felt more nurtured, more part of rather than disconnected from ourselves, organizations and systemic communities?What kind of community could we weave together if we were all more present, felt more whole, seen, heard and loved?How do we reclaim nature within us and around us in our modern urbanized life?Key Highlights:A Female Perspective: Continuing the trend of featuring influential women who are making a mark in their respective fields.The Origins: Jøril's background, including her significant contributions at IKEA Norway and her evolution as a fifth-generation citizen of Oslo.Transitioning from IKEA: What prompted Jøril to make the leap? The inspirations and challenges faced during her transition.Regenerative Leadership with Laura Storm: Delving deeper into her association and learnings from this global network of leaders.Identity Beyond Profession: Jøril's take on professional identity, and how she navigated her personal evolution post-IKEA.Sustainability - Inside and Out: The growing focus on inner sustainability, its significance, and Jøril's views on the Inner Development Goals.The Magic Wand Question: What Jøril would change instantly in the business world, given the chance.Additional Resources:Learn more about the B Corp MovementInner Development Goals Catalysts: Delve deeper into this transformative approach to personal and professional growth.Laura Storm's Regenerative Leaders Network: Understand more about this global initiative and its impact.Connect with Jøril:LinkedIn: Jøril Korperud JohnsenIf you're looking to make a shift in your own career, go ahead and book a chat, and I'll help you in every way that I can!

In this episode you will meet Holly Lichtenfeld. Holly has worked on sustainability, the environment, and climate change issues for 20+ years. She has extensive expertise in strategy, business development, and growth combined with a deep understanding of ESG and sustainability. Holly helps climate solutions companies grow and also works with organizations to measure their impact and accelerate their adoption of climate solutions. If you're one of those people looking to change the direction of your career, I think you should listen closely. Pay attention to the way that Holly engaged in the area she was interested in. She joined networks, associations and kept engaged even before she got a job in that industry. She told people around her what she was interested in, and that finally led her to a position. Links:Holly's LinkedIn profile and website.Bycause.co

Stories for the future is back! After a long break, we're kicking off the new season with a female confidence boost! Dr. Maria Evans, experienced mentor, coach and trainer, is here to share with us her mission to empower women to be more confident, helping them land the jobs they deserve and navigate life's challenges. From discussing the challenges women face in the workplace to the importance of resilience and adaptability in today's uncertain and complex world, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and actionable insights on how to tackle the messiness of life + career.Mentioned in this episode: The Portfolio Collective - Where I met Maria, and a brilliant network we're both members of.Maria's LinkedIn profileMaria's websiteCalmly Confident Course - register ASAP, starts on Oct 2nd!You can find more information about own recent pivot and focus on helping people with their career transitions at https://bycause.co/career

Today I will share with you what's in store for 2023, both for this podcast and for another exciting project I am diving into.Those of you who know me well will recognize my excitement around starting a new project. This time is no different! I have thought about this new topic for a long time, and now I've come to realize that this topic needs a space on it's own. Listen and learn about my brand new and exciting sandbox. A lot more to come in the new year! For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebookFT3jCQNvNYQwrs5YnT7p

Have you ever thought about starting your own podcast? Today's guest might have exactly what you need to make your dream a reality. Regina Larko is the reason I got Stories for the future off the ground, and with her calm and friendly way of being, she teaches podcasting newbies like me the how, the what, the when and the why related to getting started. Her podcast #Impact has been on my playlist for years, and I keep getting inspired by all the purpose-driven organizations and individuals she interviews on her show.  For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Have you ever wanted to try something new - a new job, a totally different career path or just a small project very different from what you do today? And then your next thought is:  “No, I couldn’t. That doesn’t fit with who I am, my professional identity, what people expect from me….” And on and on it goes.... This week's guest is here to tell you that actually, “Yes, you can!”Alan is a champion of the squiggly career, himself having gone from corporate finance to cheffing to becoming a multi-hyphenate advisor to seed and series A startups. He's currently acting as the Chief of Staff at the Portfolio Collective, teaching at Synthesis, writing on Medium (when he finds time) along with the occasional private catering gig.Can you see why Alan inspires me? I hope you will feel the same after listening to this episode, and you might end up thinking that a squiggly career path sounds quite attractive.For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Almost by accident Michel Wolfstirn started his career as a mechanical engineer in the oil industry in Norway. Until he completely changed lanes in 2015.Now he divides his time between his startup SquareRoot and biomimicry / circular economy consulting services.He is the perfect example of how we can reinvent ourselves and find more alignment between what we do for a living and our own values. My conversation with Michel is so packed with inspiration for everyone who wants to try another path, and we didn't manage to cover everything in this episode. If you want to know more about his work, you can get in touch on LinkedIn. For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noFor all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

You have probably heard them, all these words and terms describing what is said to be the future of internet and also really important for how we interact, communicate and earn a living. You have the metaverse, web3, blockchain, crypto currencies, DAOs, wallets...  I could go on and on and on.If you are anything like me, you sometimes hesitate to ask the questions: But what does this really mean? How does it work? I mean, we don’t want to seem stupid. Or even worse; reveal that we might originate from the stone age and actually can remember a time where we didn’t have an email address! You can relax now - I have taken one for the team and started asking all the questions you think might be stupid. They actually aren’t stupid at all. Stay tuned for this episode with Sander Andersen, the first one in what I think will become a mini series about the future of work in the metaverse.For more links and information about this episode, go to storiesforthefuture.noFor all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

My second guest coming from the Portfolio Collective is Janis Chan. Janis’ career path has a lot of similarities to my own. She used to work in oil and gas, with over 15 years in different engineering and management roles. She then had a a number of external factors leading her to take a step back and evaluate what she really wanted to do.She is now working as a Leadership Coach with people in hyper-growth organizations as well as private clients including Small Business Owners and Senior Managers.I enjoyed so many things with this conversation, but what really stood out for me is this;  we should allow ourselves to experiment more and it is always possible to go back without feeling like a failure. We should not put so much emphasis on what other people think and at the end of the day what matters is that you do what is right for you at that moment in time. Nothing is permanent, and that is ok.You can find more information on storiesforthefuture.no.For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

 With two huge transformations happening at the same time, the digital transformation and our society's transition to a more sustainable one, the complexity and interconnectedness of this topic can sometimes overwhelm us. For instance, most companies are still in the early stages of digital transformation, and many are struggling to understand how to best leverage data. How can we better use data generated from technology and the digital transformation in a way that drives the transition to the future we want? My guest today is Joanne Thurlow.  With more than 30 years in the tech industry, Joanne Thurlow has extensive knowledge of today's IT industry and innovations enabling digital transformation on a global level. Joanne’s primary focus is on digital business transformation through tech-enabled sustainable solutions.  I met Joanne through The Portfolio Collective, a fantastic community of portfolio professionals, and I am so happy I found her! In this episode we mention quite a few resources and and links, and you can find everything on storiesforthefuture.noFor all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Have you thought about why you work? Of course there are the obvious reasons, like putting food on the table for yourself and your family, and making society work in all its forms. But is there another reason that we perhaps should add to the list? Like having an impact and changing the world for the better? This topic is one I am extremely interested in, and that's why I was over the moon happy when I found Roshan Paul. Roshan is a social entrepreneurship expert and bestselling autor of the book The New Reason to Work: How to Build a Career That Will Change the World.I this episode he shares his journey from working ten years with Ashoka, to co-founding the Amani Institute and educating people on how to build a career in the social sector. He also shares the reason for writing the book and the six essential keys that can unlock your dream career in social impact. For more links and details, go to the show notes at storiesforthefuture.no.For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Welcome to the summer version of Stories for the future - my Summer shorts, and the last one in this series of shorter episodes.Today I want to share with you a kind of awakening I had related to plant based food. I do not put myself into any category when it comes to food; I am not vegan or vegetarian. Flexetarian would be the closest. My approach to more plant based eating has mainly been to reduce the animal products. More vegetables, less meat etc. But this summer we had some summer guests who made me start exploring. And the fun I have had in the kitchen this summer as a result of that is worth sharing! Check out Storiesforthefuture.no for resources and contact information. For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Welcome to the summer version of Stories for the future - my Summer shorts.Today I am inspired by my recent travel to the UK. I haven't travelled by plane for more than three years, both due to COVID, but also because I am conscious about my carbon footprint.But the feeling that I am left with after this short week in a different country is: We need to keep travelling! We need to explore different people, cultures and ways of doing things, and we have so much to learn from each other.Now I am very eager to learn more about sustainable travel, so if anyone knows someone I should get on as a guest to talk about this, please let me know! Check out Storiesforthefuture.no for resources and contact information. For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Welcome to the summer version of Stories for the future - my Summer shorts.Today I am talking about how clinging to our work identities might slow us down when making (or thinking about making) a career transition.I have my own vivid memory of this and how it was one of my biggest struggles even after I realized I wanted a change.I now use my mental image of my work identity being a book I can put up on a shelf and take down whenever I need it. Try it for yourself and see if it opens up new and exciting opportunities! Check out Storiesforthefuture.no for resources and contact information. For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Welcome to the summer version of Stories for the future - my Summer shorts.Today I am talking about how staying comfortable is a habit that is worth breaking, and what an amazing feeling it is when you see that you have managed to stretch your comfort zone.I take you through my journey of stretching my comfort zone during the last few years, and how looking back makes me realize how much that has made me grow.Here is the link to the video challenge I mention in this episode, and the reason I am now in the middle of another stretch. Ignite Video ChallengeAn amazing experience - highly recommend it! Visit Storiesforthefuture.no for more links and resources.  For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Are the business schools of today doing enough to educate the leaders we need in the future?What kind of knowledge do we actually need in order to secure a sustainable future? Katarína Halušková and Karolina Sobczak from The Academy of Business in Society (ABIS) have been working a lot on these questions and today they are here to share some of their findings. No doubt there are positive changes on the way, but there are also big gaps that we need to close, sooner rather than later. And how do you feel about playing a game to explore alternative futures? At ABIS they are also working on something called Scenario Exploration System Workshops where they enable participants to build knowledge and at the same time explore different plausible futures. Find all the links and contact info at storiesforthefuture.noFor all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

We spend up to 90% of our time indoors, but the spaces we create very often doesn't serve our health and overall wellbeing in the best way. Do you want to learn more about how you can change this? My first guest this season is interior designer Johanna Winter. She has specialized in biophilic design; a concept used to bring natural elements into our indoor environments. This conversation and Johanna's practical tips will give you tons of inspiration to change your own surroundings. For more information about the episode, including all links, go to storiesforthefuture.noFor all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook