Dr. Shannon Jennings on Systems Thinking, Strategic Doing, and the Power of Small Wins

Walks and talks at the 2022 APA Convention in Minneapolis sealed the friendship between host Liz Sweigart and Shannon Jennings, PsyD, LMHC. Now, they sit down together to explore how their connection and collaboration has grown over the last few years. In this episode of Past the Profile, Shannon, a therapist-turned-facilitator, strategic-doing champion, and self-described super connector, revisits that serendipitous beginning and unpacks how her “everything, everywhere, all at once” brain helps leaders tame messy, adaptive problems. She and Liz explore translating deep psychology into business value, the magic of micro-commitments, and why uncertainty is Shannon’s favorite playground. Highlights How a house-share at APA led to walks, vulnerability, and a standing-room-only coaching workshop the next year. Why Shannon believes micro-commitments are the secret to momentum — whether you’re launching a network or rebuilding a fitness habit. A primer on Strategic Doing: agile strategy + appreciative inquiry + psychological safety for complex, networked challenges. Bridging the gap between mental-health science and organizational life — helping CEOs lead the “whole selves” they invite to work. What’s next: publishing her ideas publicly and training more change-makers to use Strategic Doing for systems impact.