Facilitating Systems Change: Rethinking Education and the Inner Work of Change with Daniela Papi-Thornton

In this thought-provoking episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor Dida sits down with educator, facilitator, author, and mother Daniela Papi-Thornton to explore what it truly means to transform systems—starting with ourselves. Daniela shares her journey from founding a youth education organization in Cambodia to reshaping how institutions around the world teach social innovation. Together, they unpack the deeper purpose of education, the myth of “fixing” systems, and why inner work is central to creating outer change. Daniela challenges traditional models of leadership and entrepreneurship, revealing how systems are “perfectly designed to get the results they’re getting”—and what it takes to shift them toward well-being and wholeness. Listeners will come away with a renewed understanding of systems-led leadership, the importance of mental models, and practical insights for educators and changemakers who want to contribute to the next era of learning and transformation. Guest Bio: Daniela Papi-Thornton is an educator, facilitator, and author whose work focuses on systems-led leadership—an approach to social innovation that centers on systems understanding. She is currently a lecturer at the University of Colorado Boulder and a consultant to education organizations, foundations, and for-profits committed to systems change. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford’s Saïd Business School and has lectured at Yale School of Management, Watson Institute, and Dartmouth College. Daniela designed the Impact Gaps Canvas, launched the Map the System competition now hosted by over 50 institutions, and co-authored Learning Service and The 55 Minutes. Her influential report Tackling Heropreneurship and TEDx Talk Reclaiming Social Entrepreneurship have shaped a global conversation around reimagining social change. Learn more about Daniela’s work and join the Systems Change Educators community at systemschangeeducatorsunite.com. Links: Systems Change Educators Unite Impact Gaps Canvas Map the System Daniela’s TEDx Talk – Reclaiming Social Entrepreneurship Learning Service (Book) Enjoy!