If you want to solve a social problem, alleviating symptoms and “scaling” your organization are not going to work. You need to change the social systems that are responsible for the problem in the first place. In other words: you need a different strategy.
Here are three formats to get started.
Quick Review
You receive high-level feedback on your impact strategy and tips for next steps.
Format: video call
Duration: 1.5 hours
Result: feedback covers
- clarity and comprehensiveness of your understanding of the system that you want to change
- ideas for how you can continue the strategy process
- ideas for how you could generate more indirect impact / more impact on a systems level
Workshop
In a single session, your team develops part of a systems change strategy. Donors and partners can participate, too.
Format: facilitated workshop
Duration: 4 or 8 hours
Result: one or two of the following:
- Root cause analysis
- Targeted Systems Change
- Systems Change Journey (a theory of change with milestones that is easy to communicate)
- Portfolio of concrete ideas for initiatives to achieve the first milestones, including systemic networks
Strategy Process
We follow the process that I developed for Globalizer, Ashoka’s flagship strategy program.
Format: series of video calls (homework between the calls)
Duration: 8-12 weeks (or 16-24 weeks with bi-weekly calls)
Result: full systems change strategy:
- Root cause analysis
- Targeted Systems Change
- Systems Change Journey (a theory of change with milestones that is easy to communicate)
- Portfolio of concrete ideas for initiatives to achieve the first milestones, including systemic networks

"It was awesome! We only looked at our program; now we focus on the system change!"Rita Melifonwu, Ashoka Fellow, Founder and CEO, Stroke Action UK and Nigeria

"Odin is a genius."Kendis Paris, Ashoka Fellow, Founder & CEO, Truckers Against Trafficking

"Tremendously useful Feedback, Odin! How much do I have to pay to steal you from Ashoka?"Thorsten Kiefer, Ashoka Fellow, Founder and CEO, Wash United

"Odin's analyses are as sharp and precise as a scalpel."Mike McGalliard, Founding President and Executive Director, Imagination Foundation

"Odin opened up a completely new perspective to our long-term strategy."Stefan Prasse, CEO, Mobile Retter

"Odin, we are going to name one of our centers after you!"Karima Grant, Ashoka Fellow and Executive Director, ImagiNation Afrika

"I could fill a book with quotes from Odin."Daniela Matielo, Director of Network Activation, Ashoka Changemakers