Facilitating Change: How to create transformative spaces that inspire, empower & drive real change

Heart-Centered Leadership and the Power of Circles with Elizabeth Werbe

In this episode, Mentor sits down with Elizabeth Werbe, a heart-centered coach, facilitator, and program designer who has spent more than two decades supporting social change leaders. Elizabeth’s work has taken her across leading educational and cultural institutions - from Barnard College, Obama Foundation, The New School to the Smithsonian - and her focus has always been the same: helping people discover what makes them come alive and use their gifts in service of their communities.
This conversation explores what it means to lead from the heart, why inner change must come before outer change, and how circles can help people see themselves more clearly, build trust, and move through fear with courage. Elizabeth shares how her own journey - shaped by perfectionism, wilderness leadership, the loss of her mother, and a powerful experience working with Tibetan refugee youth in Dharamsala - taught her to drop her protective armor and connect more deeply with her own heart.
Together, Mentor and Elizabeth dive into:
The real meaning of heart-centered leadership
Why we often teach what we most need to learn
How community, consistency, and shared intention build trust
The practice of circles and why they help people uncover patterns and blind spots
Why slowing down is essential in a culture of urgency
How grief, suffering, and challenge can deepen compassion
The role of art, nature, and creativity in supporting transformation
Why relational capacity is foundational, not “kumbaya”
Elizabeth also reflects on two quotes that guide her work: “When you show up authentic, you create the space for others to do the same,” and Howard Thurman’s reminder to “ask what makes you come alive.” These ideas run through her life, her facilitation, and her belief that the most courageous thing we can do is come from the heart.Find Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethwerbe/ 

How to Build Rural Communities That Sustain Themselves While Transforming the Community with Sanjana Shrestha and Swathi Massar from READ Global

In this Thanksgiving week, we bring you one of the most moving conversations we have ever had on Facilitating Change. Mentor sits down with two remarkable leaders from READ Global: Sanjana Shrestha and Swathi Massar. Their work spans rural Nepal, India, and Bhutan, where they support communities in building community-led libraries and resource centers that unlock dignity, agency, and long-term change.
This episode goes deep into what real facilitation looks like in places where people have been told for generations that they have no power. Sanjana and Swathi share stories of bonded laborers, women who were once considered untouchable, and entire villages that shifted from “this is our fate” to “we are the authors of our own future.” They show us how deep listening, humility, patience, and shared humanity can transform whole systems.
You will hear stories of:– How a simple tent became the first “library” in a brick kiln community– What it takes to earn trust in places where outsiders usually create dependency– Why facilitation is not a method but a way of being– The five kinds of patience needed to help communities lead their own change– How READ centers are built, owned, and sustained by the community itself– Why not a single READ center has closed in 35 years
This is a conversation about dignity, trust, and the kind of change that lasts because people own it.
A Thanksgiving Invitation
This week, as we reflect on gratitude, we also have a chance to support work that is helping families create real freedom and possibility for the next generation. If this episode moves you, consider supporting READ Global.
General information: www.readglobal.orgDonate here: www.readglobal.org/empower
Even a small contribution makes a meaningful difference, especially now when global funding is shifting and the work depends on community-paced, patient, human facilitation. If you’re looking for a place to give during Thanksgiving week, this is the organization Mentor is choosing to champion.
Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for being part of a community that believes in change shaped by the people living it.
Enjoy the episode.

Facilitating from the Inside Out: Presence, Identity, and the Unknown with Dylan Ayaloo

What does it take to truly live your work as a facilitator, teacher, or leader?
In this episode, Mentor Dida sits down with Dylan Ayaloo - also known as the Inner Work Guy. Dylan is a facilitator of transformation, a yoga teacher of teachers, and a healer who has helped thousands of high-achievers release burnout, heal emotional patterns, and reconnect with their purpose.
Dylan shares his journey from full-contact martial arts training for the Olympics into yoga, meditation, and deep inner work. Together they explore what “inner work” actually means, why awakening is simply waking up from the hypnosis of the mind, and how loosening our grip on fixed identities can change the way we teach, lead, and learn.
This conversation dives into how to design spaces - in education, work, and group settings - where people feel safe enough to be real, ask “Who am I?”, and step into the unknown together.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Dylan’s turning point from physical mastery to inner mastery
What inner work looks like across body, mind, and energy
Why awakening is about seeing through the noise of the mind
The danger of rigid identities and how to hold them more lightly
What it takes to facilitate real transformation in a group
LinksWebsite: www.dylanayaloo.comInstagram: instagram.com/dylanayaloo Facebook: facebook.com/dylanismsYouTube: youtube.com/@DylanAyaloo

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! 

Deep Dive: Every Team Needs a Super-Facilitator

In this conversation, Mentor Dida and Cole Hoover break down Harvard Business Review’s “Every Team Needs a Super-Facilitator” by Jamil Zaki and connect it to what we’ve learned from dozens of world-class spaceholders on Facilitating Change. We unpack the article’s three pillars - attunement, communication, and distribution—and translate them into practical moves for leaders who want meetings that actually create progress. 
What you’ll learn
How super facilitators sense the room, name tensions, and invite quieter voices without losing momentum. Harvard Business Review
Ways to communicate with clarity and care, so challenge fuels learning instead of shutdown.
How to “keep the ball moving” so contribution is distributed and collective intelligence shows up. 
When to open the door wide vs. curate the room, and why design before the meeting often determines the outcome.
Tactics for power dynamics: naming power, creating structure, and using small groups to share airtime.
Why movement, somatic cues, and thoughtful transitions matter—onsite and on Zoom.
The “time paradox” of transformation: planting seeds, holding patience, still delivering value now.
Who this episode is for
Leaders, facilitators, learning designers, team coaches, and anyone responsible for turning a group’s time together into real change.
Links
Harvard Business Review: Every Team Needs a Super-Facilitator — Jamil Zaki. Harvard Business Review
Zach Mercurio on The Power of Mattering. Zach Mercurio+1
Adam Kahane, Power and Love (book). PenguinRandomhouse.com
David Ehrlichman, Impact Networks (book). PenguinRandomhouse.com+1
Jeff Hittner, Ambitious Dads (Substack). https://ambitiousdads.substack.com/ 
If this episode lands, share it with a colleague who runs meetings, trainings, or retreats—then try one small shift this week: name a tension, rotate a role, or redesign one agenda to distribute contribution.

Ask Me Anything: Facilitation Edition with Mentor Dida

This episode flips the script - no guest, no prep, just me answering your questions in real time. Together we dig into the messy, human side of facilitation and what it really takes to hold a room.
The some questions I unpack:
What’s the real difference between being a teacher and being a facilitator?
How do you keep a session alive when the group goes completely silent?
What’s the biggest mistake facilitators make - and how do you recover when it happens?
Where's the field going?
Along the way, I share personal stories, raw lessons, and small mindset shifts that can change how you show up in any space. Think of it as sitting down with me after a workshop, where nothing’s polished and everything’s honest.

Unlocking Inclusion: How to Design Learning Spaces Where Everyone Belongs with Shaheen

What does it take to design learning spaces where everyone feels they belong - not just as participants, but as full human beings?
In this episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor sits down with Shaheen, an inclusive learning designer and founder of Ta’leem Consulting. From growing up in a small town in India to shaping inclusive learning and leadership programs across Australia, Shaheen’s story is a testament to the power of education as both a leveler and a liberator.
Together, we explore:
Why education must go beyond content delivery and start with connection before content.
The role of inclusive design in everyday learning and work - not as an HR checkbox, but as a mindset that shapes culture.
How to hold space for complexity, balance openness with boundaries, and protect group well-being.
Why conversations, stories, and even silence are vital tools for learning in an age of distraction.
Practical strategies for designing spaces that honor mental health, diversity, and the unseen “backpacks” people carry with them.
Shaheen also shares her Inclusive Learning Framework, a practical tool for teams and organizations who want to embed equity and inclusion at their core. And for Facilitating Change listeners, she’s offering an exclusive 20% discount - just book a discovery call here and share what resonated with you from this episode.
This is a conversation for facilitators, educators, leaders, and anyone who believes learning should unlock human potential - not shut it down.
Links:
About Shaheen: taleemconsulting.com/about
LinkedIn: Shaheen Hajira
Inclusive Learning Framework: taleemconsulting.com/audits

Why the Margins Hold the Facilitation Magic: A Conversation with Mansi Jasuja

Some people stumble into facilitation. Mansi Jasuja designed her way here - literally. From practicing architecture in India to working with the UN and EU on environmental projects, her path has been anything but linear. What unites it all? A deep calling to serve, to listen, and to create spaces where people belong.
Rooted in her Sikh heritage, her yoga practice, and a lifelong love for the planet, Mansi calls herself a warrior of the heart. Over the past 15 years, she’s turned her focus toward facilitation, participatory leadership, and systems change - helping groups move beyond business-as-usual into collaboration, equity, and bold collective action.
In this conversation, Mansi and Mentor explore what facilitation really looks like when it’s rooted in values and purpose - and why it matters for anyone leading change today. You’ll walk away with both inspiration and practical tools you can apply right away. Together, they dive into:
How Mansi’s journey from architecture to environmental work to facilitation shaped the way she designs spaces for learning and collaboration.
Why belonging is the hidden superpower of facilitation - and how to intentionally create it in any group.
The role of values - like social justice, equality, and sewa (service) - in designing meaningful conversations and processes.
The Art of Hosting and Harvesting: what it means to create participatory spaces where everyone’s voice can shape the outcome, and how to capture the wisdom that emerges.
What it looks like to host at the edges and tend to the margins, where unheard and unseen voices rise to lead.
Simple, practical ways facilitators can bring more depth, heart, and play into their work.
Mansi reminds us that facilitation isn’t about standing in front of the room - it’s about holding space with courage, presence, and care.
If you’re curious about how to design conversations that spark real change - and why the edges often hold the most powerful voices - this episode will inspire you to step into your own practice with fresh eyes.
Connect with Mansi Jasuja
LinkedIn: Mansi Jasuja

Where Community Building, Learning Experience Design, and Facilitation Meet: Insights from Anamaria Dorgo

Episode DescriptionWhat happens when you combine the art of community building, the craft of learning experience design, and the skill of facilitation? That’s where Anamaria Dorgo lives. A learning strategist and community architect, she helps organizations create spaces where people connect, grow, and transform - whether it’s launching L&D Shakers, a global community of 8,000+ learning professionals; building peer-learning networks for distributed teams; or facilitating programs that help first-time leaders build confidence, break silos, and share best practices across cultures.
In this episode, Anamaria and Mentor explore:
Why communities of practice are powerful drivers of connection, innovation, and change.
The difference between a network and a community - and why it matters.
How learning experience design shapes community journeys.
The role of facilitation in creating safe, participatory spaces that invite diverse perspectives.
Common mistakes organizations make when building communities - and how to avoid them.
The future of communities in an AI-powered world, and why “being human” is still our competitive advantage.
Anamaria shares her own journey from psychology and HR into facilitation and community leadership, the lessons she’s learned from building global communities of practice, and practical strategies for making communities both vibrant and sustainable.
If you’ve ever wondered how to create spaces where people feel they belong, contribute, and grow - this conversation will give you clarity, inspiration, and tools you can apply right away.
Connect with AnaMaria Dorgo
LinkedIn: Anamaria Dorgo
Newsletter – The IRrEGULAR LEtTER: Subscribe here
Podcast – Mapping Ties: Listen here

The Space Between the Sessions - What 30 Conversations Taught Us About Facilitating Change

What happens when you sit down for 30 conversations with some of the most thoughtful facilitators on the planet?
You start to see patterns. You start to feel shifts. And you begin to realize: facilitation isn’t a technique - it’s a way of being.
In this milestone episode, Mentor and Cole turn the mics on themselves to reflect on the journey so far. Together, they revisit the moments that cracked something open, the insights that lingered long after the recording stopped, and the deep themes that showed up across every single interview.
You’ll hear stories and lessons about:
Why great facilitators are like tuned instruments - able to read a room, feel what’s needed, and not flinch when things get messy.
How setting the space (physically, emotionally, energetically) is just as important as what happens in the space.
The myth of the "perfect session" and the beauty of designing for seasons, not single events.
Reimagining power - not as something to hold, but as something to share.
The surprising reason so many amazing space holders don’t even call themselves facilitators.
This episode is equal parts celebration and invitation. We’re not just looking back - we’re asking forward.
If you’ve been listening and learning with us, now’s your chance:What questions are still alive for you?What spaces are you trying to transform?And what kind of world could we build if we all learned to hold space a little better?
Mentioned in this episode:
The Soil of Leadership by Britt Yamamoto
Love and Power by Adam Kahane
SessionLab’s State of Facilitation Report
The magic of Jeff Hitler, Greg, Natasha, Vipul, and many more past guests
Coming Soon:A special series on Facilitating Change in Education. Know someone reimagining how we learn? Send them our way.
Keep the conversation going:Connect with us on LinkedIn or at changemakerallies.org