Stronger, together: four ways Forum for the Future can support you
We know that our climate and social crises are too complex for any one organisation to tackle alone. That’s why, for almost 30 years, Forum for the Future has worked alongside businesses, philanthropies, civil society, governments and others to drive change-making collaborations for a just and regenerative future.
We are — and always have been — stronger, together. But as our crises exacerbate one another, exactly how does Forum help?
Based in the UK, US, India and Southeast Asia, our team of futures-focused, systems-changing experts work hand-in-hand with wide-ranging partners to co-create future-fit, transformational strategies; support implementation by advising on that often-elusive ‘big how’; provide bespoke, strategic advice on the issues that matter most; and convene multi-stakeholder coalitions for systemic change.
You’ll often hear us speak of ‘systems change’ and ‘futures and strategic foresight’; they are central to our unique approach. This thinking enables us to analyse the big picture so that we can diagnose the root causes of challenges. It equips us to explore what possible futures lie ahead so that we can advise you on ‘transition pathways’, or, where to focus today for a better tomorrow.
Below, you’ll find out more and see what a few of our valued partners have to say about working with us.
To explore a change-making collaboration that’s right for your needs, let’s chat.
Hannah Pathak
CEO
Forum for the Future
How we can support you:
1. By co-creating future-fit, transformational strategies
Our unique approach is grounded in our futures, strategic foresight and system change expertise. We can help you:
Develop an integrated and ambitious sustainability or just transition strategy
Conduct a dynamic double materiality assessment with effective, executive-level engagement
Co-create transformational action plans to future-proof your business strategy
Define or refine a compelling purpose for your organisation that is both inspiring and credible
Co-create visions for the future of a sector, an industry, or a particular topic
Bringing this to life with our partners:
“As companies face into a more uncertain and volatile operating context in the 2020s, purpose-led business transformation has never been more important. Forum combines deep insight into sustainability issues with the facilitation skills needed to effectively engage the most senior leaders in a business.”
Anke Ehlers
Managing Director International Sustainability, ALDI South
“Forum was our thought partner to refresh our sustainability strategy for 2030. The combination of futures thinking, deep issue expertise and constructive challenges helped us to shape the evolution of our ambitions and plans to make our business future fit.”
Nemanthie Kooragamage
Director Group Sustainable Business, MAS Holdings
2. By providing customised, strategic advice on key issues
With almost 30 years of working at the leading edge of sustainability, we have unrivalled expertise in inspiring, educating and advising businesses leaders on the nuance of complex ESG challenges. We can:
Run inspiration sessions for boards, executives, and leadership teams that clarify the business case for sustainability leadership
Equip executives with advanced training in sustainability to enable them to effectively navigate complex issues and prioritise action
Provide tailored one-to-one coachingfor business leaders
Deliver expert guidance on advocacy strategy, value-chain resilience, and just transition planning
Build internal system change capability in partnership with our sister organisation, The School of System Change
Bringing this to life with our partners:
“For more than two decades, Forum has been a key partner for Unilever on our sustainability journey. Their support to help us create deeper, more systemic change on the issues that matter most has been absolutely invaluable.”
Rebecca Marmot
Chief Sustainability Officer, Unilever
“I have worked in partnership with Forum for over a decade. Forum’s focus on shifting hearts and minds has been critical to unlocking the full potential for change, and their current focus on just and regenerative business is such an obvious next step, and welcomed.”
Our partners trust us to constructively challenge them to raise their ambition, unlock faster progress towards goals, and ensure that strategies are delivering meaningful impact and value.
We can:
Help you to create more business value from your existing strategy by conducting a ‘critical friend’ review to identify gaps and opportunities
Coach you to make implementation plans stronger and maximise effectiveness of investments
Co-create transformational action plans or just transition roadmaps to future-proof your business strategy
Enable you to overcome challenges with specific departments such as strategic sourcing or innovation
Support more effective and accelerated scope 3 decarbonisation throughout your value chain
Bringing this to life with our partners:
“As a long-term partner of Bupa’s, Forum supported us to test Bupa’s new sustainability strategy before it launched, where we used the Business Transformation Compass as a stimulus to really push our thinking on what just and regenerative might mean for Bupa.”
Mar Soro
Group Head of Sustainability Advocacy, Bupa
“Navigating discussions with diverse stakeholders, and finding interconnections and common ground, is difficult work. I’ve been consistently impressed with Forum’s design and facilitation skills which open pathways for shared solutions.”
Delilah Rosenberg
Co-Initiator, TIFD
4. By convening multi-stakeholder coalitions for systems change
Working collaboratively is critical for addressing common challenges and accelerating the wider change we need. Together with our ambitious partners, we tap into the power of collaboration, bringing together the key stakeholders across a system to:
Initiate and convenepre-competitive collaborations to enable collective action
Evaluate if a new collaboration is needed or existing coalitions can be leveraged
Advise on design principles for successful multi-stakeholder collaboration
Support systemic diagnosis and identification of potential levers for change
“The VF Foundation is proud to support Growing our Future’s work, collaborating with a diverse set of stakeholders to help scale regenerative agriculture practices... We believe the project’s holistic approach – looking at policy, financing, and innovative pathways to market – will drive positive, systemic change for people and the planet.”
Gloria Schoch
Senior Director, Global Impact, VF Corporation and
Executive Director, The VF Foundation
“In the Climate & Health Coalition Food Cluster we work collaboratively with industry peers, driving positive change and ensuring that food packaging plays a vital role in building a resilient and equitable food system for generations to come."
Dr. Christian Bauer
Head of Environmental Sustainability, SIG
Take the quiz: Which School of System Change course is right for you?
Unsure which School of System Change course is right for you? Take the School’s new quiz to find out if you’re an ‘Explorer’, ‘Practitioner’, or ‘Cultivator’ — and which of its summer or autumn offerings best meet your current learning needs. Take the quiz.
Story, Narrative and Systems Learning & Practice Series
In a world saturated with competing narratives — many designed to polarise, overwhelm and inhibit agency — this unique series invites you to explore the potential of storytelling to contribute to systems change and just and regenerative futures. Starting 17 September. Learn more.
Follow the School on LinkedIn for more stories and subscribe to their newsletter for the latest on systems change courses, resources, opportunities, and events.
