I am passionate about how people make sense, innovate, and learn. I connect different ideas and people and facilitate reframing what is happening or what is possible. I often describe myself as a process consultant who helps people navigate, make sense, innovate, and learn despite uncertainty and challenges.
Most of my days are spent supporting clients or developing methods as a partner and consultant with the international consultancy Mesopartner, incorporated in Germany. My work with Mesopartner allows me to work internationally and in Southern Africa to promote innovation systems, improve decision-making using complexity thinking, or support teams in development organisations to enhance their effectiveness.
An important project I am implementing in collaboration with the South African research not-for-profit Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) is the Technological Change and Innovation System Observatory. I have been leading this project since 2018, and it is a critical laboratory where I develop and refine the frameworks that we use to support, enhance, or challenge how innovation, institutional change, and technological change are promoted in South Africa.
Since 2019, I have been a Professor of Practice DST/NRF/Newton Fund Trilateral Chair in Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and Sustainable Development, hosted by the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg. This is a part-time role where I teach and supervise postgraduate researchers.
My clients are diverse, but they all try to make sense of and innovate in particular and often unstable contexts. They include multilateral agencies in the international development sector, national government departments and agencies, universities, research organisations, and companies.
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Love the Photo. Are you returning your glass eyes to their proper place?
I think you were actually having some brilliant innovative ideas on how to improve the world.
Shawn, I think we need to talk…. maybe there is some possibilities. Laat my weet!
Hi Shwan,
I found very interesting and inspiring blog especially for us who believe the entrepreneurship development is the key for poverty reduction. I will keep on checking your blog and try to replicate some of the principles on my work as well
All The best
Ekanath
Hi Shawn,
Am learning a lot from your work and would definetly appreciate to have a mentor like you. Keep on sharing excellent techniques with us. I’m in dire need of advises from your side with regard to economic development consultancy issues using PACA.
Thanks.
Lebo
Hi Shawn,
you just got a new reader. I am at GIZ (and I’ve worked with Frank on one mission) and have started to listen to all the LED casts. I’ll also be checking out your blog every now and then, so keep it up!
Best from Eschborn,
Valérie
Dear Valérie,
Thank you for leaving a comment. I hope you will leave many more!
It is possible to “subscribe” to the blog via e-mail, then you get every post in your inbox. I generally try to post a new article every two weeks. But it also depends on how much feedback and questions I receive how frequent I post!
Any ideas or questions are also welcome
Best wishes,
Shawn