The Ashoka Systems Change Podcast Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-ashoka-systems-change-podcast Ashoka’s Globalizer team is launching a 6-episode podcast series on systems change. They have partnered with the well-known Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs podcast and host Fergal Byrne for the project. The first episode is an introductory episode featuring a conversation between Fergal and Odin Muehlenbein, a partner at Ashoka Germany and lead of the Systems Unit at Ashoka Globalizer. Fergal and Odin discuss the basics of systems change and why it’s important for social entrepreneurs and funders to think and act systemically. The remaining five episodes feature a short introduction from Odin and Fergal before launching into inspiring discussions of how these Ashoka Fellows use systems change approaches in their work. Throughout the episodes, you will meet five of the world’s leading changemakers: Meet Jordan Kassalow in episode 1 where Fergal and Jordan discuss the motivation to work on a systems level Learn from the renowned Jeroo Billimoria on how to weave networks to achieve system changes in episode 2 Michael Sani underscores the importance of well-being and personal development in episode 3 Learn how Kendis Paris achieves policy changes and creates changemakers in episode 4 Get the funder perspective from Silvia Bastante of Co-Impact on funding systems change in episode 5. Please listen to the podcast on iTunes and leave an honest review. Share it with fellow changemakers and funders and continue the conversation using #systemschange and @ashoka. We can all have more impact together if we work systemically. The Ashoka Learning and Action Center and Globalizer teams have also written a report featuring five case studies from leading Ashoka Fellows and how they use systems change in their work. In that report, you will learn more about controversy facing the field, but also how Ashoka’s focus on systems change makes it so that this controversy does not even apply to them precisely because of the systems changing ways they work. Please read the report here and share with your colleagues, fellow changemakers, and potential funders. Get involved in the conversation by posting your thoughts using the hashtag #systemschange and @ashoka! © 2026 Ashoka Globalizer a5238cff-f748-559c-a08b-af9ab7c4947e yes en Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:05:20 +0000 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:47:05 +0000 https://www.ashoka.org/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/hZyaXDBJ2vgOP4tBk-_Y5U9yNz79b9qd9muqru2f6Qg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzEzNTg3LzE1OTgy/OTg2NDAtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg The Ashoka Systems Change Podcast https://www.ashoka.org/ episodic Ashoka Globalizer Ashoka’s Globalizer team is launching a 6-episode podcast series on systems change. They have partnered with the well-known Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs podcast and host Fergal Byrne for the project. The first episode is an introductory episode featuring a conversation between Fergal and Odin Muehlenbein, a partner at Ashoka Germany and lead of the Systems Unit at Ashoka Globalizer. Fergal and Odin discuss the basics of systems change and why it’s important for social entrepreneurs and funders to think and act systemically. The remaining five episodes feature a short introduction from Odin and Fergal before launching into inspiring discussions of how these Ashoka Fellows use systems change approaches in their work. Throughout the episodes, you will meet five of the world’s leading changemakers: Meet Jordan Kassalow in episode 1 where Fergal and Jordan discuss the motivation to work on a systems level Learn from the renowned Jeroo Billimoria on how to weave networks to achieve system changes in episode 2 Michael Sani underscores the importance of well-being and personal development in episode 3 Learn how Kendis Paris achieves policy changes and creates changemakers in episode 4 Get the funder perspective from Silvia Bastante of Co-Impact on funding systems change in episode 5. Please listen to the podcast on iTunes and leave an honest review. Share it with fellow changemakers and funders and continue the conversation using #systemschange and @ashoka. We can all have more impact together if we work systemically. The Ashoka Learning and Action Center and Globalizer teams have also written a report featuring five case studies from leading Ashoka Fellows and how they use systems change in their work. In that report, you will learn more about controversy facing the field, but also how Ashoka’s focus on systems change makes it so that this controversy does not even apply to them precisely because of the systems changing ways they work. Please read the report here and share with your colleagues, fellow changemakers, and potential funders. Get involved in the conversation by posting your thoughts using the hashtag #systemschange and @ashoka! Ashoka’s Globalizer team is launching a 6-episode podcast series on systems change. Ashoka Globalizer No No Episode 6: Silvia Bastante de Unverhau discusses funding systems change 6 6 Episode 6: Silvia Bastante de Unverhau discusses funding systems change full 14f94da1-b7c4-4784-862f-33fe910b8656 https://share.transistor.fm/s/765d830b Silvia Bastante de Unverhau is a leading expert in philanthropy, with over 20 years of experience working across the international development, non-profit, business, and government sectors. She is currently the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Co-Impact, a collaboration between donors that pledged 500 million dollars for systems changing initiatives. 

In the interview, Silvia talks about the principles of funding systems change work, how it differs from traditional funding practices, and how foundations can adopt this new mindset. She also has tips for social entrepreneurs who are looking for funding for systems change work from a donor's perspective.

Key questions: How is funding systems change different? How should foundations support systems change?

]]> Silvia Bastante de Unverhau is a leading expert in philanthropy, with over 20 years of experience working across the international development, non-profit, business, and government sectors. She is currently the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Co-Impact, a collaboration between donors that pledged 500 million dollars for systems changing initiatives. 

In the interview, Silvia talks about the principles of funding systems change work, how it differs from traditional funding practices, and how foundations can adopt this new mindset. She also has tips for social entrepreneurs who are looking for funding for systems change work from a donor's perspective.

Key questions: How is funding systems change different? How should foundations support systems change?

]]> Mon, 27 Jul 2020 14:44:03 +0000 Ashoka Globalizer Ashoka Globalizer 2532 Silvia Bastante de Unverhau is a leading expert in philanthropy, with over 20 years of experience working across the international development, non-profit, business, and government sectors. She is currently the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Co-Impact, a collaboration between donors that pledged 500 million dollars for systems changing initiatives.  In the interview, Silvia talks about the principles of funding systems change work, how it differs from traditional funding practices, and how foundations can adopt this new mindset. She also has tips for social entrepreneurs who are looking for funding for systems change work from a donor's perspective. Key questions: How is funding systems change different? How should foundations support systems change? Silvia Bastante de Unverhau is a leading expert in philanthropy, with over 20 years of experience working across the international development, non-profit, business, and government sectors. She is currently the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Co-Impact, a c No Episode 5: Interview with Kendis Paris, founder Truckers Against Trafficking 5 5 Episode 5: Interview with Kendis Paris, founder Truckers Against Trafficking full 29b4b98a-f84e-4b88-a8ae-f2ff80640c85 https://share.transistor.fm/s/972267ca Kendis Paris founded Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an organization that mobilizes the US trucking industry to fight human trafficking. TAT has registered and trained more than 850,000 professional drivers. TAT also played a key role in getting new policies approved that in many US states make spotting and reporting human trafficking activities a component of the mandatory professional driver's license trainings. In the interview, Kendis explains how she found allies early on by making herself available to policy makers and administrators, traveling to spread her ideas, and being a bridge between administrators and the transportation industry. She also talks about the power of turning people into changemakers -- a core feature of many successful social entrepreneurs.

  Key questions addressed in this episode include: What do social entrepreneurs have to do to promote policy changes? How can they support policy makers and administrators even without a big organization?]]> Kendis Paris founded Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an organization that mobilizes the US trucking industry to fight human trafficking. TAT has registered and trained more than 850,000 professional drivers. TAT also played a key role in getting new policies approved that in many US states make spotting and reporting human trafficking activities a component of the mandatory professional driver's license trainings. In the interview, Kendis explains how she found allies early on by making herself available to policy makers and administrators, traveling to spread her ideas, and being a bridge between administrators and the transportation industry. She also talks about the power of turning people into changemakers -- a core feature of many successful social entrepreneurs.

  Key questions addressed in this episode include: What do social entrepreneurs have to do to promote policy changes? How can they support policy makers and administrators even without a big organization?]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0000 Ashoka Globalizer Ashoka Globalizer 2732 Kendis Paris founded Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an organization that mobilizes the US trucking industry to fight human trafficking. TAT has registered and trained more than 850,000 professional drivers. TAT also played a key role in getting new policies approved that in many US states make spotting and reporting human trafficking activities a component of the mandatory professional driver's license trainings. In the interview, Kendis explains how she found allies early on by making herself available to policy makers and administrators, traveling to spread her ideas, and being a bridge between administrators and the transportation industry. She also talks about the power of turning people into changemakers -- a core feature of many successful social entrepreneurs.   Key questions addressed in this episode include: What do social entrepreneurs have to do to promote policy changes? How can they support policy makers and administrators even without a big organization? Kendis Paris founded Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an organization that mobilizes the US trucking industry to fight human trafficking. TAT has registered and trained more than 850,000 professional drivers. TAT also played a key role in getting new p No Episode 4: Michael Sani discusses the evolving roles of a social entrepreneur 4 4 Episode 4: Michael Sani discusses the evolving roles of a social entrepreneur full a25f42d3-db63-4f80-9693-c73c0e7c9f5e https://share.transistor.fm/s/fdc8ba76 Sat, 27 Jun 2020 13:56:09 +0000 Ashoka Globalizer Ashoka Globalizer 3497 Michael Sani founded Bite the Ballot (BTB), an organization in the UK that mobilizes young people to vote. BTB started as an idea in one classroom and grew into a national movement. At a national election in 2014, over 400,000 people registered to vote via BTB's platform. For the BREXIT referendum, that number was 1.9 million. The organization also promoted a number of policy changes that made voter registration easier for young people.   Each step of the journey required Michael to assume a different role, including teacher, organizational developer, campaigner, advocate, network builder, and others. In the interview, Michael walks us through his thought process of why he decided to transition from one role to another, as well as the difficulties and conflicts that these decisions entailed. He also highlights the importance of personal development and letting go of "ego" in order to have more impact on a systems level.   Key questions explored in this episode include : How do you decide which role you should play as a social entrepreneur? What is the relationship between systems change, personal development, and well-being? Michael Sani founded Bite the Ballot (BTB), an organization in the UK that mobilizes young people to vote. BTB started as an idea in one classroom and grew into a national movement. At a national election in 2014, over 400,000 people registered to vote v No Episode 3: Interview with Jeroo Billimoria, founder of Childline India, Aflatoun and Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI) 3 3 Episode 3: Interview with Jeroo Billimoria, founder of Childline India, Aflatoun and Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI) full eaa60ce0-f69d-41ab-8081-59e264e18b05 https://share.transistor.fm/s/49cd06e4 Jeroo Billimoria is the founder of many successful social ventures, including Childline India, a network of over 1000 organizations that provide support to millions of children each year, especially in crisis situations, as well as Aflatoun, an network of 275 partners that offers social and financial education to millions of children and young people worldwide. In this episode, we mostly talk about Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI), a network that promoted systemic changes in the education and banking systems in dozens of countries to improve children's financial education. "Promoted", because CYFI announced that it had achieved its mission and shut down on 31 December 2019. An almost unheard-of accomplishment. In the interview, Jeroo walks us through five tactics and five leadership principles that she used to build the network that was ultimately so successful on a systems level. Key questions that we address include: How do you create coalitions for systems change? What leadership principles should we adopt -- and which ones do we have to unlearn?

]]> Jeroo Billimoria is the founder of many successful social ventures, including Childline India, a network of over 1000 organizations that provide support to millions of children each year, especially in crisis situations, as well as Aflatoun, an network of 275 partners that offers social and financial education to millions of children and young people worldwide. In this episode, we mostly talk about Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI), a network that promoted systemic changes in the education and banking systems in dozens of countries to improve children's financial education. "Promoted", because CYFI announced that it had achieved its mission and shut down on 31 December 2019. An almost unheard-of accomplishment. In the interview, Jeroo walks us through five tactics and five leadership principles that she used to build the network that was ultimately so successful on a systems level. Key questions that we address include: How do you create coalitions for systems change? What leadership principles should we adopt -- and which ones do we have to unlearn?

]]> Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:32:16 +0000 Ashoka Globalizer Ashoka Globalizer 2636 Jeroo Billimoria is the founder of many successful social ventures, including Childline India, a network of over 1000 organizations that provide support to millions of children each year, especially in crisis situations, as well as Aflatoun, an network of 275 partners that offers social and financial education to millions of children and young people worldwide. In this episode, we mostly talk about Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI), a network that promoted systemic changes in the education and banking systems in dozens of countries to improve children's financial education. "Promoted", because CYFI announced that it had achieved its mission and shut down on 31 December 2019. An almost unheard-of accomplishment. In the interview, Jeroo walks us through five tactics and five leadership principles that she used to build the network that was ultimately so successful on a systems level. Key questions that we address include: How do you create coalitions for systems change? What leadership principles should we adopt -- and which ones do we have to unlearn? Jeroo Billimoria is the founder of many successful social ventures, including Childline India, a network of over 1000 organizations that provide support to millions of children each year, especially in crisis situations, as well as Aflatoun, an network of No Episode 2: interview with Jordan Kassalow, the founder of VisionSpring, and co-founder EYElliance 2 2 Episode 2: interview with Jordan Kassalow, the founder of VisionSpring, and co-founder EYElliance full 51171d1c-5f36-4357-97ec-aa78dd9c9109 https://share.transistor.fm/s/77eb4f30 In this episode we explore a number of key questions at the heart of systems change: What is the motivation behind systems change? What are the differences and relationships between systems change and a direct service approach?

Jordan Kassalow is the founder of VisionSpring, an organisation that works to provide affordable access to eyewear, everywhere, and eliminate poor vision, due to the lack of eyeglasses-- the largest disability in the world. VisionSpring’s initial focus was on distributing ready-made, non-prescription reading glasses via a network of Vision Entrepreneurs… an on-the-ground sales team, later evolving a broader approach using sales through distribution partners, and an emerging “full service” model, providing affordable, high-quality prescription glasses By Autumn 2019, VisionSpring had reached 7 million people with eyeglasses and generated over $1.2 billion of economic impact for its customers. Notwithstanding VisionSpring’s success, Jordan has been looking for ways to increase the scale of impact on this problem, for a more systems-based approach, and in 2016, he co-founded EYElliance, a system change, multi-sector alliance of over 60 organizations working together to eliminate poor vision due to the lack of eyeglasses. 

For more information, please find the link to a detailed case study on VisionSpring https://bit.ly/2Xh9uf2

]]> In this episode we explore a number of key questions at the heart of systems change: What is the motivation behind systems change? What are the differences and relationships between systems change and a direct service approach?

Jordan Kassalow is the founder of VisionSpring, an organisation that works to provide affordable access to eyewear, everywhere, and eliminate poor vision, due to the lack of eyeglasses-- the largest disability in the world. VisionSpring’s initial focus was on distributing ready-made, non-prescription reading glasses via a network of Vision Entrepreneurs… an on-the-ground sales team, later evolving a broader approach using sales through distribution partners, and an emerging “full service” model, providing affordable, high-quality prescription glasses By Autumn 2019, VisionSpring had reached 7 million people with eyeglasses and generated over $1.2 billion of economic impact for its customers. Notwithstanding VisionSpring’s success, Jordan has been looking for ways to increase the scale of impact on this problem, for a more systems-based approach, and in 2016, he co-founded EYElliance, a system change, multi-sector alliance of over 60 organizations working together to eliminate poor vision due to the lack of eyeglasses. 

For more information, please find the link to a detailed case study on VisionSpring https://bit.ly/2Xh9uf2

]]> Thu, 21 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 Ashoka Globalizer Ashoka Globalizer 2756 In this episode we explore a number of key questions at the heart of systems change: What is the motivation behind systems change? What are the differences and relationships between systems change and a direct service approach? Jordan Kassalow is the founder of VisionSpring, an organisation that works to provide affordable access to eyewear, everywhere, and eliminate poor vision, due to the lack of eyeglasses-- the largest disability in the world. VisionSpring’s initial focus was on distributing ready-made, non-prescription reading glasses via a network of Vision Entrepreneurs… an on-the-ground sales team, later evolving a broader approach using sales through distribution partners, and an emerging “full service” model, providing affordable, high-quality prescription glasses By Autumn 2019, VisionSpring had reached 7 million people with eyeglasses and generated over $1.2 billion of economic impact for its customers. Notwithstanding VisionSpring’s success, Jordan has been looking for ways to increase the scale of impact on this problem, for a more systems-based approach, and in 2016, he co-founded EYElliance, a system change, multi-sector alliance of over 60 organizations working together to eliminate poor vision due to the lack of eyeglasses.  For more information, please find the link to a detailed case study on VisionSpring https://bit.ly/2Xh9uf2 In this episode we explore a number of key questions at the heart of systems change: What is the motivation behind systems change? What are the differences and relationships between systems change and a direct service approach? Jordan Kassalow is the foun No Episode 1: Podcast series introduction 1 1 Episode 1: Podcast series introduction full 4a9199b3-44da-4022-a41a-5189ca2f1858 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ce2b0372 Fergal Byrne, host of Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, and Odin Mühlenbein, Lead of the Systems Unit at Ashoka Globalizer, introduce the Ashoka Systems Change Podcast

]]> Fergal Byrne, host of Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, and Odin Mühlenbein, Lead of the Systems Unit at Ashoka Globalizer, introduce the Ashoka Systems Change Podcast

]]> Wed, 20 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 Ashoka Globalizer Ashoka Globalizer 883 Fergal Byrne, host of Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, and Odin Mühlenbein, Lead of the Systems Unit at Ashoka Globalizer, introduce the Ashoka Systems Change Podcast Fergal Byrne, host of Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, and Odin Mühlenbein, Lead of the Systems Unit at Ashoka Globalizer, introduce the Ashoka Systems Change Podcast No