Sustaining Changemakers: Wellbeing, Inner Transformation, and Resilient Leadership
In the face of political instability, resource scarcity, and the emotional toll of working in social impact, how do changemakers sustain themselves? Burnout is widespread in mission-driven work, yet self-care, inner transformation, and personal wellbeing are often overlooked as essential to effective leadership and long-term impact.
This session will explore strategic practices for personal resilience, including whole-being wellbeing, embodied self-care, and cultivating joy as a tool for resistance. We will discuss how leaders can look inward to develop healthier mindsets, sustain energy in difficult times, and create wellness-centered organizational cultures that prioritize people as much as outcomes. Participants will also examine how mental health, play, and personal healing can strengthen movements, foster innovation, and sustain transformation over time.
Key Questions:
How can changemakers prioritize their own wellbeing while leading in challenging environments?
What inner shifts—addressing personal patterns, trauma, and conditioning—are needed to create more just and equitable systems?
How can organizations embed wellbeing and care into their cultures rather than treating it as an afterthought?
What role does joy, play, and personal connection have in sustaining social movements and systemic change?
How can leaders cultivate values-based self-care that fuels both personal resilience and collective impact?
This reflective and interactive session is designed not to solicit or pitch, but to deepen connection with oneself as a leader, offering tools and perspectives for creating sustainable transformation—both internally and in the world.
Session Co-Leaders:
Adrian Sell is exploring creative potential through a career break after years leading social innovation across local and global contexts.
Aisha Bubah is Founder of The Sunshine Series, expanding mental health access through Africa’s largest helpline and tech-based tools.
Anna Kotenko is a writer, consultant, and transformational coach bridging communications and personal growth for social change.
Lisa Heinert is COO at Black Fox Global, leading change across diverse settings with heart, reflection, and connection.
Priyanka Handa Ram is CEO of Learn to Play, pioneering early learning models grounded in mindful play across Africa.
Rev. Dr. Diane Johnson, Ph.D. is CEO/Founder of Mmapeu Consulting, an international consultancy having worked with +12K leaders and orgs. Diane works at the intersection of org dev, embodied practice, and social/cultural transformation
Ruth Chiang Kao is a coach, pediatrician, and co-founder of Appleseed, a behavioral agency for impact organizations.
Vik Mohan is a planetary health physician advancing biodiversity, resilience, and wellbeing for leaders and ecosystems alike.
Kristine Michie is Managing Partner at ImpactFull, using play, joy, and board development to transform social impact spaces.