Otto Scharmer is the co-founder of the Presencing Institute (MIT) and developer of the systemic transformation model known as Theory U, as well as an invaluable supporter and promoter of many Economy for the Common Good (ECG) initiatives at a global scale. During his visit to Uruguay, he was granted the title of distinguished guest by the Municipality of Montevideo, launched the first Latin American Ecosystems Leadership Program (ELP), delivered a Masterclass and workshop at the University of the Republic, for the Specialization in Organizational Transformation and lead the discussions at the Uruguay Emerge multitudinous gathering. The ECG Local Chapter in Uruguay acted as an ally to the Presencing Institute during his visit and was part of the organising committee for Uruguay Emerge.
This event gathered over 300 leaders in an experiential learning journey of dialogues between people and organisations united to promote an emerging, distributive and collaborative platform that articulates the diversity of leaderships that coexist in the country towards a new narrative: a transition from ego to eco-leadership. Otto Scharmer delivered a keynote presentation that added immensely to this alternative narrative, promoting environmental and social regeneration, shortening gaps and inequities, and promoting inclusion, dignity, solidarity, social justice, sustainability and sovereign democracy.
It was sponsored by many public and civil institutions such as the Parliamentary Commission for the Future, the UNDP (United Nation Development Programme), CEOs, NGOs, foundations, grassroot organisations, academics and government representatives. Uruguay Emerge truly became a space for activation between representatives from various fields that were looking to deeply reflect on the emerging possibilities of the present and the future of their country.
In his own words, “The meeting concluded with a profound sense of possibility. Participants formed new connections and activated a collective sense of agency. In my view, these shifts, made possible by something as short as a 1-day gathering, are a significant symptomatic data point on the state of the world today.
People are waking up — or are in the process of waking up — in so many places. Almost everyone believes that we are at an existential juncture in our collective journey as a species. This is the moment when we need to come together to make sense together to chart our path forward. It doesn’t have to entail a multi-day or multi-week process. Because people already know that something is broken, something needs our attention now. But what’s often missing is a minimal enabling infrastructure to activate these types of gatherings in cities, countries, and regions that are in need of a different type of collective action.”
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