From Safe Space to Strategic Clarity: A Journey with the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)

Over the course of six months, from January to September 2024, we had the opportunity to work alongside the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) in designing and facilitating a strategy retreat process that would help align and strengthen their growing team.

What unfolded was more than just a series of workshops — it was a journey into connection, clarity, and collaborative leadership. Guided by our values of being Inclusive, Intentional, Invitational, Imaginative, Interactive, and Invested, we co-created a space where the IAI team could grow together, dream boldly, and take aligned steps toward their shared mission.

“Working with Inclusive Innovation was transformational for myself, personally, and for my organization. Together, we learned about our strengths and weaknesses, and gained tools to improve our work environment, strategic planning, and day-to-day workflow. The II team was kind, thoughtful, present, and engaged at every step of the way. A huge thanks to II for helping my organization evolve to become more resilient, effective, and impactful!”

Anna Stewart, Executive Director, IAI

Being Intentional: Designing for Purpose

The process began with a clear and ambitious set of objectives:

• Build trust and a sense of unity

• Create a safe environment for collaboration

• Strengthen leadership capabilities

• Develop a focused, strategic plan with clear priorities

• Define and communicate roles and responsibilities

To achieve this, we designed a hybrid journey that combined online and in-person moments, tailored to different levels of team engagement — from the Leadership Team to the larger Full Team. Before running any workshops, we began with a staff assessment, where the Inclusive Innovation team met with members of the IAI team to identify key challenges.

Creating an Inclusive & Invitational Space

The series began virtually in May 2024 with a 4-hour session with the full team focused on building connections and co-creating a safe space for the work ahead. We introduced tools like the FourSight thinking profiles to help the team understand their individual working styles — and how those styles complement or differ from one another.

The first virtual workshop

The team also co-created a Safe Space Agreement, laying the foundation for inclusive and honest conversations throughout the process.

In June, a second virtual session — this time with the smaller Leadership Team — focused on aligning around IAI’s key leadership challenges and beginning to shape a shared leadership vision. That vision would go on to serve as a compass for the rest of their journey.

Interactive and Invested: A Transformational Retreat

In July 2024, we gathered in-person for a 3-day retreat in Uruguay. It brought together the Leadership Team and local staff to clarify roles, responsibilities, and strategic priorities. It was also an opportunity for soft skills training like effective communication.

This in-person time was key. It allowed space for relationship building, trust, laughter — and the kind of focused co-creation that can only happen when people are fully present together.

The in-person retreat in Uruguay

Imaginative and Practical Outcomes

Across all sessions, we integrated skill-building in areas like effective communication, conflict management, and emotional intelligence. 

By the final virtual session with the full team in September, the team had:

• Finalized a Strategic Action Plan with clear priorities

• Rolled out the Safe Space Agreement and Leadership Vision to the full team

• Defined and communicated a clear Organizational Structure with agreed Roles & Responsibilities

• Started developing their Individual Development Plans

Finally, we offered one-on-one coaching sessions for the leadership, giving them space to dive deeper into their professional journeys and development.”

What We Learned Along the Way as Facilitators

Every workshop is also a space for our own learning at Inclusive Innovation. This process reminded us of the value of long-term engagements, where transformation happens through trust built over time.

Some key takeaways:

• Pre-work (interviews, surveys) with the client team pays off: it helps us grasp the context and stay focused on what matters most.

• Co-designing the process with a subset of the IAI team was key; we met regularly to refine the scope and format of the workshops.

• Trust the process — and don’t overpack it. Less really can be more.

• Long-term partnerships — compared to one-off workshops — allow for meaningful evolution and lasting impact.

At Inclusive Innovation, we believe strategy is more than just a document — it’s a practice of coming together, imagining a better future, and committing to walking toward it, together. This experience was especially meaningful, as IAI and Inclusive Innovation continue to collaborate on several initiatives, including the Belmont Advancing Leadership Programme.