The Gathering for Change Agents
Year 13
The Art of Agility: Navigating the
Natural Rhythms of Change”

Welcome!

On this page you’ll find the full collection of audio and resource archives from Year 13 of our monthly Gathering calls. Speaker bios, call summaries, audios and recommended resources for each month’s call will continue to be added to this page soon after the call.

Our theme for this thirteenth year of Gathering together is a continuation of last year’s theme  “The Art of Agility: Navigating the Natural Rhythms of Change.” Along with our Year Thirteen offerings, please take some time to explore the past 12 years of program archives. This is a treasure trove of information, insights, strategies and practices to support you as an agent of purposeful change!

Year 1 Program Archive – “Mastering the Inner Game”
Year 2 Program Archive – “Align Your Outer Game with the Inner”
Year 3 and 4 Program Archive –  “Integrating the Inner and Outer Collectives: The Dance of ME and WE”
Year 5 Program Archive – “Co-Creating the Global Collective”
Year 6 Program Archive – “Radical Relationship; Embracing the Gifts of Polarity”
Year 7 Program Archive – “Creating Agile And Sustainable Change That Matters”
Year 8 Program Archive – “Love in Action: Connecting for Impact”
Year 9 Program Archive – “Agents of Love; Weaving the Tangled Threads of Irreconcilable Differences”
Year 10 Program Archive – “Dancing in the Space Between; Creating Resilience and Possibility in the Now”
Year 11 Program archive – “Paradigms and Possibilities: Embracing Humanity’s Divine Potential”
Year 12 Program archive – “The Art of Agility: Navigating the Natural Rhythms of Change”

Study Materials:

Browse the Year 13 archives:

5/7/25: “Navigating Change with the Five Elements,” bringing an East Asian perspective on how we can be most effective within ongoing change.”
4/2/25: “Understanding how our Enneagram Type influences how we Navigate Change”
3/5/25: “The Pivotal Power of Perception and Perspective”
2/5/25: “Exploring Deep Connection in Deeply Changing Times”

We hope you will join us for a Community Circle at our next Gathering on June 4.

5/7/25: “Navigating Change with the Five Elements,” bringing an East Asian perspective on how we can be most effective within ongoing change”

Call audio

As Kevin John Fong closed our May gathering with a powerful poem by Taj James, many of us felt a renewed sense of connection and purpose:

“If we only knew
how profoundly
we matter

how important
our every decision

if we could only remember
how inescapably
we belong.”

~ Taj James ~

These words resonated deeply as we explored the ancient wisdom of The Five Elements—reminding us that our work as change agents is profoundly connected to understanding how we belong within larger cycles. In this call, Kevin John Fong introduced us to this 4500-year-old East Asian framework that revealed how seemingly opposing forces can work in harmony, offering us both philosophical insights and practical tools for these transformative times.

Kevin Kahakula’akea John Fong is an internationally recognized cultural translator, facilitator, and speaker in transformative justice, leadership development, and building beloved communities. As Founder of the Kahakulei Institute, Kevin works to “weave people and possibilities to cultivate communities of belonging.” He has brought The Five Elements to hundreds of organizations and thousands of people, from Silicon Valley to rural Mississippi, from primary schools in New Mexico to the White House.

The Circle Opening

We began our gathering with a beautiful fire-lighting ceremony led by Andy, honoring Kevin’s kumu (teacher) Aunty Puanani Burgess (1947-2024), the beloved Hawaiian poet, community builder, and peacemaker whose life’s work was dedicated to “Building the Beloved Community.” Her presence and wisdom set a tone of welcome and reflection for our conversation.

Bridging vs. Breaking

Kevin shared John A. Powell’s framework of “Bridging and Breaking” responses to change. As change occurs, anxiety rises, and we have a choice in how we respond. People look to leaders (like us) to frame the narrative. In times like these, we have the opportunity to spread narratives of bridging.

The Five Elements Framework

Kevin introduced us to The Five Elements—Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal—as a way to understand the natural cycles of change. Each element represents a distinct phase of the organizational lifecycle:

➢ Water (Consolidation): People come together through a common purpose or identified need, developing organizing principles and philosophy.

➢ Wood (Creation): The group explores all possibilities of expressing the purpose or addressing the need, engaging in research, brainstorming, and visioning.

➢ Fire (Direction): The group identifies specific strategies and attracts the larger community of supporters and investors, focusing on prioritized goals, branding, messaging, and collaboration.

➢ Earth (Coordination): The group hires staff and develops systems, teams, policies, and procedures, creating functional teams and operational systems aligned with values.

➢ Metal (Implementation): The group enters full production mode where projects are fully functioning and tasks are accomplished, producing and delivering products or services.

Where Do You Stand?

In a powerful interactive activity, we were invited to reflect on and position ourselves within The Five Elements framework by answering these questions:

  • What element/phase best describes the state of the world as you see it?
  • What element/phase best describes the state of your community as you see it?
  • What element/phase best describes where you are?
  • What element/phase best describes where we, as change agents, need to be?

This exercise helped us identify where we stand individually and collectively, revealing areas of balance and imbalance. The key concept of The Five Elements lies in understanding how each element can support or restrain the other, and how balance among the elements fosters health and well-being. You can access the slides from the Where do you Stand? activity here.

Applications of The Five Elements

Kevin explained how The Five Elements framework has been particularly effective in:

  • Communication & Conflict Resolution: Providing a unique way of looking at group and interpersonal dynamics that affirms differing views
  • Leadership Development: Acknowledging the spectrum of leadership styles and providing a model for constructive development
  • Teambuilding: Clarifying roles and responsibilities based on inherent strengths and gifts
  • Strategic Planning & Implementation: Addressing philosophy, premises, and processes involved in effective planning and implementation

Resources

Recommended Books:

Recommended Websites:

4/2/25: “Understanding how our Enneagram Type influences how we Navigate Change”

Call audio

“Being blind to parts of ourselves means that there is often a difference
between the personwe think we are—or the person we would like to see
ourselves as—and who we really are as we walk through the world.”
~ Beatrice Chesnut

Knowing ourselves and how we habitually navigate change helps us to understand that there might be many more options available to us, if we understood our natural patterns. The Enneagram is one model to help us do that.

On our Gathering call on April 2, our very own True Purpose Consultant, Monika Steimle, introduced us to the Enneagram and explained how each of the 9 Enneagram Types responds to change. Within the Enneagram model, there are different ways to gain deeper insights into thoughts, feelings, and actions. To better distinguish how the different 9 types respond to change, we explored the three Hornevian Centers—The Assertive Types, Compliant Types, and Withdrawn Types.

Using this model, we chose either the Center that our Enneagram Type belonged to or the Center that most resonated for us. To gain deeper insights, we asked participants to reflect on a recent change and answer these four questions:

  • What was your first emotional reaction to this change?
  • What thoughts went through your mind?
  • What did you physically do or how did you behave?
  • What did you need most during this time?

Dividing into the three Groups, we shared our responses and learned what we needed to break through our habitual reaction to change. Some of the insights we gleaned:

  • For the Assertive Types (Enneagram 3, 7, 8) recognizing how much Trusted Source guides us, and helps us to separate from our habitual patterns
  • For Compliant Types (Enneagram 1, 2, 6) processing out loud is really important and how we prefer to deal with what’s happening in the “present”
  • For the Withdrawn Types (Enneagram 4, 5, 9) seeing the movement from going within and the past and then moving out; and the importance of having space and time to process

Monika Steimle is a senior practitioner and member of the Integrative Enneagram faculty who uses the Enneagram in coaching, team development, and organizational transformation processes.

She was the first certified True Purpose® Coach in Germany (for individuals and organizations), and guides individual leaders, small groups, and organizations to find their higher purpose, and the unique transformational impact and manifestation of their purpose.

Monika lives in Berlin, Germany, and, as a Best-Ager ;), explores purposeful impact and raising love consciousness in the world.

To learn more about Monika’s offerings, connect with her here: https://www.steimleconsulting.de/. In addition to the Enneagram, Monika provides Purpose Coaching and other consulting services.

Resources

For people who are interested in learning more and diving deeper into the Enneagram Model, here are some useful resources:

Recommended Books:

The Complete Enneagram and The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up – Beatrice Chestnut PhD
The Enneagram Development Guide – Ginger Lapid Bogda
Deep Living and Deep Coaching – Roxanne Howe-Murphy
The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey of Self-Discovery – Ian Morgan Cron
The Path Between Us – Suzanne Stabile
The Wisdom of the Enneagram – Don Riso and Russ Hudson

Recommended Podcasts:

Typology with Ian Cron https://www.typologypodcast.com/
The Enneagram Journey with Suzanne Stabile https://open.spotify.com/show/7Hj72xjaqJnxegORtw0E9z

Enneagram Document:

Monika also prepared for you a document with detailed information about each Enneagram type and its response to change. Get the document here.

3/5/25: “”The Pivotal Power of Perception and Perspective”

Call audio

“Attachment constrains our vision so that we are
not able to see things from a wider perspective.”
~ Dalai Lama

As agents of change, we’re well-aware that people can shift their experience of themselves, others and the world as they pivot their perception… and perspectives… about what is true and what might be possible. Neuroscience, quantum science, focus, attraction, imagination, shifting beliefs and expectations, parts work and more —- so many ways to initiate change. That’s what we do, right?

And yet, with all we know and all that is possible, we still get stuck in our particular versions of a story about what’s going on and what’s around the corner – especially in times that are overwhelming, daunting or uncertain.

We humans are meaning-making beings! What factors contribute to the story we see… and stick to? How can we loosen our attachment to our version of “reality” and expand our ability to perceive possibilities from a wider perspective?

On our Gathering call March 5th, Beth Scanzani led us through experiential exploration of an essential aspect of navigating change: “The Pivotal Power of Perception and Perspective.”

As a full group, we shared our thoughts, perspectives, challenges, success strategies and curiosities around perception and perspective as it relates to shifting our inner and outer experience of life – and our ability to more consciously choose how we react and act in response to what we perceive as “real”.

We also spent some spacious time together in smaller groups to move through a very useful, insightful… and impactful experiential exercise that was designed to help us pivot our perspective and invite new possibilities for what’s real and possible.

If you missed the call, you can enjoy the interactive discussions and content that we shared, and follow the directions to experience the small group exercise via the recording.

2/5/25: “Exploring Deep Connection in Deeply Changing Times”

Call audio

“The Times They Are A-Changin””
—Bob Dylan

In our first Gathering for 2025, we welcomed “Change” through the experiential and energetic lens of connecting with each other in circles. Our newest co-host, Todd Hoskins, made good on his promise to mix things up!

Participants gathered in small and large group spaces to share our thoughts, feelings and sensations of the fast-paced, far reaching and tumultuous changes around and in us. What a gift it was to share with each other in ways that felt so authentic… and so deeply moving energetically, mentally and emotionally.

How often do you have the opportunity to share a welcoming and non-judgmental space
with people who are there to listen and graciously receive your words and feelings?

In this circle format, we each took turns passing the virtual talking pieces and answering prompts below. If you missed the call or want to try your own circle, here are the prompts:

  1. “What patterns of change are you noticing in your life and work right now?”
  2. “What practices help you stay grounded when everything around you is in flux?”
  3. “How has your understanding of change and transformation been evolving?”

When we came back together as a full group, people were enlivened, with a sparkle in their eyes – and so deeply touched from heart to heart.

Here is a taste of what people shared in the large group. (Check out the recording for a fuller appreciation of the group’s insights and shares):

  • Nourished and grateful. Personal reflections that I hadn’t articulated to myself. Hearing other people’s articulations helped me articulate my own.
  • Don’t know what will come out of my mouth. Sense of discovering new things I could not have come to on my own. Agility, fluidity to be meeting the moment. Surrender into non-understanding.
  • No right or wrong answers, nowhere I had to be. Very spacious in that way. Felt like each of us was putting a log on the fire, pausing between rounds. Cool fire, nourishing flame
  • Surprised and delighted at the sense of timelessness. Easy, spacious, connected, real, evolving. Rich, delightful, just what I needed.
  • A flower unfolding. Petals unfolding into their fullness. Amazed at the ease and flow of it. A lot of hope, needing these days, possibilities. Grateful.

We’ll definitely be offering more expansive time for deeper sharing throughout the year… such a gift!

 

Your Gathering Hosts

 

About Beth Scanzani

Beth Scanzani is a highly respected and multi-faceted transformational coach, teacher and speaker. A lifelong student and curious soul, she has enjoyed exploring and integrating a wealth of knowledge, resources, and strategies that draw upon a wide range of psychological, scientific, and spiritual teachings. Prior to her transition into teaching and coaching in support of evolving consciousness, Beth enjoyed a successful career as a human resources executive in the high tech and healthcare industries.

True to her nature, Beth’s studies encompass a purposeful blend of psychological, scientific, and spiritual perspectives. She has attained numerous coaching certifications including True Purpose Coach™, Belief Closet™ Practitioner, Master Career Coach, Dream Coach™, iPEC Empowerment Coach™, Energy Leadership Coach™ and Theoretical Foundations of Coaching with David Rock. In addition, she is a trained facilitator and teacher of the Voice Dialogue™ process.

Beth is deeply passionate about sharing knowledge and strategies that create meaningful and sustainable transformation in service to co-creating a world that works for everyone. Beth has co-developed and/or co-taught many tele-seminars for the True Purpose Institute ™, the Shift Network and others including Voice Dialogue Mastery, Inner Harmony Practitioner Training, Evolving Beyond Your Wounds, Shadow Quest, Purposeful Coach Training, Blessing Yourself, Divine Guidance on Purpose and Purposeful Marketing. Beth also serves as a valued guide for those who wish to explore deeper meaning, insight and guidance through their sleeping dreams and waking life stories. She co-developed and teaches Stories from the Night Shift, a NASW CEU eligible seminar for therapists, coaches and other practitioners who want to increase their competence and confidence in accessing the treasures buried in sleeping dreams.

People who work with Beth value her insightful, strategic, fun and results-oriented coaching which helps them to achieve breakthrough results on short-term goals while simultaneously creating fundamental shifts that build a strong foundation for ongoing success and fulfillment, personally and professionally. Her eclectic approach and natural agility enable her to customize her coaching style, strategies and processes to help clients create a clear vision, navigate their way out of uncertainty and restrained momentum, and successfully achieve their desired outcomes.

Through her work as a teacher and coach, Beth demonstrates her dedication to providing transformative courses, workshops and coaching in service to those who are ready to reclaim their inner wisdom, embrace their life purpose and true nature, and wholly offer their unique gifts to others…and to the world we all share.

About Andy Swindler

Andy Swindler’s brings hearts together. He envisions a world that embraces healthy tensions to nurture dignity and agency for every person. Andy’s Chicago-based practice, Lead From Love, empowers conscious leaders and inclusive organizations to shift the dominant narrative from fear to love through an embodied expression of purpose and values.

He began his entrepreneurial journey at age 24, which led to owning a boutique digital marketing & software development company for 14 years until exiting at the end of 2016. Andy’s journey of studying human interaction and shepherding human flourishing now culminates in FeelReal, which he has incubated and evolved since 2007.

Andy is a Certified True Purpose® Coach & Consultant, Barrett Values Centre® Practitioner, Collaborative Operating System Consultant and Voice Dialogue™ Practitioner. He co-hosts The Gathering For Change Agents each month and is the Strategic Partnerships Chair for Conscious Capitalism Chicago Chapter. Andy speaks and writes on issues of equity and inclusion. He developed The Metamodel framework to visualize the alignment between more than 100 different conscious leadership, business and dialogue frameworks.

About Susan Alexander

Susan Alexander, PCC, is an executive and life coach with an extensive business background. She created her company Rosebud Coaching and Consulting to specialize in helping individuals to create new possibilities for their personal & professional life to fulfill their most important goals and aspirations. Her work focuses on individuals connecting with confidence and clarity to what’s most important to them (their purpose) and removing barriers of beliefs and assumptions that stand in the way of their full and authentic expression. Susan helps individuals be extraordinary leaders in all aspects of their lives. She coaches executives, managers and individuals with a special emphasis on the power of self-perception and communications and their impact on job performance.

She is a certified True Purpose Individual and Organizational Consultant. She is also certified in numerous instruments including Enneagram, Myers Briggs, Gallup Strengthsfinder, Conversational Intelligence, EQi, Positive Intelligence.

About Todd Hoskins

Todd Hoskins helps people and organizations work better together and reimagine what’s possible by learning from the patterns and rhythms that emerge in living systems. Through his practice, Canopy Gap, he combines insights from ecology, network science, and human behavior to support teams and organizations as they navigate complexity and change.

As both a practitioner & guide, Todd works in three interconnected ways:

  • Designing organizational systems that enable more natural collaboration and adaptation
  • Facilitating ecosystem partnerships that create value across organizational boundaries
  • Coaching individuals and teams to discover new ways of seeing, being, and moving through the world

Todd brings a unique perspective shaped by his graduate work in psychology, training in somatic awareness, and deep study of natural systems. He has helped launch and transform organizations across sectors – from technology startups to public media, from educational institutions to environmental initiatives.

In addition to his work with Canopy Gap, Todd co-hosts the podcast and leadership program Leading from Being. He serves as Senior Fellow for Architectures of Collaboration at the People-Centered Internet, and his board work spans digital equity, youth mental wellbeing, and building bridges through meaningful dialogue.

Todd splits his time between the tropical dry forests of Costa Rica and the wilderness of Northern Michigan. Together with his partner Pia, he teaches Argentine Tango – an embodied practice that mirrors his work with organizations, blending structure with spontaneity, and technical skill with creative emergence.