Louise van Rhyn Symponia Leadership Development PO Box 6552, Welgemoed, 7538, SOUTH AFRICA +27 21 913 3507 email

What is an underlying question that gives form to your work or interest in this field?

How can we use our knowledge about the field of collective wisdom to unite our South African 'Rainbow nation'?

What is your personal experience of collective wisdom in groups?

I have been amazed time and time again by the extent to which answers to very difficult questions & issues seem to emerge "when the talking is done."

What is it about the work in this field that excites you and connects you to your own deepest self?

I have chosen the name "Symphonia" for my organisation. This comes from Roz & Ben Zander's book "The art of possibility" where he defines Symphonia as the "sounding of all the voices". As a group facilitator, I am driven by a need to create spaces for 'all the voices to be heard' as it is my belief that this is the only way to deal with some of the really difficult issues that we face. My challenge is to enroll others to invest the time in 'just talking' together.

Please provide a brief storyline or snapshot of what brought you to this work.

My Doctoral studies was about organisational change and my proposition is that organisations only change if individuals in those organisations are willing to participate actively in the "organisational conversation". I have been inspired by the work of Peter Senge, Joseph Jaworski, Otto Schwarmer, Ralph Stacey & Patricia Shaw (and many others).

How would you like to be available to others in this field?

My interest at this time is to support "Nation Building in South Africa". I would be very interested to talk to others about their experience of working across social divides in challenging Social processes. I would also love to host visits to South Africa for people who want to experience the magic of this country first-hand.