Charles Holmes is a convener, facilitator, and an educator. Described by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, as a "true social alchemist," Charles authentically engages and connects people with ideas and possibilities to help them innovate, collaborate and deliver results they previously thought were impossible. His exceptional ability to respectfully surface and integrate disparate perspectives and approaches generates an environment of trust that effectively brings people together to create a better future.

Working at the intersection of strategy and humanity, Charles asks powerful questions that invite deep reflection, generate compelling visions, and reveal new possibilities. For more than two decades, he's designed and facilitated collaborative strategic meetings and multi-stakeholder dialogues for corporations, government, non-profits and communities. He helps organizations committed to “doing well by doing good” develop cultures where transparency, integrity and collaboration are the way business is done. His contributions allow people to bring their very best to work while they courageously do what is best for the world. His approach focuses attention on self-awareness, appreciation, and shared values and purpose.

He works with and draws extensively from the work of numerous colleagues and collaborators, including organizational thought-leaders and visionaries like Peter Senge, Peter Block, Meg Wheatley, Otto Scharmer, Angeles Arrien, and Juanita Brown. As a co-founder of the Learning Strategies Group at Simon Fraser University’s School of Business, he has helped develop and deliver many innovative leadership and management training programs. In 2005, he helped establish the Dalai Lama Center for Peace + Education in Vancouver. He continues to produce and curate the Connecting For Change program, which has brought a wide variety of corporate and NGO leaders together in dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Charles introduces creative processes that set learning and relationships on a new trajectory. As part of his commitment to creating a sustainable future for his children’s children, he teaches leadership, team building, facilitation and negotiation at universities in Canada and Saudi Arabia. With Peter Senge and others, he co-founded the Academy for Systemic Change, a global community for collective capacity building in business, education and community development.

A friendly neighbor, loving father and down-to-earth colleague, Charles can’t help but bring people together. His magnanimous way of being lights up any setting in which he finds himself. Join us, on August 20th, as we dive deeper into Charles' journey.