Putting Systems Thinking To Work In Development

May 7, 2026
4:00pm
-
5:00pm

What does it actually take to move from solving problems to changing systems? A conversation on the shift from interventions that work in isolation to change that holds.

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Featuring
Arun Maira
Former Member, Planning Commission Of India

Arun Maira is a thought leader and writer on subjects of transformational change and leadership. He has held leadership positions in both the private and public sectors, focused on how the two can work together to foster growth in India. He served as Chairman of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) India for eight years, and spent 25 years in the Tata Group, serving on the Board of Tata Motors.

As a member of the Planning Commission from 2009-2014, he developed strategies, policies, and programs on issues relating to industrialisation and urbanisation. He has also led participative scenario building for the future of India in 1999 with the Confederation of Indian Industry, and in 2005 with the World Economic Forum.

He is the author of many books including Redesigning the Aeroplane While Flying: Reforming Institutions, Transforming Capitalism: Improving the World for Everyone, Discordant Democrats: Five Steps to Consensus, and Remaking India: One Country, One Destiny, and Reimagining India's Economy: The Road to a More Equitable Society.

Mihir Mathur
Founder, Dharinya Systems Change

Mihir Mathur is a seasoned practitioner in the space of facilitation and method development for research, teaching, training, and capacity building. As  the 
Co-founder of DESTA Research LLP in 2018 and Founder-Director of Dharinya Systems Change, he practices applied systems thinking and system dynamics modelling to enable organisations and people to improve the impact of their work.

With a Postgraduate degree in Finance specialising in System Dynamics from Sadhana Center for Management and Leadership Development, Pune, he also brings in experience of working on the Climate Change Adaptation Program of Watershed Organisation Trust, Pune and Earth Sciences & Climate Change at TERI, New Delhi.

Mihir is a also visiting faculty at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), and the Indian Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS).

Episode Overview

Development work has long focused on solving problems — identifying gaps, designing interventions, and tracking outcomes. But interventions that work in isolation often don't sustain, and outcomes shift temporarily without addressing root causes. Systems thinking offers a different lens, and asks a harder question of practitioners: what changes in how we actually work?

Episode Highlights: ‍

  • What it takes to move from problem-solving to systems-level change
  • How leaders and organisations build the capability to work across boundaries
  • Where systems thinking breaks down in practice — and what makes it stick

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EPISODE PANELIST

Shantanu Tiwari Roderrizo

Founder, Boards4Change

Naghma has approximately 25 years of experience of working and consulting with Social Purpose Organisations and teaching at reputed institutions. Currently, she is part of the founding team and board of Rubaroo, Hyderabad, Trustee of Had Anhad, Indore, and Director, Social Synergy Foundation, Mumbai. The first two organisations work with adolescents and young people to empower them to be active citizens, whereas the Social Synergy Foundation works with small and medium - sized non-profits in India.Her field experience has strengthened her teaching both graduate and post graduate students in the Delhi School of Social Work, School of Planning & Architecture, Ambedkar University and University of Pittsburgh. Her forte is designing and facilitating learning experiences. Through her work with Pravah, she has mentored many young people and youth-led organisations across nations. She holds degrees in Clinical Psychology and Applied Development Psychology and doctorate in Psychology from Ambedkar University, Delhi