Laura Asiala
Elk Rapids, Michigan, United States
10K followers
500+ connections
About
I am the Chief Sustainability Officer for WholeWorks.
I led the facilitation of…
Articles by Laura
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A Review of 'Beyond Shareholder Primacy: Remaking Capitalism for a Sustainable Future' by Stuart L. Hart, Ph.D.
A Review of 'Beyond Shareholder Primacy: Remaking Capitalism for a Sustainable Future' by Stuart L. Hart, Ph.D.
By Laura Asiala
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The Power of Regret to Drive Sustainable Action
The Power of Regret to Drive Sustainable Action
By Laura Asiala
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Summer Opportunities for Youth in the the Time of Virus
Summer Opportunities for Youth in the the Time of Virus
By Laura Asiala
Contributions
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Dealing with diverse work styles in public administration. How can you navigate conflicts effectively?
If you're not having some friction within a team, that team is not working closely enough together. However, the friction needs to be on strategy and methods, not goals and direction. Diversity in service to shared goals is the objective--and then learning to appreciate it is key.
Activity
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Love seeing Trane Technologies supporting our new women's sports team. Carolina Ascent FC and the local Charlotte Independence Soccer Club inspire…
Love seeing Trane Technologies supporting our new women's sports team. Carolina Ascent FC and the local Charlotte Independence Soccer Club inspire…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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Good thoughts for the day. Thank you Daniel Pink!
Good thoughts for the day. Thank you Daniel Pink!
Shared by Laura Asiala
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🌍 We Can’t Afford to Get Climate Policy Wrong—A Look at the Data Behind What Really Works 🌍 In the race against time to combat climate change…
🌍 We Can’t Afford to Get Climate Policy Wrong—A Look at the Data Behind What Really Works 🌍 In the race against time to combat climate change…
Liked by Laura Asiala
Experience
Education
Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Vice Chair Board of Directors
Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
- Present 4 years 9 months
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation covers 5 counties surrounding the Grand Traverse Bays of Lake Michigan: Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Antrim, and Kalkaska. The purpose of the foundation is to help people make long term investments in causes that matter to them and to improve the quality of life in this region of Michigan. Investments focus on education, environment, youth, arts and culture, and health and human services. I represent my home country of Antrim.
I have…The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation covers 5 counties surrounding the Grand Traverse Bays of Lake Michigan: Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Antrim, and Kalkaska. The purpose of the foundation is to help people make long term investments in causes that matter to them and to improve the quality of life in this region of Michigan. Investments focus on education, environment, youth, arts and culture, and health and human services. I represent my home country of Antrim.
I have served the board since 2019; I serve as board vice chair in 2024. -
Elder
First Presbyterian Church
- Present 4 years 8 months
I am a member of the session of the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids, which is the governing board of the church. I join a long legacy of leaders including my great grandmother Elsie Jennie Pfeiffer, my grandfather George Wonacott, my great uncle Sam Pfeiffer, my father Robert G. Wonacott, MD, and my brother Jeffrey Wonacott. Grateful to serve the church in which I was raised.
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President's Advisory Council
Alma College
- Present 3 months
Education
The Alma College President’s Advisory Council provides expertise, advice, and
support to the President and Board of Trustees of the college regarding its vision and plans for
the future. . Members of the President’s Advisory Council use their
intellect, significant experience, and perspective as leaders to assist Alma College in adapting its
plans and programs to meet their mission -
Board Member
National Writers Series
- 3 years 7 months
Arts and Culture
A year-round book festival in Traverse City, Michigan. We celebrate (and bring!) the world's best writers, and create opportunities for the next generation of readers and writers. https://nationalwritersseries.org/
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Harpswell Council of Women Leaders
The Harpswell Foundation
- Present 5 years 2 months
Education
The Harpswell Foundation (“Harpswell”) is a US-based NGO whose mission is to equip young women in Southeast Asia with leadership skills, education, and a supportive network. We envision a new generation of women leaders who create and inspire positive social change. Harpswell has built and runs two dormitory and leadership centers for approximately 80 young women attending 20 different universities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In addition to providing free room and board, Harpswell provides its…
The Harpswell Foundation (“Harpswell”) is a US-based NGO whose mission is to equip young women in Southeast Asia with leadership skills, education, and a supportive network. We envision a new generation of women leaders who create and inspire positive social change. Harpswell has built and runs two dormitory and leadership centers for approximately 80 young women attending 20 different universities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In addition to providing free room and board, Harpswell provides its students with an in-house academic program stressing critical thinking and leadership skills. As of summer 2019, 168 young Cambodian women have graduated from the Harpswell Foundation and are now in graduate school or working as lawyers, journalists, doctors, project managers of NGOs, businesswomen, engineers, teachers, and staff in the Cambodian government. Harpswell also runs the Harpswell ASEAN Program in Women’s Leadership, an annual two-week immersion program for outstanding young women, ages 25 to 30, which is held in Penang in partnership with KANITA, the Centre for Women and Gender studies at University Sains Malaysia.
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Board Of Directors
Net Impact
- 6 years
I have served in an advisory and/or director role for Net Impact since 2011. This organization's mission is to inspire, equip, and support emerging leaders to make the world more just and sustainable. #SocialImpact #Purpose #Sustainability
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Advisory Council Member
University of Vermont Grossman School of Business
- 4 years 4 months
Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) Program at the Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont--reinventing business by reinventing business education: transforming today's business and creating tomorrow's ventures.
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Elder of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church of Washington, DC
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- 2 years 5 months
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Founder & President of the Bay County, Michigan Affiliate
Habitat for Humanity International
- 3 years 10 months
Poverty Alleviation
Chaired the original committee to develop local organization. Served as president of the original board for three years.
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Advisory Council Member for TEDx Traverse City (Michigan)
TEDx
- 5 years 1 month
Publications
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Systems Change Is Harder Than It Looks: Systems Shift May Be the Answer
'Amplify' by Cutter, an Arthur D. Little Community
The authors argue that systems are designed to produce their results, even when their results are far from perfect. Systems also have internal “negative feedback processes” that maintain system stability by canceling out disruptions. Overcoming these stabilizing systems can be challenging, and pushing a system far enough to initiate change can result in sudden, highly disruptive shifts to a new system. Rather than cause such disruptive change, the authors advocate for incremental shifts to…
The authors argue that systems are designed to produce their results, even when their results are far from perfect. Systems also have internal “negative feedback processes” that maintain system stability by canceling out disruptions. Overcoming these stabilizing systems can be challenging, and pushing a system far enough to initiate change can result in sudden, highly disruptive shifts to a new system. Rather than cause such disruptive change, the authors advocate for incremental shifts to avoid the kind of wholesale disruption that could leave financial, social, and political systems in shambles.
Other authorsSee publication -
A Value Proposition for Sustainable Development
GreenBiz
Value. It’s the name of the game. Create it economically; capture it distinctively.
Whatever theoretical economic framework (such as game theory or decision analysis) or business model you want to select, value is at the heart of it. Individuals, organizations businesses and governments act to increase value — also referred to as utility — from their perspectives.
We believe this is a key to understanding the actions of various stakeholders in sustainable development, developing…Value. It’s the name of the game. Create it economically; capture it distinctively.
Whatever theoretical economic framework (such as game theory or decision analysis) or business model you want to select, value is at the heart of it. Individuals, organizations businesses and governments act to increase value — also referred to as utility — from their perspectives.
We believe this is a key to understanding the actions of various stakeholders in sustainable development, developing new strategies for making sustainability progress and, most important, for building effective collaborations across and between stakeholders upon which real sustainability rests and relies.
Collaboration requires a desire for shared value — finding the commonalities in seeking defined outcomes, then working together to increase utility or value propositions for all involved stakeholders. Not everyone needs to like each other or agree on every outcome to build effective collaborations, but they also can’t be at odds. This requires all parties to understand perspectives and find the common ground.
Businesses — with their human, financial and capital wealth — represent an enormous (or potentially enormous) powerful force when it comes to sustainable development. Therefore, we think it critical to understand the value propositions that all businesses face — both danger and opportunity — in terms of sustainability. In the long run, their viability and success also depend upon it.Other authorsSee publication -
Leading the Sustainability Transformation
GreenBiz
Leading the Sustainability Transformation Professional Certificate Program is a completely online, team-based, global program designed to accelerate leadership competence and confidence regarding sustainability through a 10-week learn-practice-apply cycle. It is designed for professionals and leaders interested in accelerating their ability to embed sustainability principles and strategies within their organizations.
Other authorsSee publication -
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in the Great Lakes Bay Region Report
Great Lakes Bay Region, THRIVE, PYXERA Global
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The Purpose Imperative: Integrating for Sustainable Impact
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
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TEDx Traverse City: The Five Habits of Effective Global Citizens
TEDx Traverse City
The most profound learning experiences can come through service to others. In her talk, “The Five Habits of Effective Global Citizens," Laura Asiala gleans from such experiences the practices of individuals and companies, working in communities at home and abroad, to address the most challenging problems of our time.
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The Global Engagement Forum: Online & Print Magazine
PYXERA Global
Stories, strategies, and approaches to inform and inspire purposeful global engagement around the world.
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Business for Such A Time as This
Blog
Blog posts focus on the power of business to solve environmental issues and resolve social problems.
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Join now to viewMore activity by Laura
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Mastery requires lots of practice. But the more you practice something, the more boring and routine it becomes. Thus, an essential component of…
Mastery requires lots of practice. But the more you practice something, the more boring and routine it becomes. Thus, an essential component of…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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Thanks for all the kind words and direct messages regarding my 3-year anniversary at Persefoni! The actual date is Aug. 30, 2021 and a year in our…
Thanks for all the kind words and direct messages regarding my 3-year anniversary at Persefoni! The actual date is Aug. 30, 2021 and a year in our…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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Finland's Sauna Diplomacy is uniquely effective; publicizing it, if done right, elevates the payoff. The New York Times is a prize placement for such…
Finland's Sauna Diplomacy is uniquely effective; publicizing it, if done right, elevates the payoff. The New York Times is a prize placement for such…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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The Fusion of Technology & Sustainability In The Supply Chain The Economist published a very insightful survey on the procurement function…
The Fusion of Technology & Sustainability In The Supply Chain The Economist published a very insightful survey on the procurement function…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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Thanks Prof. Wayne Visser for your thoughtful comments and reflections about my new book. Much appreciated.
Thanks Prof. Wayne Visser for your thoughtful comments and reflections about my new book. Much appreciated.
Liked by Laura Asiala
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This summer, I had the privilege of visiting the LinkedIn Chicago office through The Chicago Center for Urban Life & Culture A huge thanks to fellow…
This summer, I had the privilege of visiting the LinkedIn Chicago office through The Chicago Center for Urban Life & Culture A huge thanks to fellow…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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I’m delighted to share that I have taken a leap of faith earlier this week, starting my MBA adventure at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management!…
I’m delighted to share that I have taken a leap of faith earlier this week, starting my MBA adventure at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management!…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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Moms raise us to better ourselves and our communities, like my Mom, and the moms of Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris. Don't fret, do something!…
Moms raise us to better ourselves and our communities, like my Mom, and the moms of Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris. Don't fret, do something!…
Liked by Laura Asiala
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