The Pressure Cooker: Making Leadership Work in Complex Times

2-hour online interactive session

For leaders, facilitators, changemakers, and anyone tired of simple solutions that fall short.

About the session:
We’re not dealing with linear problems anymore. Climate, culture, tech, economics, politics —everything’s connected, and everything moves fast. That’s complexity - and leadership in complexity demands a different kind of thinking.

This introductory session helps you understand what complexity is and why your usual tools might not be working. You'll learn simple, practical strategies to stay grounded, clear, and constructive when things get emotional, unpredictable, or downright messy.

What we’ll cover:

What leadership means in today’s world
What complexity is, and how it shows up in business and community
Why it’s important to understand complexity now
How global and local issues connect
The difference between complicated and complex challenges
Why control doesn’t work in complex systems
The basics of systems thinking (in plain language)
Key principles for leading in real life
Practical tools for decision-making, communication, and presence in hard moments
Real life examples and ways to apply what you learn

Who it's for:
This session is designed for leaders, managers, facilitators, and community decision-makers—and it’s open to anyone who wants to feel more capable and courageous when leading through challenge, emotion, or uncertainty.

This session is for you if:

You feel overwhelmed by constant change or uncertainty
You’re tired of leadership models that don’t work in the real world
You want to lead, but feel stuck, unsure, or like nothing is clear
You’re working on problems that seem to have no easy answers
You want new tools to help you move forward with courage and confidence

What you'll get out of it:

By the end of this 2-hour session, you'll:

Understand what complexity is and why it matters in leadership.
Learn the difference between complicated problems and complex ones.
Get tools to help you make sense of a situation and make fit-for-purpose decisions when things feel uncertain or unclear.
Explore how global events affect local communities and work.
Discover simple principles that help guide leadership in changing times.
Leave with practical ideas you can use right away.
Be ready for deeper learning if you choose to keep going beyond this introductory workshop.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

You do need to be ready to think differently.

Facilitator:

Carmel Riley (she/her) — Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist with post graduate qualifications in family sensitive practice, an executive MBA in international leadership and social impact, and a Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors. With over 20 years in the field, Carmel is an experienced leader, social entrepreneur, facilitator, and complexity thinker with a track record of leading big ideas in real-world, high-stakes environments.

Date Options: 2nd July 2025; 9th July 2025; 1st August 2025; or 16th August 2025

Duration: 2 hours (online via Zoom)

Early Bird Price (book and pay before June 30 2025): $250 AUD

Standard Price*: $350 AUD

*Group Discounts Available

Jargon kept to a minimum. Real talk. Real tools.

Download flyer here