Learning from the direct work in very vulnerable communities in Kenya and India

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Resilience is everywhere in today’s leadership vocabulary — and for good reason. In a world shaped by climate shocks, health crises, and economic uncertainty, businesses are under growing pressure to adapt quickly, recover stronger, and build systems that endure.

As a result, resilience has become a boardroom staple. It signals agility, stability, strong leadership, and workforce well-being. But too often, the conversation stays within company boundaries — overlooking the broader ecosystems businesses rely on.

Because true resilience is not just internal — it’s systemic.

It includes the communities that power and sustain business: as workers, customers, supply chains, and partners. It requires connecting across sectors, across silos — and across responsibility lines. But who is tasked with building these connections?

At System Changer Network Kenya, we’re investing in precisely this kind of systemic resilience. We connect grassroots organizations across education, health, income generation, and local leadership — ensuring that people receive coordinated, holistic support. Because long-term resilience isn’t built by one-off projects. It grows where systems work together.

Take our TENDO initiative: a locally produced toilet cleaner made by women and youth in Mukuru and Kendu Bay. Behind each product is a ripple of impact — skills development, livelihoods, school fees paid, healthcare accessed. One opportunity, multiple outcomes. That’s what interconnected resilience looks like.

For business leaders, this is more than corporate responsibility — it’s smart strategy.

By investing in resilient ecosystems, companies contribute to stability, adaptability, and long-term growth — for both people and markets.

Let’s move resilience beyond the buzzword — and embrace it as a shared strategy for sustainable impact.