A Transformative Learning Experience for Regenerative Leaders

The Changemaker Lab at The Evergreen State College is a groundbreaking, interdisciplinary program designed for students who aspire to lead, innovate, and drive meaningful change in society. Rooted in regenerative entrepreneurship, Indigenous wisdom, and systemic leadership, this program moves beyond sustainability to equip students with the skills, mindsets, and tools needed to build thriving businesses, resilient communities, and regenerative economies.

Whether your goal is to launch a mission-driven enterprise, lead transformative policy, or co-create solutions to today’s global challenges, the Changemaker Lab prepares you to navigate complexity with creativity, adaptability, and a deep sense of responsibility.

What Makes the Changemaker Lab Unique?

At the heart of the program is a hands-on, team-based learning methodology inspired by the internationally recognized Tiimiakatemia® pedagogy. Through participation in self-managed Team Companies, students engage in real-world experimentation, develop relational leadership skills, and practice systems thinking to create regenerative solutions.

• Learn by Doing – Gain real-world entrepreneurial experience by creating, managing, and scaling projects inspired by your passions.
• Develop Teamwork and Leadership – Collaborate in dynamic teams guided by certified Tiimiakatemia® Team Coaches, fostering skills in negotiation, leadership, and co-creation.
• Lead from the Emerging Future – Immerse yourself in methodologies from thought leaders like MIT’s Otto Scharmer (Theory U) to learn how to lead in times of uncertainty and transformation.
• Integrate Indigenous Wisdom – Learn principles of reciprocity, responsibility, and ecological stewardship, drawing from Indigenous knowledge systems to lead businesses and organizations in ways that honor living systems.
• Engage in Design Thinking and Innovation – Apply design thinking, biomimicry, and regenerative design to craft sustainable business models, marketing strategies, and regenerative solutions to complex societal challenges.
• Influence Policy and Strategy – Learn to become an effective policy influencer and systems changemaker by engaging directly with legislators and decision-makers.
• Prepare for Global Impact – Participate in international learning opportunities in Europe and Africa, building cross-cultural understanding and global networks.

What Will You Learn?

Changemaker Lab students develop a comprehensive, interdisciplinary skill set that prepares them to lead in diverse fields, from regenerative business and policy innovation to environmental and social advocacy.

You will gain expertise in:

• Regenerative Entrepreneurship & Business Development – Create ventures that restore ecosystems, revitalize communities, and build circular, regenerative economies.
• Marketing & Storytelling for Impact – Master branding, web development, and digital storytelling to amplify the reach of social and environmental initiatives.
• Leadership & Systemic Strategy – Lead innovative projects using fourth-person knowing, Theory U, and collective intelligence to co-create long-term, systemic change.
• Regenerative Economic Models – Design enterprises that align with post-growth business models.
• Policy Influence & Advocacy – Understand the legislative process and learn how to advocate for future generations through policy innovation and civic engagement.
• Personal & Professional Growth – Develop resilience, adaptability, and self-awareness in a learning environment that encourages experimentation, reflection, and growth.

The Evergreen Changemaker Lab Experience

Students join a collaborative, interdisciplinary learning environment where they actively shape their educational journey. Each Team Company organizes its own training sessions under the guidance of experienced coaches. You will participate in professional workshops, personal development sessions, and hands-on projects that challenge conventional business models and cultivate new paradigms of leadership.

By the end of the program, you will have:

• A professional portfolio and LinkedIn profile that reflects your personalized skill set.
• A regenerative business model and an SEO-optimized website showcasing your impact.
• Experience in real-world projects that prepare you for careers in leadership, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.
• The confidence and tools to influence policy, create systemic change, and advocate for the well-being of future generations.

In addition you will get exposure to an environment within which you will develop 21 competencies in essential skills namely:

Learning as a team

1. Information technologies and computer skills
2. Team-learning techniques
3. Personal learning methods and attitudes (mental models)
4. Creativity
5. International vision
6. Communication skills
7. Self-guidance 

Leading a team

8. Self-management skills
9. Project management
10. Team leadership capacity
11. Planning techniques
12. Coaching skills
13. Strategic skills
14. Decision making and determination

Team entrepreneurship

15. Consumer services and negotiation and sales techniques
16. Comprehension of financial elements
17. Marketing
18. Innovation
19. Theoretical and modeling skills of an entrepreneur
20. Networking
21. Bravery and will to overcome obstacles 

Recognition and Accreditation

The Evergreen Changemaker Lab is accredited by Tiimiakatemia Global® and has been recognized by Ashoka for its innovative approach to creating regenerative leaders. This program is ideal for individuals ready to challenge outdated economic models, lead with responsibility, and co-create a thriving future.

Why Join?

• Our alumni consistently report that the program has prepared them to:
• Launch successful regenerative businesses.
• Pursue leadership roles in diverse organizational settings.
• Become bold changemakers influencing policy and systemic transformation.
• Develop outstanding communication and collaborative leadership skills.
• Think and act beyond sustainability—toward regeneration, reciprocity, and thriving.

At a time when traditional economic and political systems are failing, education must not reinforce outdated paradigms but act as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, leading, and creating.

The Changemaker Lab is more than a program—it is an incubator for the future. If you’re ready to shape the next era of leadership, business, and social transformation, this is your place.

“When a complex system is far from equilibrium, small islands of coherence in a sea of chaos have the capacity to shift the entire system to a higher order.”

—Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Laureate