unfolds through dialogue, connection, and empowerment, where individuals with diverse backgrounds come together for a common purpose. 26 Deliberate Leaders realize that every landscape is already filled with people who have different interests and that to be effective they must build relationships among them. They also remember that community-based stakeholders can strengthen solutions to Wicked Problems such as climate change. By partnering with local voices, leaders gain critical insights and avoid the unintended consequences that can arise from top-down interventions. One example of community-centered work in Japan can be found in the approach of Plus Social Investment (PSI). 27 They operate two models of investment: one is a partnership with Ritsumeikan University to establish and manage the Ritsumeikan Social Impact Fund, which totals ¥1.5 billion; the other involves residents investing in residents through a crowdfunding model. These crowdfunding projects vary in size from around ¥500,000 (roughly US$3,170), to larger sums, to be paid back over five years. Investors include both citizens and local financial institutions. PSI believes that the very act of a community supporting a project imbues it with significant social meaning, as the investment directly reflects the community’s needs and desires. When people contribute their own resources to a project, it signals a shared commitment to addressing local challenges and fulfilling collective goals, whether that’s creating sports facilities, launching renewable energy projects, or developing local products. This investment ensures the initiatives are not only wanted but also supported by the people they are intended to benefit. The A-Zero Group (A0) case also provides strong examples of a community-centered focus. Yet, finding consensus with those communities has often been challenging. Daisuke Maki, CEO of A0, speaks candidly about this tension. “There might be agreement on the results, but my creativity, even if it leads to something new, can’t possibly be understood immediately by others. Although I hoped it would lead to happiness, I sometimes faced aggressive reactions,” he reflects. 28 This challenge—pushing for necessary change while maintaining community trust—has been a central part of A0’s journey. It is a work in progress.
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Ten Years in the Making
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