Shifting to Ethical Systems

JERICA Global

This is where leaders, businesses, and investors come together for change that truly matters. We share what we’re learning as critical friends — reflections, lessons, and practices for building systems that are ethical, inclusive, and regenerative. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s hopeful. Always it’s worth it! Tune in bi-weekly on Wednesday mornings (CET) for the latest learnings.

  1. #17 Ethical Models | How to Build Ecosystems That Don’t Depend on You

    Jun 24

    #17 Ethical Models | How to Build Ecosystems That Don’t Depend on You

    What if the ecosystem you’re building depends too much on you? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Esteban Fernandez Drovetta speaks directly to ecosystem builders — leaders working across organisations, sectors, and communities to create lasting change. Because there’s a common but rarely challenged assumption: That we need to be at the centre to hold everything together. But here’s the tension: If you step back, will everything fall apart? Drawing on JERICA Global’s Catalyst Projects, including a powerful example from Fiji, this episode explores what happens when ecosystem builders shift from being the hub to becoming part of the system they helped create. You’ll learn why centralized ecosystems are fragile, how shared leadership builds resilience, and why the goal isn’t to be indispensable, but to design systems that thrive without you. This episode is for ecosystem builders, founders, and leaders who want to create systems that last — without becoming the bottleneck. Key quote: “If the ecosystem can’t function without you, it’s not an ecosystem. It’s a dependency.” Psst… If you liked the episode, check out this one next: #9 Ethical Models | How Ecosystem Builders Share Power Without Losing Impact Episode breakdown: 00:44 Ecosystem Builders and the Illusion of Centrality Why many leaders assume they need to be at the centre and why that creates risk. 02:15 The Tension: Letting Go of Control The fear of stepping back when you’ve built the relationships and hold the vision. 03:30 A Real Example: The Fiji Catalyst Project How shifting from leading to supporting strengthened the entire ecosystem. 06:25 Redefining Your Role in the Ecosystem Why your position will change and why that’s a sign of success, not failure. 07:40 Centralised vs Decentralised Systems Why ecosystems built around one actor are fragile, and distributed systems are resilient. 08:43 The Whole Is Greater Than Any One Part Why ecosystems should evolve beyond you and why that’s the goal. 09:58 Sharing Power Multiplies Impact How distributing decision-making unlocks innovation, leadership, and capacity. 11:27 From Control to Catalyst How governance, visibility, and partnerships shift when you design for decentralisation. P.S. If you’re building an ecosystem and navigating the tension between control and shared leadership, you’re not alone. At JERICA, we support ecosystem builders to design for resilience, not dependency — through advisory, gatherings, and Catalyst Projects. Visit jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to explore how we can support you. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    15 min
  2. #16 Ethical Projects | The Hidden Cost of “Value for Money” (And What to Do Instead)

    Jun 10

    #16 Ethical Projects | The Hidden Cost of “Value for Money” (And What to Do Instead)

    What if “value for money” is actually costing more than you think? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Esteban Fernandez Drovetta explores ethical supply chains and the hidden human and environmental costs behind the pursuit of the lowest price. Because the real question isn’t just “What does this cost?” It’s “Who is paying the price?” Through reflections from JERICA Global’s Catalyst Projects, Esteban shares how ethical supply chains move beyond transactions: toward relationships, resilience, and long-term value creation. You’ll explore the real tension leaders face: How do we balance budgets with ethical responsibility? And a powerful reframe: ethical supply chains aren’t more expensive, they’re more honest! This episode challenges the assumption that cheaper equals better, and offers a more grounded way to think about value, impact, and long-term success. If you’re a founder, investor, or leader trying to build systems that are not only efficient — but fair, resilient, and built to last — this episode is for you. Key quote: “When something is dramatically cheaper than alternatives, there’s a reason. And that reason is usually: someone else is absorbing the cost.” Episode breakdown: 00:44 Rethinking “Value for Money” Why cost optimisation often hides human and environmental impact. 02:05 The Tension: Cost vs Ethics Balancing budget pressure with the responsibility to avoid exploitation. 02:57 The Problem with Cheap Supply Chains How low-cost sourcing often hides fragility and hidden harm. 04:48 Building Supplier Ecosystems Why relationships (not transactions!) create stronger, more resilient supply chains. 06:48 The Hidden Cost of Cheap Why the lowest price usually means someone else is absorbing the real cost. 08:18 Redefining Value Why ethical projects measure more than financial cost, including people and planet. 09:33 Ethics Create Resilience How ethical supply chains outperform extractive ones in times of disruption. 10:45 Changing Supply Chain Practice How sourcing, budgeting, and partnerships shift when ethics are prioritised. P.S. If you’re designing projects and navigating the tension between cost and ethics, you’re not alone. At JERICA, we help leaders redesign supply chains for fairness, resilience, and long-term value. Explore our Catalyst Projects at jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to start a conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    14 min
  3. #15 Ethical Models | Why Universal Design Drives Business Growth (Not Just Accessibility)

    May 27

    #15 Ethical Models | Why Universal Design Drives Business Growth (Not Just Accessibility)

    What if designing for inclusion wasn’t a cost… but a competitive advantage? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores universal design as a powerful business strategy: one that expands markets, unlocks innovation, and creates better experiences for everyone. Most businesses design for the “average user” and retrofit accessibility later. But ethical and inclusive leadership asks a different question: What if we designed for those who face the most barriers first? From wheelchair users to neurodivergent thinkers, from elderly customers to parents with young children — designing with these perspectives at the centre doesn’t limit your business. It strengthens it. Drawing on JERICA Global’s tourism Catalyst Project in Fiji, Jules shares how designing for accessibility from the ground up creates not just inclusion, but value creation at scale. This episode is for founders, product designers, investors, and leaders who want to build inclusive, innovative, and profitable systems that work for real people. Not just the “average”. This episode is for investors, founders, and leaders who want to align capital with purpose, and build systems that last. Key quote: “When you design for the most marginalised first, you don’t just serve them better — you serve everyone better.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Rethinking Design Through Inclusion Why universal design starts with those facing the most barriers and why that changes everything. 01:50 The Tension: Cost vs Value Why universal design can feel like an upfront burden in efficiency-driven systems. 02:58 The Fiji Catalyst Project A real-world example of designing universally accessible tourism from the ground up. 04:50 Designing for Wheelchair Users (and Everyone Else) How accessibility features improve experiences for a much wider audience. 06:10 Inclusion as Market Expansion Why universal design unlocks underserved markets and creates new demand. 07:13 The Ripple Effect of Removing Barriers How designing for one group benefits many others across different contexts. 08:30 Designing Differently in Practice How universal design shifts product development, research, budgeting, and marketing. P.S. If you’re building products, services, or systems and want to design for real inclusion — not just compliance — we’d love to support you. At JERICA, we work with leaders and investors to design universally accessible, regenerative models that create long-term value. Explore our Catalyst Projects at jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to start a conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    10 min
  4. #14 Ethical Investing | Patient Capital vs Traditional Investing: How to Build Long-Term, Resilient Returns

    May 13

    #14 Ethical Investing | Patient Capital vs Traditional Investing: How to Build Long-Term, Resilient Returns

    What if the best investment returns don’t come from speed… but from patience? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores ethical investing through the lens of patient capital: a values-based approach that prioritises long-term impact, relationships, and resilience over rapid returns. In today’s dominant investment model, success is defined by speed: scale fast, exit faster, maximise short-term returns. But that model often creates fragile systems: businesses optimised for sale, not service, leaders driven by quarterly pressure, and communities left behind once capital exits. This episode challenges that narrative. Drawing on JERICA Global’s Catalyst Project in Fiji, Jules shares how patient capital enables a different kind of investing — one that centres community partnership, steward ownership, and long-term ecosystem health. This episode is for investors, founders, and leaders who want to align capital with purpose, and build systems that last. Key quote: “Patient capital isn’t slower returns. It’s smarter returns — the kind that last.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Rethinking Investment TimelinesWhy ethical investing requires a shift from speed and scale to patience, resilience, and long-term impact. 01:30 The Tension: Speed vs PatienceWhy slowing down can feel like falling behind in systems that reward rapid growth and quick exits. 03:10 A Real Example: The Fiji Catalyst ProjectHow building relationships, shared ownership, and community-led design requires time — and why that’s the point. 05:09 Speed vs ResilienceWhy fast growth models optimise for extraction, while patient capital builds trust, capacity, and long-term systems health. 06:20 Trusting People, Not Just SpreadsheetsHow ethical investing balances data with relationships, care, and local expertise. 07:32 Returns That Compound Over TimeWhy the most valuable outcomes emerge from long-term relationships, not short-term plans. 08:40 Redefining Investment PracticeHow due diligence, timelines, partnerships, and exits shift when you design for decades, not quarters. 09:45 Patient Capital in PracticeHow JERICA applies patient capital through Catalyst Projects and investor partnerships. P.S. If you’re exploring how to align capital with long-term impact — or feeling the pressure to prioritise speed over what truly matters — you’re not alone. At JERICA, we work with investors and leaders to design ethical, regenerative investment approaches grounded in care, courage, and long-term value. Visit jericaglobal.com to explore our Catalyst Projects or book a discovery call to start a conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    12 min
  5. #13 Ethical Leadership | Why Ethical Leaders Feel Lonely (And How to Find Your People)

    Apr 29

    #13 Ethical Leadership | Why Ethical Leaders Feel Lonely (And How to Find Your People)

    Why does ethical leadership feel lonely? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores a rarely discussed reality of ethical leadership: loneliness. Not the kind that comes from being alone, but the kind that comes from choosing differently. Choosing regeneration in systems designed for extraction. Choosing inclusion when efficiency dominates. Choosing integrity when compromise would be easier. The tension at the heart of this episode is one many leaders carry: If I don’t follow the system, will I be left behind? Through a personal story and three reflections, Jules reframes this experience. Loneliness is not a sign you’re failing. It’s often a sign you’re leading. This episode explores how ethical leadership can feel isolating, why that isolation often comes with courage, and how finding even a small circle of aligned people can transform loneliness into solidarity. If you’re a leader, founder, investor, or changemaker navigating the pressure to compromise your values, this episode will help you stay grounded, connected, and resilient. Key quote: “Loneliness in ethical leadership isn't a sign you're wrong. It's often a sign you're ahead.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Ethical Leadership and Loneliness Why choosing differently can feel isolating in systems designed for short-term gain. 01:50 The Tension: Integrity vs Belonging The emotional cost of staying aligned with your values when others move faster by compromising. 03:09 A Real Leadership Choice A personal story of saying no to opportunity to stay aligned with purpose. 04:30 Loneliness as a Signal of Courage Why feeling alone can mean you’re challenging the system, not failing within it. 05:50 Finding Your People How a small circle of aligned leaders transforms isolation into shared strength. 07:31 Community as Infrastructure Why systems change depends on connection, not individual heroics. 09:34 Leading Differently Through Connection How recognising loneliness shifts how you make decisions, build relationships, and sustain your leadership. P.S. If you’re feeling the weight of ethical leadership — the isolation of making choices others don’t always understand — you don’t have to do it alone. At JERICA, we support leaders through mentoring, gatherings, and collaborative projects designed to keep you grounded in your values and connected to others on the same path.  Visit jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to start the conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    12 min
  6. #12 Ethical Leadership | How Power Shapes Systems (And How Leaders Can Challenge It Ethically)

    Apr 8

    #12 Ethical Leadership | How Power Shapes Systems (And How Leaders Can Challenge It Ethically)

    What if the biggest barrier to ethical leadership isn’t what we see, but what we’re being distracted from? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores how power protects itself, especially within organisations and systems that aim to create positive change. Because power doesn’t always resist openly. It adapts. It redirects. It reshapes the narrative. And unless we learn to recognise these patterns, we risk reinforcing the very systems we’re trying to change. Through three reflections grounded in real-world leadership, this episode explores how power operates through distraction, language, and silence, and what ethical leaders can do differently. The tension at the heart of this episode is one many leaders feel but rarely name: If power is everywhere, how do we challenge it without becoming paralysed or part of the problem? This episode offers a grounded response. Awareness is not cynicism. It is the starting point for choice. And choice is where ethical leadership begins. If you’re leading within complex systems and want to better understand power dynamics, make more conscious decisions, and build truly ethical and inclusive practices, this episode is for you. Key quote: “Awareness isn’t the same as cynicism. Awareness is the first step toward choice. And choice is where ethical leadership begins.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Power and Ethical Leadership Why ethical leadership requires understanding how power operates, especially when it’s hidden, normalised, or under threat. 01:30 The Tension: Awareness vs Paralysis Recognising power structures can feel overwhelming, but awareness creates choice, and choice is where ethical leadership begins. 03:08 Distraction as a Strategy How power redirects attention through emotionally charged but secondary issues to avoid addressing systemic harm. 05:15 Language Shapes Reality How “neutral” terms like efficiency and optimization can obscure real human and environmental impact. 07:19 Silence as Power Why what isn’t said matters just as much as what is, and how exclusion often happens quietly. 09:18 Shifting Everyday Leadership Choices How recognising power changes how you communicate, design strategies, engage stakeholders, and make decisions. 11:25 Making Power Visible Why ethical systems begin when we question power, who holds it, who benefits, and whether it creates a thriving future. P.S. If you’re navigating systems where power dynamics feel difficult to name or challenge, you don’t have to do it alone. Visit jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to explore how we walk alongside leaders as critical friends, helping you make power visible and lead with clarity, courage, and care. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    12 min
  7. #11 Ethical Leadership | Grief Is Part of the Work: How to Feel, Think & Act with Integrity

    Mar 25

    #11 Ethical Leadership | Grief Is Part of the Work: How to Feel, Think & Act with Integrity

    What happens when a leader is carrying grief and still has to show up, think clearly, and act with integrity? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores what many systems change leaders quietly carry but rarely name: grief.  The grief of watching systems break. The grief of climate realities that force us to let go of dreams. The grief of what has been lost, and what may never come. Drawing on the JERICA Ethical Practice Framework — Feel, Think, Act — Jules argues that ethical leadership doesn't start with strategy. It starts with the willingness to feel.  Through a deeply personal story of a lifelong dream she has had to release because of what she now knows about climate change, Jules unpacks why grief is not a distraction from the work of systems change. It is part of it! Through three insights, this episode invites leaders and changemakers to stop performing invulnerability and start leading from a place of wholeness.  Because when we skip the 'feel' step, we often end up acting from fear or guilt. But when we honour what we're grieving, we act from something deeper: from love for what we're trying to protect. And that kind of action lasts. If you're carrying grief about the state of the world, about what's been lost, about dreams you've had to let go, this episode is for you. Key quote: “Grief is not a distraction from the work. It’s part of the work. And systems change work that doesn’t centre humanity isn’t ethical.” Episode breakdown 00:45 Grief in Systems Change Leadership Why this episode speaks to leaders carrying the emotional weight of climate change, broken systems, and the loss of dreams. 01:40 The Tension Between Urgency and Grief The pressure many leaders feel to act quickly while silently carrying grief about what has already been lost. 03:01 Why Ethical Practice Cannot Bypass Emotion Why leaders cannot ignore their humanity and still build humane systems, and how the JERICA framework begins with feel, then think, then act. 05:31 Grief Is Not Weakness Why acknowledging grief is not defeatist but an honest response to injustice, loss, and systemic failure. 06:25 What Grief Reveals About What Matters How sitting with grief can clarify values and help leaders understand what they truly care about protecting. 07:47 Turning Feeling Into Purposeful Action How aligned feeling and thinking create more grounded, strategic, and values-driven action. 09:10 From Performative Urgency to Values-Based Leadership Why action rooted in care and love for what we protect sustains long-term systems change. 10:06 Leading Through the Feel-Think-Do Framework How ethical leaders apply the framework in meetings, decisions, team culture, and their own personal leadership. 11:05 Vulnerability and Mentoring in Ethical Leadership How naming grief and emotional reality allows leaders to think more clearly and act with greater integrity. 12:35 An Invitation to Lead as a Whole Human Why ethical practice requires leaders to integrate feeling, thinking, and action to sustain themselves and the systems they serve. P.S. If this episode touched something in you, let’s keep exploring together. Head to jericaglobal.com to learn more about our mentoring conversations: a space to practise the Feel, Think, Act framework, show up as a whole human, and lead with integrity. Or simply book a discovery call to begin the journey. Credits:Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    13 min
  8. #10 Ethical Investment | How Investors Create Long-Term Value Without Sacrificing Returns

    Mar 4

    #10 Ethical Investment | How Investors Create Long-Term Value Without Sacrificing Returns

    If you’re an investor asking deeper questions about your role in shaping the future, this episode is for you. In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear re-examines ethical investing beyond returns, exits, and scale. Instead, she explores how capital shapes behaviour, how power flows through investment decisions, and why long-term impact depends on care, courage, and relationships. Drawing on JERICA Global’s Catalyst Kits work with young entrepreneurs across the globe, Jules shares three reflections that challenge dominant investment narratives.  From the pressure of fast capital to the concentration of power with funders, this episode names a tension many investors feel but rarely articulate: "If I slow down or prioritise care, will returns suffer?" Through lived experience, Jules shows why ethical investing is not charity, and not naïve. It is systems intelligence. When investors treat money as support rather than control, resilience increases, trust deepens, and risk often decreases. This episode explores how ethical investing: Redistributes power rather than concentrates it Builds long-term value through patient relationships Redefines “return” as contribution, not domination If you’re an investor, funder, or leader who wants your capital to create a durable impact without compromising integrity, this conversation offers a grounded, practical reframing of what ethical investing can look like in practice. If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy: Ethical Investing | What Happens When Money Stops Being the Centre Key quote: “Ethical investing isn’t charity. It’s systems intelligence.” Episode breakdown 00:48 Rethinking Ethical Investing Why this episode is for investors questioning what their capital is really shaping, and how ethical investing challenges the dominant narratives of speed, scale, and exit. 01:30 The Core Tension for Investors The real trade-off many investors feel: slowing down versus losing opportunity, and why extraction creates volatility while ethics create durability. 02:05 Investment Goes Beyond Capital How time, listening, presence, and consistent support often matter more than money, drawing from JERICA’s Catalyst Kits work with young entrepreneurs globally. 02:48 Power Dynamics in Capital Flows Why traditional investment concentrates power, and how ethical investing redistributes it through partnership models like steward ownership, profit sharing, and participatory governance. 03:30 Relationships Reduce Risk How patient capital and long-term investor engagement build resilience, strengthen communities, and reduce risk over time. 04:10 Redefining Return and Impact How ethical investing reshapes how investors define return, structure deals, engage with founders, and measure success. 04:45 Investment as Contribution, Not Domination Why ethical investing is not charity but systems intelligence, and how capital can belong to communities, ecosystems, and futures worth investing in. 04:58 Choosing the Future Your Capital Shapes A closing reflection on responsibility, legacy, and the question every investor must face: whose future are you investing in? P.S. If you’re an investor or funder questioning how your capital shapes people, power, and long-term impact, you don’t have to navigate that alone. Visit jericaglobal.com to explore our Catalyst Projects and investor partnerships, or book a discovery call to reflect on how to invest with care, courage, and systems-level intelligence. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists. Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement

    6 min
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This is where leaders, businesses, and investors come together for change that truly matters. We share what we’re learning as critical friends — reflections, lessons, and practices for building systems that are ethical, inclusive, and regenerative. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s hopeful. Always it’s worth it! Tune in bi-weekly on Wednesday mornings (CET) for the latest learnings.

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