On UN 2.0 Week Culture Day, one of nine side events showcased something remarkable: how a diverse coalition of seven partners is cultivating sustainable culture transformation across the UN system through an initiative called "Transformative Spaces."

The event opened with participants worldwide joining a collective mindfulness practice—not just wellness, but a live demonstration of the cultural shift taking root within the UN.

A Living Ecosystem

The transformation map developed by all partners reveals a powerful ecosystem where each contributor brings unique expertise to nurture organizational transformation. At the center lies a shared commitment to systems thinking, deep learning, and inclusive practices that can scale across the UN's global reach.

Gabriel Tuan used water metaphors to help participants envision themselves as fluid agents of change, while Laurel Patterson shared how UNDP's 35,000-expert networks across 170 countries are fostering awareness-based collective action amid global uncertainty.

Dan Bullock outlined plans to develop workshops helping UN staff learn to use innovative communication toolkits as part of UN language and communications skills training programmes. NYU's Intersectionality Lab is co-creating these toolkits, applying its approach of viewing intercultural collaboration through a kaleidoscopic lens. This represents a new model where academic institutions and international organizations co-create practical solutions.

Nqobizitha Ndlovu also brought a transformative perspective: redefining leadership not as charismatic authority, but as moments when individuals choose to take responsibility for what matters, even without certainty. His work at Adaptive Change Advisors democratizes leadership across complex systems, embodied in the African baobab tree's communal wisdom.

Dr. Sará King expanded the vision further, introducing MindHeart AI's concept of building "a global infrastructure of care"—the world's largest map of human awareness that integrates neuroscience, social justice, and collective healing through their Mirror of Loving Awareness platform.

What makes this coalition unique is its ability to operate simultaneously at global and hyperlocal levels. While UN Women advances gender equality through $40 billion in mobilized commitments and legal reforms in over 100 countries, NewWork creates safe spaces for UN employees to reimagine their daily workplace culture. This dual approach ensures transformation happens both in policy corridors and coffee break conversations.

The CDOTS partnership highlights another crucial insight: the future of organizational learning requires breaking down silos. By developing multilingual, AI-enhanced communication tools alongside intercultural competency training, they're addressing the reality that the UN's effectiveness depends on staff who can navigate both digital innovation and human connection across cultures.

Making Transformation Accessible

The initiative's core insight is powerful: sophisticated systems change tools shouldn't require extensive formal training. "Everyone can lead a mindfulness practice in their team meetings," explained Liliana Uruburo, demonstrating how transformation practices can be democratized across the UN.

Perhaps most significantly, the coalition addresses a persistent challenge in organizational change: sustaining momentum beyond pilot projects. By creating digital platforms for ongoing collaboration, integrating practices into existing training programs, and building networks that span continents, they're embedding transformation into the UN's operational DNA rather than treating it as a separate initiative.

From Insight to Action

As the session concluded, participants were invited to express their intentions creatively, embodying the very collaborative spirit this partnership ecosystem seeks to cultivate throughout the UN.

Explore the full Transformative Spaces coalition map to see how these partnerships are growing sustainable infrastructure for culture transformation, one relationship and one action at a time. Check out the Commitment Wall to explore diverse pathways forward.