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Leading Grand Challenges: Seth Kahan on Driving Large-Scale Impact

Are you working on or about to embark upon a grand challenge?

I was recently joined by Seth Kahan, a pioneer in large-scale change and a leading expert in designing and leading Grand Challenges. With decades of experience—including 13 years at the World Bank—Seth has worked at the highest levels to mobilise diverse stakeholders in tackling society’s most pressing issues.

In this interview, we explored Seth’s groundbreaking work, from facilitating global knowledge-sharing initiatives to spearheading national movements like Stop Stigma Together, which aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders. We also discussed his collaboration with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine as they define the biggest scientific breakthroughs of the next decade.

As the author of four influential books—including the business bestseller Getting Change Right—and the host of the podcast Seth Kahan on Grand Challenges, Seth brings insight into leadership, systems thinking, and driving large-scale transformation.

Take a listen as we uncover the strategies behind successful Grand Challenges, the lessons Seth has learned along the way, and his upcoming book that distils his expertise into a playbook for leaders seeking to create systemic change.

Here are some insights from the interview you won’t want to miss:

The Importance of Community in Driving Change: Seth emphasised that the true engine for innovation is community. By creating spaces where communities can thrive, organisations can foster environments of collaboration and breakthrough innovation. The World Bank project Seth worked on demonstrated the power of creating more than 120 communities focused on various societal issues.

Self-Care in Leadership: Leading grand challenges requires maintaining a stable and healthy mindset. Both Seth and Chris highlighted the necessity of a robust self-care routine to manage anxiety and remain effective. Practices like meditation, stretching, and maintaining personal relationships are crucial for sustainability.

Developing a Common Agenda: Establishing a clear and compelling common agenda is critical to gather support from various stakeholders. A strong common agenda serves as the central pillar around which diverse groups can rally, ensuring alignment and focus throughout a grand challenge.

Inclusion of Diverse Perspectives: Successfully solving grand challenges involves bringing together voices from all relevant stakeholders, including those often marginalized or with differing perspectives. This approach not only enriches the strategy but also builds more comprehensive and sustainable solutions.

Resilience in Face of Roadblocks: Grand challenges naturally encounter numerous obstacles. The key to overcoming them lies in maintaining an optimistic and resilient mindset, embracing these challenges as opportunities to innovate and create powerful breakthroughs with the help of diverse stakeholder insight.

Embark on your own grand challenge. Remember, every monumental change starts with a collective vision and the courage to face insurmountable odds. Embrace community, fuel your passion, and nurture yourself along the journey to create a better world. – Seth Kahan

Don’t miss this thought-provoking interview which incubates and amplifies major initiatives for good and to understand how bold leadership can drive real impact at scale!

You can listen to this Business Elevation Show interview with Seth Kahan & Chris Cooper here. Alternatively on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Tunein, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio (latter US only).

More about Seth Kahan:

Seth Kahan is a pioneer in large-scale change, renowned for his expertise in designing and leading Grand Challenges that mobilize diverse stakeholders to tackle society’s most pressing issues. With a career spanning decades, he has worked at the highest levels of organizations, including 13 years at the World Bank, where he facilitated knowledge-sharing initiatives that connected global leaders and experts to accelerate large-scale transformation.

Seth is the author of four books, including Getting Change Right: How Leaders Transform Organizations from the Inside Out, a business bestseller praised for its practical insights into leading change. He is currently working on his next book, which distills his extensive experience in designing and leading Grand Challenges into a playbook for leaders seeking to drive systemic change.

Over the years, Seth has spearheaded multiple Grand Challenges. Currently, he leads Stop Stigma Together (stopstigmatogether.org), a national Grand Challenge aimed at eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders. By bringing together leaders in healthcare, advocacy, and policy, he is working to shift public perception, improve access to care, and create a culture where mental health is treated with the same urgency and respect as physical health. He is also working with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine to determine their biggest breakthroughs over the next ten years.

Seth also hosts the podcast Seth Kahan on Grand Challenges (listen here), where he shares insights from his work and interviews influential leaders tackling large-scale systemic change.

A sought-after speaker and strategist, Seth integrates deep experience in systems thinking, stakeholder mobilization, and dialogue facilitation. His work continues to drive innovation in leadership, social change, and impact at scale.