In a wide-ranging episode of the RE:Generation Collective podcast, host Silke von Brockhausen sat down with Laurel Patterson, Head of Strategic Partnerships & Communications at UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (formerly leading SDG Integration). Together they unpacked what regeneration really means for a multilateral system under strain—and, crucially, how UN staff can translate big ideas into everyday practice.
Why this conversation matters
Laurel’s core provocation is simple and disarming: Why do we collectively produce outcomes that nobody wants? Her answer points to the lenses we use. When our inner lenses are fractured—by hierarchy, overload, or fear—our collective action reproduces those fractures. Regeneration, then, isn’t “fixing” the system at the surface; it’s reconnecting the inner and relational foundations to actually transform the system.
From theory to doing: Laurel’s playbook
Laurel describes the UN’s recent wave of awareness-based, collective action—inspired by Otto Scharmer’s Theory U and deepened through Transformative Spaces, SDG Leadership Labs, and UN 2.0 convenings. The thread running through these efforts: move beyond concepts into felt, relational practice that teams can own in their own language and culture.
Five practical shifts any UN team can make
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Begin with the human
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Design for relationship density
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Bring power into the room—on purpose
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Practice action-confidence
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Unlearn as a team sport
Scaling without losing soul
Laurel stresses that scale isn’t a rollout of toolkits; it’s distributed ownership. Let teams translate practices into culturally resonant language—some will say “compassion,” others won’t use the word at all. What matters is authenticity and alignment of mission.
What the next UNSG could do on Day 1
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Invest in culture as a driver of strategy and impact.
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Make relationships a management asset.
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Rediscover the lost art of deep listening.
A note on resilience
Asked about her “daily practice,” Laurel offers something refreshingly grounded: accept it’s hard—and stay open. In a moment of geopolitical upheaval and internal reform, the key is to see the situation clearly - imperfect and deeply disappointing as it might be - and identify what is possible to make small steps forward.
Bottom line: Regeneration at the UN isn’t a slogan; it’s a series of intentional, relational bets made consistently. If staff across grades adopt even two of the practices above this week, the system will feel different next week—and outcomes will start to follow.
Listen to the Episode
Youtube:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-un-a-practical-look-at/id1841851629?i=1000736474665
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0kzwNlzY6DVNxNhVNud5UH