Common Ground Ensemble

I had the pleasure of participating in a panel about Brands and Belonging at the Common Ground Summit - In Community with Place on Kauai. We explored how can brands be used to foster a sense of connection rather than exclusion. Thank you for the honest and deep conversation Kate Zigrang, Wandile Mtoba, Krista Kane, and Rebecca Sullivan. This gathering of outstanding people from very different backgrounds that are all focused on being regenerative leaders in their communities, businesses and families left me inspired and hopeful that we can all leave places better than we found them. Common Ground Ensemble

Well done! We've all been so honored to hear from the next generation.

I had the pleasure of participating in a panel about financing regenerative agriculture at the Common Ground Summit. Thank you to all of the panelists for the deep and honest conversations! I came home from this gathering feeling inspired and hopeful that we can all create better communities for our future generations. Thanks Common Ground Ensemble for hosting this meaningful event!

So pleased I said yes to Kauai and Common Ground Ensemble - In Community with Place. Our discussion about how the stories we tell help us understand ourselves and our relationships with each other with Krista Kane, David Eilenberg, Scott Goldberg, Deimosa Webber-Bey and E. Benjamin Skinner Skinner nourished and inspired me for 2025.

Last week, I had the incredible experience of being able to discuss the next generation of leaders and change-makers during a panel at Common Ground Ensemble Summit 2024. I shared the stage with two truly incredible young adults, Jacob Deng Bol Deng, and @Analu Morales, who are already making an enormous change in their communities and beyond. We spoke on the need to include young people in the room to give us the space to affect change now while we have the fire and passion to do so.

I was recently invited by the wonderful folks at Common Ground Ensemble to participate in two panel discussions: How do the stories we tell connect or divide us from each other, and another on how brands can better foster connection. The event programming and people there were timely reminders of our collective resilience and creativity. The most energizing portion of the summit was witnessing the incredible work of history and land preservation by Kipuka Kuleana, Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana. A living reminder of the kinds of regenerative systems that are possible when we are focused on love and care over extraction and dominance. David Eilenberg, Melissa Hammel, Scott Goldberg, Deimosa Webber-Bey, Simon Mainwaring, Ben Skinner, Kate Zigrang, Wandile (Ziggy) Mtoba, and Rebecca Sullivan. Thankful to be in conversation with you, inspired by your work! Thank you, Common Ground Ensemble team.

“How can we build communities, networks, and organizations that foster true inclusivity and create a genuine sense of belonging—without doing so at the expense of others?” This compelling question was the focus of a panel I had the privilege of joining at the Common Ground Ensemble Summit: In Community with Place at Common Ground, Kaua’i. Mahalo Peleke Flores Jannes Sörensen Cara Federici Mark Somen and Mark Brand for sharing such honest and inspiring perspectives. Together, we represented a diverse mix of backgrounds and spheres of influence, united by a shared commitment to reimagine leadership in a way that nurtures connection, equity, and resilience.

Our young leaders know what needs to change • and they have asked us to show them “how” before the spirit they carry of hope & resilience burns out like generations before — let’s influence each other, as much as possible, into empowerment • let’s believe in the believers, the people who trust that Togetherness can build a unified world and a planet of longevity 🫶🏼

What if your next big idea was inspired by 3.8 billion years of natural wisdom, guided by regenerative leaders, and forged in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth? 🌍 This is what we explored at the Common Ground Kauai Summit, where I had the privilege of co-leading a Designing the Future lab with my good friend, Mason Chock. We introduced a unique process using Design Fiction, which challenges participants to suspend disbelief, let go of entrenched assumptions, and imagine new possibilities for the future. By looking to nature—our planet’s most experienced designer—we can seed our future with principles that are proven to be resilient, adaptable, and regenerative. This approach isn’t just theoretical; it’s necessary and practical. If we don’t consciously rethink the foundations of our designs, we risk perpetuating outdated systems that no longer serve us. And encouraging participants to "think like a weed", we found practical next steps for actualizing our futures seeded in nature-based thinking. We did this knowing that nature, with its time-tested strategies, shows us how to shift rooted systems and create small-scale solutions that actively generate conditions for more life. Think naturally, create naturally. That was the intention. The summit itself was a masterclass in curation, bringing together incredible leaders from all walks of life—visionaries focused on becoming regenerative stewards in their communities, businesses, and families. The conversations and breakthroughs that emerged left me both inspired and hopeful. One of the most powerful moments for me was standing under Kaua'i’s vast night sky, sharing stories with Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz an astronaut who’s traveled to space seven times, and Uncle Chadd Paishon, a traditional Hawaiian navigator who charts his course using only the stars. Their journeys—from the cosmos to the open ocean—reflected the essence of what we were doing in the workshop: exploring the unknown, guided by trusted models, and imagining bold futures. A heartfelt thank you to the organizers for creating such an impactful and meaningful event, and to everyone who participated for your openness and courage to dream. Together, we’re learning how to leave every place better than we found it. If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible when you combine imagination with nature’s wisdom, this summit was a glimpse. Let’s connect—I’d love to explore these ideas with you. #CommonGroundSummit #DesignFiction #Biomimicry #ThinkingLikeAWeed #RegenerativeDesign #NatureInspired #Leadership #GoodAncestors Oliver Niedermaier, Constanze Niedermaier, Ivory Lloyd, Jennifer Luck, Simon Mainwaring, cari borja, Katie Stebbins, Melissa Hammel

Today, some incredible minds from the various corners of global hospitality came together at the 3rd annual Common Ground Summit to talk story about moving the needle in regenerative hospitality. How do we inspire the industry to take strides ahead of regulation? How do we tap in to the resources at hand to collaborate for a better tomorrow? How do we grow a connection to place and a desire to protect? Proud for 1 Hotels to be part of this conversation. Nicholas Gold Jannes Sörensen Mark Somen @Aaron Fenwick Jennifer Luck Constanze Niedermaier