Lauren Coulman
banner
laurencoulman.bsky.social
Lauren Coulman
@laurencoulman.bsky.social
Systems convenor and social innovator. Impact strategist and transformation coach. Community facilitator and partnership builder. Issues writer and founder of Noisy Cricket ♥️

https://noisycricket.org.uk/
Working in #systemschange, I often look to natural ecosystems & indigenous practice to find inspiration & wisdom about how the world really works. Turns out, mushrooms have a lot to say about what's needed to realise the world we really want to live & work in...
substack.com/@laurencoulm...
What Can Mushrooms Teach Us About Life?
We could all do with getting lost in the woods...
substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Is this the 21st Century equivalent of the second of the world wars, the first being the warning shots fired in the wake of of Cambridge Analytica and election interfering?
January 7, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Community engagement is starting to gain traction giving me hope that we're starting to remember we exist to serve people. Yet, it's so much more than a methodology or process to integrate into our research or design practice. It's a journey. So, where are you on yours? medium.com/noisy-cricke...
What kind of community engagement are you practicing?
If that sounds like a pointed questions, my love, I apologise. Clickbait, it may be, but a blog post to posit that not all community…
medium.com
January 7, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I do love a Think Tank, but where are the action tanks? The people doing instead of pondering? Practising what's being preached?
I've made a starter pack of all the UK think tanks I could find on bluesky so far, and staff working at them. If I'm missing any organisation/any one please do comment below so I can add in 😊

go.bsky.app/Geu9Jd8
January 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I wrote a little piece at the end of 2024 on social changemakers to watch out for in 2025. Already, one has been announced as an MBE awardee in the New Year's Honours list, and another is about to publish their first book. Who would you love to see added? #socialimpact www.forbes.com/sites/lauren...
5 Changemakers To Watch Out For In 2025
In the corporate world, where the wealth, power and fame generated shapes so much of how our world functions, the potential to drive change is profound.
www.forbes.com
January 6, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Diversity, equity and inclusion saw some major kickbacks in 2024. Yet instead of Yet, instead of seeing this as a loss, what if we saw it as a chance for reflection and revision? What do you think we could be doing differently in 2025? www.forbes.com/sites/lauren...
DEI: Rollbacks Or Revision Of Diversity Initiatives?
The backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has made new waves this week, as Walmart has announced major rollbacks of its U.S. efforts.
www.forbes.com
December 17, 2024 at 11:08 AM
This is so exciting to see. I wonder how much of it is driven by a greater sense of connection, from the mayors with the places they live, and creativity afforded to the combined authorities from the freedom to do things differently?
December 10, 2024 at 8:35 AM
This is a good shout. After five years working in and around #techethics, it’s rare for the industry to ask people in communities about their needs, let alone engage the social sector, which marginalised & vulnerable people trust. How might partnerships with charities & social enterprises help?
Trying to read this optimistically. But for now I remain sceptical. Nothing about this govt has been truly radical. They need to focus less time on tweaking the status quo and more on rebuilding from scratch. Look to orgs like Beam rather than moving the deck chairs.
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reform of the state has to deliver for people
Speech on reforming the public sector delivered by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden at University College London, Stratford.
www.gov.uk
December 9, 2024 at 5:00 PM
I’m SO looking forward to this 😍
#CampDigital - Meet our speakers!

We're thrilled that @richardpope.org will join us as a keynote on 3rd July. A leading thinker in public sector digital design, Richard is the author of the acclaimed 'Platformland: An Anatomy of Next Generation Public Services'.

#ServiceDesign #PublicSector
December 9, 2024 at 4:51 PM
A conversation with a friend of mine who, along with his aggrieved friends, was heckled for being a straight white man by a black lesbian in a local pub last week has helped me realise something. Marginalised groups can mirror the narratives and tools used against them to try and effect change? Yet…
a woman in a yellow shirt is holding a piece of paper in her hand .
ALT: a woman in a yellow shirt is holding a piece of paper in her hand .
media.tenor.com
December 9, 2024 at 2:52 PM
Progressive changes to “ready for work” support are great but people still have to navigate the meritocratic gauntlet of recruitment. Employers are rarely willing or able to employ people struggling with social mobility. So, the public sector reform is needed, but what of private sector employment?
December 9, 2024 at 2:41 PM
Yes, but for whose benefit? Lots of excellent chat about the “how” and culture required to enable an agile, test and learn approach, but what about the why and the needs people government exists to meet? #communityengagement

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Government to set out £100m plan to make state 'like a start-up'
As well as urging a "test and learn" mindset in government, ministers want to bring in tech workers on secondment.
www.bbc.com
December 9, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Just started Sand Talk, by Tyson Yunkaporta and I’m twitching with joy. Ten pages into exploring how Indigenous thinking can save the world, and it’s already flagged the root cause of our modern malaise as replacing wisdom and complexity with thinking and simplicity. Oh, the humanity of it all 🙈
December 9, 2024 at 9:23 AM
So, I wrote a little something for @allconsuming.bsky.social, on how #systemschange starts within. Eight years worth of learning in 800 words, and I still feel like I’m only just beginning to understand this work. Thanks for the opportunity @amymcnichol.bsky.social
In 2024, I thought a lot about getting the fuck out of our comfort zones

www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/2024/getting...
December 9, 2024 at 9:13 AM