Who Gets to Convene? with Rachel Sinha

In this heart-opening episode of The Relational Podcast, Avani Parekh from Catalyst Now sits down  with Rachel Sinha, systems thinker, community convenor and co-founder of The System Sanctuary, to explore how relationships, rather than reports or rigid strategies, spark true transformation in systems change work.

Rachel shares stories from her journey—growing up in the English countryside, moving across continents, and initiating unexpected communities wherever she lands. Together, they unpack the bold act of convening, the vulnerability of gathering people without a script, and the magic (and messiness) that arises when we center human connection in our change-making work.

Highlights

• From Gardening Clubs to Global Communities: Rachel reflects on her lifelong tendency to build community, from childhood clubs to leading system-shifting networks in finance and beyond.
• The Finance Innovation Lab: How one “no-budget” convening initiative during the 2008 financial crisis ended up catalyzing new coalitions, policy shifts, and even marriages.
• Throw a Better Party: The power of joyful, inclusive, creative convenings over dry, extractive panel sessions—and why making spaces “fun” is strategic, not fluffy.
• Facing the Fear of Convening: What it really feels like to send the invitation—personally and professionally—and why it’s an act of leadership worth the risk.
• Why Metrics Miss the Point: Rachel breaks down why the most transformational work often happens in meandering, sacred spaces that defy typical KPIs and outputs.
• The Sacred in the Systemic: A moving glimpse into The System Sanctuary, a peer space for global system leaders to be real, slow down, and be seen.

Wisdom Drops

• “If you don’t know the answer, that’s your signal to convene.”
• “People often recognize the value of relationality in their personal lives—but don’t allow it into their professional work.”
• “Hosting a gathering is like throwing a party—it’s brave, messy, and transformative if you let it be.”

Resources Mentioned

• Art of Hosting — Participatory leadership methodology for deep conversations
• Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree brown
• Panarchy Cycle — A systems framework for understanding birth, death, and regeneration in ecosystems and organizations

A Note from Avani: Rachel, thank you for making the invisible visible. Your presence in our community and your courage to keep convening even when the outcomes are intangible inspires us all. The next party we throw—we’re channeling your spirit.

A big shout-out to the Wasan community for bringing us together - especially Meg Busse, Rachel Sinha, Christine Lai and Melanie Kahl, facilitators of the “Making the Case for Relationality” huddle. We appreciate your role in fostering this conversation.Thank you for tuning in!

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Conceived and co-created during a Wasan Network small group in partnership with Huddlecraft. Wasan is a global network of social impact and philanthropy practitioners who believe that relationships sit at the center of social change. Learn more: https://www.wasan-network.org/

Production by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. Learn more https://efectocolibri.com/en/ 

Artwork by Anjali Chandrashekar. https://anjalic.com/About