Miranda Willems

Miranda does not proclaim a hard, cold message, but creates a warm invitation on behalf of your ancestors and (future) descendants. An invitation to make the choice every day that will make you a good ancestor. Colleagues, clients, and colleagues describe Miranda as enthusiastic, involved, and inspiring.

Miranda’s story is personal, open, and contributes something to the world, which she wants to share with the world. Because being good ancestors is something we should all do, for a collective good future.

Miranda is very committed to “seven-generation thinking,” and it shows in the stories she shares about how she applies this concept in her own life and work. For example, she has visualized her own future great-grandchild “Mase” using a pair of children’s shoes. These remind her daily to be a good ancestor.

Miranda does not lack experience either and draws on important sources of knowledge. She gained experience as well as in her work for ‘The Performatory’, ‘The Netherlands in Dialogue’, ‘The Impact Hub’, ‘Our Kids Future’, ‘Ministry of the Future’ and ‘Lab Future Generations’.

In front of you is a woman with ideals, vision, and fire. In a loving, but convincing way she shows you what leadership is needed in the sustainability transition, for a bright future through sustainable decisions for prospects in the long term.

Inclusion and representation of future generations

For a bright future, we need to start being good ancestors now. That means considering the interests and well-being of future generations. But how do you start doing that from one day to the next? With seven-generation design, Miranda inspires you and shares practical tools that facilitate embedding, so that you look further ahead in a different way your work and life. What kind of good ancestor do you want to be today for your great-grandchild in 2050-2100?

For the bright future yet to come

What exactly does Broad Prosperity mean? And how can you embed and secure it in your policies – from short-term to long-term thinking? This keynote emphasizes that Broad Prosperity is not a ten-year plan but should be part of a long-term vision in which we include the interests of future generations in decision-making.

“The first step is to put yourself in their shoes and imagine their perspective. How would they – with all the issues in their time – look back on the decisions you are making now? The second step is to take that responsibility as well. As people, but also governments and businesses, we need to give future generations a voice and factor their interests into our decisions.”

“For me, ‘good’ means the answer to the question: would my great-grandchild be proud of the decisions I make today? After all, for a good future, there is nothing more beautiful and important than being good ancestors together. The same goes for leaders; they have an important one to fulfill. I believe that a transformation of perspective can create transformational sustainability. This requires a transformative, helping narrative, and I offer that with seven-generation thinking, for example, the Square Council or the Future Council. Just in your neighborhood.”

“Those are definitely my own parents and grandparents. I was raised with a lot of love, strength, and fire. My grandparents were my cradle; open, free, and responsible people who taught me to look at the world my way with their wisdom. I visited their home a lot and we had a very close relationship, which is still alive in me. Their loving gaze and attitude still give me a sense of security and calm. They inspire me to be a good ancestor too.”

“What I am noticing in practice now is that there seems to be a greater focus on future prospects. Everyone is curious, understands the concept and is enthusiastic. The head and heart are there, but the hands – the exact form and execution – are often still not there. There is movement, but what is missing is representation and inclusion. For example, through ‘independent’ regulators, laws and regulations and ourselves – committed – ‘we can ensure that something actually changes.

So, it’s good that the attention is there, but it’s not about me. I want to make people aware, inspire them in the first place, but ultimately, of course, I want them to move. Everyone! Bottom-up and top-down – in the transition space in the middle – all kinds of things are already being tried, but they don’t find each other in the middle. Through that M difference , for example, ToekomstRaad and Plekberaad,  I hope to inspire my audience with practical examples, (inter)national movements and cases for – legal – inclusion and representation.”