Göran Gennvi has spent his life asking a question that most organizations prefer to avoid: What if the way we lead is part of the problem? For over three decades, he has worked at the intersection of nature, leadership, and organizational learning, guided by a conviction that the same disconnection driving our ecological crisis also shapes how we run our institutions, make decisions, and relate to one another. Nature Academy grew from that conviction. Not as a concept, but as a lived practice, forged in the mountains, the archipelago, and the boardrooms of organizations genuinely willing to change.
In 1997, Göran Gennvi was appointed by Anders Asplund, CEO of IFL at the Stockholm School of Economics, to travel to Boston and study the theory and methodology of Organizational Learning at its source. The mission is to bring this robust framework back to Sweden and embed it within IFL’s leadership development programs. This initiative led to the founding of SoL Sweden in 1998, with Göran as a founding member. He would go on to serve on its board and contribute to its evolution over many years. Today, Göran is an honorary member of SoL Sweden, recognized for his long-standing dedication to learning-based transformation.
A milestone moment came in 1999, when Nature Academy and SoL Sweden co-hosted the first international Core Course outside the United States, facilitated by Peter Senge and Otto Scharmer. During this gathering, Scharmer first introduced what would later become known as Theory U—a process model for deep systems change that now underpins many global leadership initiatives.
A passionate advocate of learning in and from nature, Göran has long integrated Theory U, presencing with deep ecology and nature immersion. At the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)—ranked among the top in executive education—he has been part of the faculty since the 1990s, guiding project managers and executives through advanced Nature-Based Leadership programs rooted in immersive nature experience and embodied insight. He guided his colleagues- Gunnar Westling, Staffan Åkerblom, Ulrika Tillberg, and Roy Olofsson- through the transformative U-process, culminating in a Nature Quest on a deserted island in the archipelago, see picture below.
From 2005 to 2013, Göran served as Senior Advisor to the Tällberg Foundation, contributing to its mission to foster global systems awareness and catalyze creative solutions to today’s most urgent questions—such as: How on earth can we live together—humans with each other and with nature? One of Göran’s most memorable moments was guiding H.M. The King of Sweden on a Nature Walk in Tällberg, reflecting the deep trust in his work. 🙏🏼
Göran is recognized as one of the pioneers of transformative development methodologies in Europe. Through a long-standing collaboration with John P. Milton, he has co-designed and guided countless Nature Quests for senior leaders and changemakers worldwide. His unique synthesis of nature-based Leadership, embodied practice, and systems awareness is a cornerstone of our evolving leadership models.
Together with and inspired by Oren Lyons and John P. Milton, Göran helped shape the vision for WiLD methodology, rooted in Wisdom, Insight, Leadership, and Dialogue. These programs connect leaders with purpose, humility, and a sense of planetary responsibility. Please read more>>
Extended Collaborations & Ecosystems
Göran is also a board member of Albaeco, a strategic communications organization that translates complex sustainability research into accessible, meaningful insights. Since 1998, Albaeco has worked across sectors—from science to politics, business to education—always with a focus on the interconnectedness of nature, society, and the economy.
As a board member of the Ekskäret Foundation, Göran continues to support the co-creation of a more conscious society. Ekskäret builds platforms and learning arenas that encourage sustainable transformation—both on an individual level and within broader social systems.
Through close partnership with the Stockholm Resilience Center (SRC), Albaeco has helped communicate resilience science to diverse audiences, supporting global institutions in making research relevant, grounded, and catalytic.
Nature Academy Learning Lab & the Nordic Equation
Göran continues to shape new learning environments where leadership, dialogue, and deep ecology meet. Nature Academy Learning Lab is one of the founding partners of the Nordic Equation — a next-generation executive learning experience grounded in systemic thinking, nature-based leadership, and global responsibility.
The Nordic Equation builds on the legacy of the Stockholm Resilience Center’s renowned executive program. Co-initiated by Lisen Schultz, who was named one of Sweden’s most influential women in business (Dagens Industri, March 2024), this 2.0 version integrates contributions from DRIFT for Transitions (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and draws from rich European leadership traditions. What sets the Nordic Equation apart is its long-term commitment to integration through sustained support, collective reflection, and shared application in real-world settings.
In 2000, Göran also co-founded United Spaces, one of the world’s first coworking platforms. The movement grew into over 4,000 people across six cities—well before the coworking boom began.
>> Download PDF – The IFL Executive Learning Manifesto
Contact Göran: SMS +46 705128198, email gennvi@naturakademin.se