Diversity is an opportunity, not only a value. Dealing with the complexity of diversity is a constant learning curve, but leading sustainability transformation calls for actors with different perspectives and diverging interests to work together. Excluding opposing views or differing interests reduces the quality of outcomes. Diversity becomes an opportunity when we nurture diverse thoughts, viewpoints, backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. Agreements and achievements reached through collaborative consensus create lasting trust, help avoid or overcome crises, and maintain a shared orientation towards a larger common goal despite differences in interests.

Iterative Learning works best when we build cycles of reflection into collective action. Sustainability initiatives require strategic and operational planning as much as the observation of outcomes, impacts, effects, side effects, and implications. The crucial point is how we empower collaboration structures between multiple actors to learn fast enough – and collectively. Rather than assuming to find solutions and answers that last forever, we can see multi-stakeholder collaboration as collective learning journeys that allow us to learn from the past and the anticipated future and iteratively apply insights to current and future sustainability challenges.