In 2025, SelfDesign® Learning Foundation placed renewed focus on strengthening organizational culture during a period of significant transition. This work centred on deep listening and intentional efforts to support belonging and cohesion across the community.

A key part of this work was establishing the Organizational Learning and Culture Coordinator role. The role was designed to steward SelfDesign philosophy, support a shared understanding of values, and strengthen relational connections with families, learners and contractors.

Marianne Butler stepped into this role in 2025, bringing many years of lived connection within the SelfDesign community.

 

Stewarding philosophy and continuity

To prepare for the role, Marianne completed a three-month mentorship with former Director of Organizational Learning and Culture, River Meyer. This mentorship focused on ensuring continuity of philosophy during a time of organizational change.

River has been a mentor to Marianne for many years, after the two first met at a SelfDesign Collab in 2008. Their relationship has grown ever since.

“River has mentored me through communication, parenting and SelfDesign philosophy,” Marianne shares. “Anyone who spends time with River has an opportunity to connect more deeply with themselves. She’s actually beyond words. I find that being with her feels like an all-enveloping hug.”

As part of the process, Marianne engaged in an intensive review of more than 150 archival materials, including writings, videos and audio recordings documenting decades of lived SelfDesign philosophy and reflection.

“I would read, watch, listen and then we would meet and discuss what I had watched and listened to,” Marianne explains. “It was a really deep dive.”

She describes how this process deepened her understanding over time.

“At the end, I went back and looked at some of the things I had looked at at the beginning, and I could see things I hadn’t seen before. I could answer questions myself that I couldn’t when we started.”

This work helped support shared language, historical continuity and philosophical grounding as the organization navigated transition.

 

Culture as relational practice

In 2025, organizational culture work focused on strengthening relationships and a sense of belonging across the SelfDesign community.

“Organizational culture is important work,” Marianne says. “It’s a very wide-open role, and a big part of learning how to be in this role is figuring out how to best serve the entire SelfDesign community.”

When speaking about culture, Marianne consistently returns to SelfDesign philosophy and values.

“Organizational culture is about fostering a community that reflects SelfDesign’s philosophy and values,” she explains. “Based on respect and creating a space for people to fully be themselves.

Relationship and caring would really be at the base.”

Without intentional culture-building, she notes, people can begin to feel separate from the community rather than part of it.

“I think it’s the difference between people feeling like they belong in the community and feeling comfortable showing up as themselves, creating, collaborating and learning from one another,” she says.

 

Supporting culture through change

This focus on organizational culture was particularly important during SelfDesign’s leadership transition in 2024. During times of change, returning to shared values and maintaining open communication helps support trust, learning, and continuity.

“Two-way communication is so important because that’s where we learn,” Marianne explains. “We learn through exchange and reflection. It’s also the foundation of community and respect.”

By creating space for listening and reflection, this work helped support the organization as it navigated change while remaining grounded in its philosophy.

 

Looking ahead

The organizational culture work undertaken in 2025 has laid important groundwork for continued learning, connection and alignment. Looking ahead, this work will continue to support opportunities for meaningful connection across SelfDesign—bringing together families, learners and contractors in ways that reflect shared values and strengthen community.

The intention is that every interaction with SelfDesign reflects a culture where people feel seen, supported, and valued for who they are and where they are in their learning journey.

Learn more about SelfDesign® Learning Foundation here.