The first-ever Open Space gathering was conducted for the BR Digital Solutions team based in IRRI HQ on 30 May 2025. The session was facilitated by Jack Lagare, Solutions Enablement Lead, and Eugenia Tenorio, Software Platform Engineering Lead Specialist. Attended by 11 participants from various sub-teams, the session aimed to take the initial steps in building the ideal organizational culture.
Open Space is a unique, self-organized forum designed to foster open dialogue, shared learning, and collective ownership around the most pressing themes shaping our work today. With no set agenda beyond a common purpose, this gathering empowered every participant to contribute topics, exchange insights, and navigate discussions at their own pace—an embodiment of agility, inclusivity, and purpose-driven collaboration.
At the heart of our Open Space were critical conversations centered on:
Effective strategies for upskilling teams to meet evolving demands,
Defining and embodying the traits of a high-performing team, including leadership and communications.
The diverse perspectives shared reinforced a powerful realization: the ability of an organization to adapt, grow, and lead in the face of complexity lies in the hands of its people—and the strength of the conversations they’re willing to have.
Participants identified practical steps and ideas on how we can better support team members in acquiring new skills, communicate with greater clarity and empathy, and foster leadership at every level. Equally, we explored what truly defines a high-performing team: trust, shared accountability, purposeful communication, and a culture of continuous improvement.
This Open Space marks the beginning of a wider transformation journey—one that values participation over prescription, collaboration over control, and learning over hierarchy. It is not just an event, but a launchpad for strategic initiatives we will co-create moving forward.
We thank everyone who took part and contributed with such enthusiasm and insight. As we move ahead, let’s carry the spirit of Open Space into our daily work—building not only smarter strategies but stronger connections and a shared vision of excellence.
