Interview with OpenSpace-Online Founder Gabriela Ender

I enjoyed especially these statements as they reveal again every bigger creative process is aligned to certain sacrifice and risk taking.

“Gabriela Ender: It happened during a time where I had been facilitating face-to-face meetings and conferences in corporations as an independent change facilitator since years. On July 17, 1999, as I had returned exhausted but happy, from a business trip and was just relaxing in my lawn chair, I suddenly had a deep visionary flash of inspiration. Like a flash of lightning, I saw this new method in front of my inner eye, the complete software with each phase, each important detail, the whole process was there in its total complexity. I also realized that this process must have a virtual moderation which guides the users and leads them and the organizers towards a high degree of independence and self-organization. I saw which areas of application would be possible, which users, which fields; I realized which synergy effects could come from this method, and I even saw the name and the logo for it. This was such a powerful moment. I felt as if each cell of my body was touched by what I had seen. Immediately, I jumped out of my chair, went back to the house, got four big sheets of paper and started writing. I did not have to think, I just had to write. After an hour, all four sheets were filled on both sides, and all was written. I was too exhausted to read through it again, and in the following couple of days, I started to take care of my usual tasks. And gradually, despite the nice memory of this crazy and beautiful experience, the voice of my inner critic got louder and louder. “What a crazy idea! For sure, something like this already exists! And even if not, why should it be me to start up something so big?” 14 days passed. Another weekend with nice weather saw me become curious as to what I had written two weeks ago. I took the sheets of paper and read through them again. And I started to be amazed beyond belief about the gigantic scope of my vision. Could it really have been me who wrote all that? Where does all this come from? True, it was connected to my previous work, to my life, my studies, my wishes, my mission in life. There was a lot of me in it. But this precision! I suddenly knew that this vision would become reality one day, and that it was me who had to make it so and that I would do this with all my might.

This was eight years ago, and my life has been changed ever since. I had to renounce some things which I loved and which gave me financial security. I had to go into full risk and I did not have enough rest. But I could also experience what it means to follow a vision and to make it a reality. This flow, this creative unfolding are a true gift. The best is, however, when I realize where and how OpenSpace-Online® is already used and which wonderful effects are being connected with its use.”

I am a trained Open Space facilitator, and remember reading on an Open Space forum about Gabriela's work at earlier stages, when she was doing extensive beta-testing. I really enjoyed reading Gabriela's posts as she discussed her initiative with other Open Space facilitators. She was always humble, open to the suggestions and ideas of others, delightfully humorous and kind. I'm glad that she has developed the software to this extent and that so many can benefit from it. Open Space is only one of many such methods, but has been transformative into many lives and groups. here for some of the stories ongoing

Yes….the USP of it is to intiate and enable integrated Online and F2F Communication.  In llarge groups nd communities, not necessarily in one house, city, country or even continent.

How to facilitate large scale systems change within next decade is the superordinate goal for me.It never has been done before.

www.humanemergence.org

is one of the very first epicenters for me which started it. And the fact that organizations like Ashoka and World Economic Forum are very much interested in OST-ONline demonstrates that diverse spaces in the spectrum of entrepreneurship simultaneously awaken to the global large scale approach.

And i know Gabriela can be very tough too. Her bio in various branches of entrpreneurship and in man dominated areas shows her leadership qualification for change.

Now available:

OpenSpace Online Free eBook

June, 2009, 2 more nominations, Congrats Gabriela, once more!

[May 25, 2009] A further wonderful surprise and huge honor is OpenSpace-Online's nomination as a World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneer 2010 Candidate. The Technology Pioneers Community is one of the most widely recognized initiatives of the World Economic Forum. To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership, show the signs of being a long-standing market leader, and its technology must be proven. Past recipients of the recognition include Google, Business Objects and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.

Website: >> www.weforum.org/techpioneers

[May 15, 2009] OpenSpace-Online® has been nominated for the TECH AWARDS 2009. This prize, is an international awards program of The Tech Museum of Innovation (USA), honors innovators from around the world who are creatively applying proven technology to benefit humanity. Fifteen Laureates in five categories will be honored in Silicon Valley, California in November 2009. Five Laureates will each be awarded a cash prize of $50,000 USD. The Tech Awards program was launched in November 2000. The concept for the awards was inspired in part by the State of the Future report, published by the Millennium Project of the American Council of the United Nations University.

Website: >> www.techawards.org