Webinar with Mita Broca

In our latest PMI Norway Chapter webinar, we had the pleasure of welcoming Mita Broca, a sustainability and leadership expert, for an engaging session on systems thinking – a powerful approach to understanding and addressing complex, interconnected challenges.

Image credit: Freepik

Understanding Wicked Problems

Mita opened the session by exploring the nature of so-called “wicked problems” – issues that are difficult to define, deeply interconnected, and without straightforward solutions. These can range from global challenges such as climate change and economic inequality to more localized ones like organizational transformation or waste management.

She emphasized that to navigate such problems effectively, we must look beyond isolated symptoms and instead examine the entire system-the relationships, feedback loops, and underlying dynamics that drive behaviors and outcomes.

The Reclaimers Project: Systems Thinking in Practice

To illustrate the methodology, Mita shared insights from The Reclaimers Project, a multi-stakeholder initiative launched in Johannesburg in 2017. The project aimed to improve recycling rates and formally recognize the contribution of informal waste workers-known as reclaimers-who play a crucial role in the city’s waste ecosystem.

Through system mapping, stakeholder engagement, and pilot demonstrations, the project achieved measurable outcomes:

• Increased recycling rates and better separation of plastic waste at the source;
• Improved collaboration between households and reclaimers, strengthening social cohesion; and
• Fair compensation and recognition for reclaimers as essential contributors to the circular economy.

Mita highlighted that by applying systems thinking, the project team was able to uncover leverage points that led to sustainable and inclusive change.

Tools and Techniques

Participants also got a practical overview of tools used in systems analysis, including:

• System Mapping: Visualizing interconnections to reveal new insights;
• Stakeholder Mapping: Identifying key actors and relationships; and
• Value Exchange and Business Model Canvas: Designing interventions that create shared value.

She encouraged participants to experiment with tools like Kumu.io or Miro for collaborative mapping, and to start with simple visualizations rather than aiming for perfection.

A Human-Centered Approach

Beyond frameworks and models, Mita reminded us that at the heart of every system are people. Her work blends strategic thinking with empathy, focusing on building resilience, purpose, and authentic leadership.

With experience spanning collaborations with Unilever, IKEA, Shell, and Mastercard, and projects from India to South Africa, Mita brings a rare blend of global perspective and local insight. She currently lives in Oslo and will be a featured speaker at the PMI Global Summit 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Image credit: Freepik

Key Takeaway

Systems thinking invites us to pause, map, and understand before we act. By doing so, we can design interventions that address root causes rather than symptoms - creating lasting, positive change in our organizations and communities.