Center for Systems Awareness

What Center for Systems Awareness does

Center for Systems Awareness is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded in 2019 by Peter Senge (author of The Fifth Discipline and MIT Senior Lecturer) and Dr. Mette Miriam Boell, headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts. The organization develops and disseminates the Compassionate Systems Framework, an integrated curriculum that combines systems thinking tools (Iceberg Model, Ladder of Inference, Connection Circles, Behavior Over Time Graphs, Stock and Flow Diagrams), social-emotional learning, and contemplative/mindfulness practices to cultivate "compassionate integrity" in K-12 students, educators, and education leaders.

The Center's product portfolio centers on multi-day Foundations I workshops (in-person and virtual, 80-100 participants per cycle), advanced Foundations II workshops, specialty programs (How to Hold Space, Compassionate Climate Learning Community), the Site Development Program for institutional implementation, and a flagship year-long Certification Program for Compassionate Systems Master Practitioners capped at 30-40 participants per cohort. Distribution is community-led through a hub-and-spoke model with anchor hubs in Denmark, British Columbia, California, and Southeast Asia, an International Youth Council spanning 8 countries, and partnerships with the California Department of Education (~5,000 providers reached), British Columbia Ministry of Education (60 districts), British School of Jakarta, Dulwich College Singapore, Maglegårdsskolen, MIT J-WEL, and Stanford SCOPE.

The revenue model is earned-income professional services (workshop fees, certification tuition) plus an implied donor/grant base typical of 501(c)-style nonprofits; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization operates with a small core team of 27 staff, has no disclosed AI/ML or software technology stack, and relies on founder brand equity and a credentialed practitioner network as its primary assets.

Name

Center for Systems Awareness

Legal name

Center for Systems Awareness

Website

https://systemsawareness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Systems Awareness is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 2019 by Peter Senge and Mette Boell that delivers the Compassionate Systems Framework—an integrated systems thinking, SEL, and mindfulness curriculum—to K-12 schools, educators, and youth globally through workshops, certification, and regional hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Services / Professional Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Tutoring + Learning Content Platforms (Curriculum + Tutors) (EDANAGAL), Communications, Parent/Guardian Engagement & Notification Systems (EDAJAHAM)

Keywords

• Social-emotional learning
• Systems thinking education
• Educator professional development
• K-12 mindfulness training
• Compassionate systems framework

Headquarters

HQ city

North Andover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop Fees: Revenue from conducting Foundations I workshops, advanced workshops, and specialty programs offered globally in-person and virtually
2. Certification Program: Year-long intensive Master Practitioner certification program with in-person meetings and virtual sessions

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Center for Systems Awareness delivers educational programs and workshops built on the Compassionate Systems Framework, which integrates systems thinking tools with social-emotional learning and mindfulness practices for K-12 schools and educators. Its core offerings include introductory and advanced workshops (Foundations I and II), a year-long Master Practitioner certification program, youth leadership/ambassador programs, and a Site Development Program supporting schools in implementing the framework through a global hub-and-practitioner network.

Product overview

The Center for Systems Awareness offers an integrated portfolio of educational programs and frameworks centered on the Compassionate Systems Framework. The core offering includes Foundations I and II workshops that introduce and advance systems thinking, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness practices. The flagship Certification Program for Compassionate Systems Master Practitioners provides year-long intensive training. Specialized programs include Youth Leadership and Student Ambassadors initiatives, the Compassionate Climate Learning Community, and the Site Development Program for schools implementing the framework. Virtual Global Community Sessions provide ongoing practitioner support. All programs are delivered through in-person workshops, blended learning, and virtual sessions, with content accessible through the organization's website and partnered educational institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compassionate Systems Framework: The core framework developed by Peter Senge and Mette Boell integrating systems thinking, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness for education
• Compassionate Systems Master Practitioners Certification
• Youth Leadership Team

Products and services

• Foundations I – Introduction to Compassionate Systems Framework Multi-day introductory workshop (typically 3-4 days) introducing educators and education leaders to the Compassionate Systems Framework, covering systems thinking tools, social-emotional learning practices, and mindfulness techniques. Delivered in-person and fully virtual formats.
• Foundations II Workshop Series Advanced workshop series building on Foundations I, designed for practitioners seeking deeper application of Compassionate Systems tools in educational settings.
• Certification Program for Compassionate Systems Master Practitioners Year-long intensive certification program delivered in a blended learning model with 3 in-person gatherings (15 days total) and monthly 3-hour virtual sessions, training educators to become Compassionate Systems Master Practitioners. Limited to 30-40 participants per cohort.
• How to Hold Space: Compassionate Systems Facilitation for Cultivating Generative Social Fields Advanced workshop focused on facilitation skills for creating generative social fields, taught by Center leadership including Mette Boell and Peter Senge.
• Compassionate Climate Learning Community Youth Leadership Program engaging young people in understanding climate systems through the Compassionate Systems Framework, developing youth climate ambassadors.
• Site Development Program Program supporting schools and organizations in implementing the Compassionate Systems Framework, providing guidance and resources for establishing local hubs and full framework adoption.
• Youth Leadership and Student Ambassadors Program Training program for student ambassadors to teach Compassionate Systems tools to peers, with active groups in Denmark, Indonesia, and Hong Kong, supported by an international Youth Council with students from 8 countries.
• Compassionate Systems Virtual Global Community Sessions Weekly virtual sessions for workshop alumni to deepen understanding of Compassionate Systems tools and practices, featuring different themes per session including the Well-being Framework, Systems Thinking Iceberg, and Ladder of Inference.
• Compassionate Systems Framework in Schools Core educational framework combining systems thinking tools with social-emotional learning and mindfulness practices for K-12 education, developed by Peter Senge and Mette Boell in collaboration with MIT and the International Baccalaureate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% higher learner motivation among Compassionate Systems students compared to peers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• MIT J-WEL (Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019MIT J-WEL is a key co-developer of the Compassionate Systems Framework. Peter Senge is a J-WEL fellow and Mette Boell is a J-WEL affiliate. The lab supports the global expansion of the framework in PK-12 education.
• British School of JakartacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019BSJ serves as the anchor hub for Compassionate Systems in Indonesia, hosting regional workshops and training educators from across Southeast Asia. The school integrates the framework across its curriculum.
• Wadah FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019MIT J-WEL member organization collaborating on cross-sector leadership development and engagement with local Indonesian communities.
• United in Diversity (UID)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019NGO that has done cross-sector leadership development with MIT, collaborating on the Indonesia hub for compassionate systems education.
• International Baccalaureate OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to integrate Compassionate Systems Framework with IB programs, particularly the Primary Years Programme. BSJ is an IB anchor school in this collaboration.
• Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished research report 'A Humanistic Approach to Scaling Up' documenting the Compassionate Systems work with California Department of Education.
• California Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded Learning Division implemented Compassionate Systems practices with nearly 5,000 out-of-school program providers, reaching at-risk learners statewide.
• British Columbia Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvince's mental health strategy features compassionate systems leadership as a central component, working through 60 school districts.
• Dulwich College SingaporeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading international school implementing Compassionate Systems Framework; won Ethical Values Education Award for their deep work integrating the framework with students, teachers, and parents.
• MaglegårdsskolencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenmark school that served as primary European prototype for Compassionate Systems Framework with full school implementation across 700 students and 70 teachers.
• Presencing InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted Peter Senge in GAIA Journey live session exploring systems thinking in context of Western science and Eastern wisdom traditions.
• Climate InteractiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to train Compassionate Systems youth as climate ambassadors using En-Roads climate simulator for policy and public education.
• Teach For AllminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presented workshop on Developing Students as Systems Thinkers at Teach For All Global Conference 2019 in Armenia.
• Dalai Lama Center for Peace and EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on event in Vancouver 2014 bringing together Dalai Lama and Peter Senge on peace and education.
• Society of Organizational Learning (SoL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeter Senge is founding chair of SoL, an organization advancing organizational learning and systemic change.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Presencing Institute: Founded by Otto Scharmer (MIT), advancing Theory U and systems awareness. Closely linked intellectual peer and occasional collaborator, sharing the systems-awareness theoretical foundation and Senge/MIT ecosystem.
• Society for Organizational Learning (SoL): Founded and chaired by Peter Senge, SoL advances organizational learning and systems thinking. A direct intellectual and personnel peer, sharing both the systems-thinking lineage and overlapping practitioner communities.

Broad incumbents

• International Baccalaureate Organization: Global provider of K-12 and beyond curricula and credentials. Direct partner of the Center and a structural peer in shaping what K-12 schools teach, including the integration points where Compassionate Systems is embedded.
• Nearpod: Well-funded K-12 instructional content and SEL platform serving districts globally. Representative of the digital-first SEL/curriculum competitors that are scaling faster and offer easier deployment than the Center's workshop-based model.
• Panorama Education: Provides K-12 social-emotional learning surveys, data, and intervention tools to districts. Comparable on the SEL/K-12 buyer but differentiated by a software/data approach that the Center does not have.

Emerging players

• Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute: Originated at Google, offering mindfulness and emotional intelligence training. Comparable on the contemplative/SEL methodology but serves broader corporate and education audiences rather than K-12 specifically.
• Inner Resilience: Trains educators in trauma-informed mindfulness and social-emotional practices for K-12 schools. Comparable niche overlap combining contemplative practice with educator professional development in K-12.

Direct peers

• Character Lab: Nonprofit that partners with researchers, educators, and students to advance character development in K-12. Comparable as a research-anchored, educator-focused K-12 well-being organization.
• Mindful Schools: Provides mindfulness and SEL training and curriculum to K-12 educators, with a focus on equitable access. Highly comparable in combining contemplative practices with K-12 teacher training and direct school partnerships.
• CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): The leading U.S. organization defining and advancing K-12 social-emotional learning frameworks. CASEL is the most directly comparable peer, as both organizations seek to embed SEL into K-12 systems through frameworks, training, and district-level partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-systems-awareness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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