A popular practitioner of the systemic approach to business, Jennifer van der Meer, founder of Reason Street, joins us on this episode to explore the intersection of business models, capital structures, and ecosystemic value creation.
Highlighting how “in business, the challenge is to move beyond the constraints of financial logic and design for broader, systemic impacts that prioritize the health of ecosystems, communities, and bioregions,” Jen challenges to think beyond the existing frames.
While tracing the evolution of business models through distinct eras, she reiterates her belief that business modeling is a creative process where new narratives need to be created that redefine how value is created and distributed.
It’s an eye-opening conversation and an important one to remember in an age when businesses are designed to merely meet investor expectations of financial returns rather than take a holistic approach.
Starting from Netscape’s IPO in the 1990s, Jennifer highlights the pivotal moments that shifted the focus from static business plans to the dynamic models of today.
As an Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design and an advisor and consultant, Jen always advocates designing purpose-driven systems aligned with larger societal and ecosystemic goals.
In the conversation, we touched upon multiple themes, such as the inheritance that financial logic projects on business models, how to look beyond financial capital (and the constraints making it difficult), and the new perspectives likely needed to start designing for a regenerative future.
Tune in and join us as we stretch existing business model thinking frames.
Key Highlights
👉 Business models should be seen as dynamic, narrative-driven frameworks that evolve with societal and technological shifts rather than static plans.
👉 Designing for surplus rather than value capture allows organizations to prioritize contributions to ecosystems and communities over financial returns alone.
👉 Integrating multiple forms of capital—social, environmental, and intellectual—creates a more holistic business strategy.
👉 Platform cooperatives and alternative ownership structures demonstrate how shared value creation can reduce reliance on traditional financial logic.
👉 AI and blockchain technologies offer transformative opportunities, but their true potential lies in enabling community-driven innovation and operational efficiencies.
👉 Organizations must embrace bioregional learning ecosystems to address complex challenges and tailor strategies to their unique social, cultural, and ecological contexts.
Topics /chapters
(00:00) Beyond Existing Business Model Frames - Intro
(00:44) Introducing Jen
(02:05) Evolution of Business Models
(07:34) Orientation into ages, frames, and types of Business Models
(17:31) Capital Structures and it’s impact on Business Models
(21:09) Beyond Financial Capital and Measuring Investments
(25:55) Impact of Digital Public Infrastructures
(28:16) New Business Approaches and Key Innovations
(33:45) Driving Other Forms of Capital
(39:14) Speeding the adoption rate of concious business models
(43:13) Bringing Diversity in Systems of Value
(48:12) Breadcrumbs and Suggestions
Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/jen-van-der-meer
Episode recorded on Oct 23, 2024
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Music
Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music
