#208: Complex Systems with Rich Uniacke of Bridges Outreach -- When Work Boots Solve Homelessness

Today we are working on the theme of identifying change, and to do that we're returning to the subject of complex systems. It turns out, understanding the system we are in is pretty crucial to whether or not our actions will have any significance at all. In addition, a misunderstanding of the complex system, whether regulatory dynamics, or power structures, can throw off our assumptions on the pace of change in an industry. Our own study of complex systems includes a multi-disciplinary approach: we love to learn from others outside the typical investor mindset, and we especially love to learn from people and organizations that have success at solving insanely hard problems. So, we are inviting you right into a conversation we had with our friend Richard Uniacke, the Executive Director at Bridges Outreach, a non-profit that serves those experiencing homelessness or on the brink of homelessness in Newark, New Jersey and surrounding areas. Bridges has had tremendous success, and in large part because leadership fully realized it didn't exist in a vacuum, but had to work to understand the extremely complex system they operated in. Whether you are listening as a leader wondering how you can better unlock change, or as an investor always wanting to understand the pace of change, this conversation is for you. Let's jump in.