About Our Work & STRLDi

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MY JOURNEY

For nearly three decades, I have had the privilege of working alongside leaders across national, regional, and sectoral platforms to drive meaningful, systemic change. As a strategy development consultant, my focus is on equipping teams with the confidence, skills, and insights needed to transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. [Our milestones.]

MY WORK

With expertise in Systems Thinking and the five disciplines of Learning Organizations, as conceived by Dr. Peter Senge, I bring a structured approach to problem-solving. I hold a management degree specializing in Banking Finance from the National University of Singapore, along with professional training in The Fifth Discipline from the Civil Service College of Singapore.

As the Principal and Lead Consultant at the Systems Thinking Research & Leadership Development Institute (STRLDi) established in Botswana, I have led training initiatives for over 10,000 senior professionals across the government and the private sector in Botswana and Asia. My work has directly contributed to national strategy development, with a focus on systemic transformation.

WHAT WE DO

At STRLDi, we work as a team with leaders and organizations to address persistent national and global challenges. Our approach is not just about managing problems—it’s about reshaping the systems that create them. We engage in:
✅ Leadership Development Programs
✅ Systemic Research & Analysis
✅ Strategy Development Dialogues

We do this by applying Systems Thinking to identify underlying structures that perpetuate issues like unemployment, education gaps, productivity challenges, agricultural inefficiencies, and even national conflicts. Rather than treating symptoms, we focus on long-term, fundamental solutions that drive sustainable impact.

A TEAM-BASED, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Our practice is immersive, engaging, and built on collaboration. Working with us means embarking on a co-discovery journey where teams uncover hidden patterns, challenge assumptions, and build strategies that reshape outcomes. We don’t just diagnose problems—we empower teams to become architects of change.

For instance, rather than reacting to poor student performance with short-term fixes, we examine the root causes that hinder learning. We consider what it means to create environments that inspire curiosity and long-term educational success. For example, if students’ grades are not improving, we explore underlying causes and ways to nurture genuine interest in learning. This same approach applies to national employment strategies, resource management, and economic planning.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The future belongs to those who can see beyond immediate challenges and design solutions that stand the test of time. Our work is about making a lasting impact—not just for today but for generations to come. Addressing systemic issues allows nations and organizations to redirect their resources toward sustainable growth, fostering resilience and progress.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Our vision is expanding. We are developing postgraduate leadership programs and global research spaces across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. These initiatives will deepen systemic research, create real-world case studies, and equip leaders with the tools to navigate complex challenges.

If you’re ready to engage in transformational learning and contribute to meaningful change, we invite you to explore our work.

📍 For more insights, visit:
🔗 Blog: https://sheilasingapore.wordpress.com
🔗 STRLDi Website: https://strldi.weebly.com
📩 Contact: sheilasingapore@gmail.com

Let’s build the future—together.

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ADD-ONS:

TRACK RECORD & ACHIEVEMENTS

My practice incorporates insights from renowned experts such as Dr. Peter Senge, Dr. Chris Argyris, Robert Greenleaf, and Dr. Sandra Seagal. I have worked with clients in the private sector and non-government organizations across Singapore, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

In Botswana, my work has led to significant national development initiatives, including a vision for systemic growth over the next twenty years.

Among my recent successes are initiatives addressing national unemployment, HIV/AIDS, human-wildlife conflicts, draughts and flooding caused by severe weather variabilities and their links to the use of the drought-resistant plants and crops, and land degradation. I pioneered a study showcasing the application of systemic tools to a national issue, published in early 2019. Read the study here.

FUTURE PLANS: TEXTBOOK OF CASE STUDIES & SETUP OF POST-GRADUATE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMES

I am developing global research spaces across Africa, Asia, India, Europe, and the Americas to create global research centers and postgraduate programs. These programs, aiming to foster systemic learning organizations, will require real-life research.  Strategy development consultancy, training, and research form the backbone of our work.

I aim to continue uncovering systemic structures that impact public life globally. By promoting the understanding of dynamic complexities, I hope to empower teams to create meaningful results. I am also developing a syllabus for a post-graduate Master’s course, preparing leaders to tackle systemic issues.

The development of global research databases, systemic analyses, and evaluation systems will guide national and global strategies. These efforts will be key to systemic growth and sustainability.

For more information and access to my work tools, visit my blog: https://sheilasingapore.wordpress.com/

HOW THE WORK STANDS APART: THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURE – A CASE STUDY

Unlike traditional management practices that focus on minimizing the consequences of persistent problems, the work with us addresses the cause of the persistence itself. Persistent issues, if left unaddressed, can perpetuate cycles of inefficiency and failure. Here, our approach allows you to break free from these cycles, fostering long-term growth and improvement. The study we pioneered to address the persistent nature of unemployment is a showcase of the application of systemic tools to a national issue. This was published in early 2019. Read the full study here.

WHY IS THIS PRACTICE THE ONE FOR YOU?

Systems Thinking, along with its companion disciplines (mental models, team learning, personal mastery, and shared vision), provides a framework for nations to address and eliminate deeply rooted issues. These issues can range from droughts and crime to unemployment and low academic performance.

Addressing these challenges systematically allows nations to redirect better resources toward education and infrastructure, resulting in increased productivity and economic growth. This approach targets the resistance, not just the surface-level problem, ensuring lasting solutions.

WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON THIS SITE

This site gives a picture of what I intend to include in an upcoming book sharing my experiences as I take the journey with these works.  This would act as a step towards building the post-graduate programme. Start off with our FAQ page here.

Do share your reactions and learnings here.

We hope you enjoy reading and participating in the blog.

Contacts:
Sheila Damodaran (Ms)
Principal and Lead Consultant
Systems Thinking Leadership Development Institution (STLDi)

Mobile (Botswana): +267-75 987 534
Email: sheilasingapore@gmail.com
Associate Consultant Member: Synovations Pte. Ltd, Singapore, The Woodland Group, LLC (USA)

Web Presence:
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilasingapore/
SoL Online: http://www.solonline.org/members/member-detail?member_id=15944150
LinkedIn my groups: http://www.linkedin.com/myGroups/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSystemicThinkingColumnist/

Related Articles:
Peter Senge – What schools need to focus on now! (annmic.wordpress.com)