ICG - HU

IODA is a international non-profit association community and a platform for organization development (OD) professionals, academics, practitioners to connect, share and exchange ideas with members from over 50 countries.

This year event in Mexico began with an inspiring visit to Xochimilco World Heritage Site, where we learned about the resilience of its 1000 year-old agricultural systems (called the chinampas) and their relevance to organisation development topics like resilience and systems thinking. Local leaders shared their ongoing efforts to preserve this unique heritage despite modern challenges, demonstrating how identity and interconnectedness are vital in building sustainable futures—whether in organisations or communities. Witnessing this sustainable yet hyper-efficient agricultural system invented by the Pre-Hispanic peoples underscored the importance of balancing tradition with innovation—an ongoing theme throughout the conference.

Case studies such as the family-run Potzollcalli restaurant chain and Infra Mexico brought other themes to life, highlighting contemporary challenges such as expansion, generation shift or managing multigenerational workplaces.
For expample one of the challenges faced by leaders is that younger employees, seeking purpose and connection, often grapple with dopamine-driven digital habits. Balancing these aspirations with operational efficiency requires thoughtful approaches and creating dialogue – highlighting the role of OD in bridging such gaps.

Technology also took center stage at the conference, bringing in discussions on the integration of AI into our daily and professional lives. We all agreed that the question is no longer if we will use AI but how to use it skillfully and responsibly.
I was surprised to find myself listening to the deep and touching discussion of two of my international colleagues on the societal impacts of AI and the value of human interaction. This was only made possible for those who otherwise didn’t share a common language by real-time AI voice translation. This showed the enabling power of technology, but also highlighted the need for authentic human connection and understanding.

I am especially grateful that during this year’s conference I had the opportunity to host a session titled “Let’s Meet at Our Boundaries! – and Find Our Power to Act” for this global community of OD practitioners together with my colleague Diána Miskó (FLOW Consulting).
In our experiential workshop, we built on Gestalt psychology to help participants explore their boundaries related to their personal and professional roles. Using bodywork exercises, we helped participants physically sense their boundaries and embody polarities in order to reflect on what it means to find balance—taking care of ourselves while giving to others—and how embracing uncertainty can lead to meaningful connection to address issues that cannot be solved without joint action.
We were happy to welcome about half of all conference attendees in our workshop – and even happier for receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who joined. I think the engagement and feedback from participants also shows that members of the global community are looking for ways to contribute to finding solutions for challenges overarching geographycal and social boundaries as well as personal ones.

Mexico City itself was a perfect metaphor for the above conference themes. It’s a city of contrasts—where daily challenges coexist with joy, humor, and a deep sense of community. Locals generously extended warmth and support, even across language barriers, demonstarting how connection transcends boundaries. This environment inspired us to reflect on how we can create similar spaces of belonging through our work in OD.
As I look back on these days in Mexico City, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to learn, connect, and contribute. The conference emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration, navigating technological advancements with wisdom, and building communities and organisations where people can thrive.
Also, I can definitely say that during our visit to Mexico City our minds, our souls and our bodies were all well-nourished thanks to the the learning, cultural experiences and of course the amazing Mexican cuisine!
Thank you, IODA, for creating a space where we can come together to learn, grow, and envision a better future. I look forward to continuing this journey to bring insights from this global professional network —next stop, Ghana 2025!