Eight Questions With Featured Grey Swan Guild Member: Lorena Dexter Chaichian
Communications strategist and corporate writer, working with some of Canada’s most prominent organizations to tell their stories and build their brands.
Our Eight Questions is part of our ongoing series profiling some of the amazingly talented members of our global Grey Swan Guild and get behind the curtain of what makes them think and sense the world differently and more effectively than others.
Lorena Dexter Chaichian— Vancouver’s Urban Romantic, Curious Citizen, Cyclist & Storyteller.
Bio: Lorena is a strategic leader and seasoned writer with 20 years of experience and has always been intrigued by what the future might hold. Lorena is a “third culture” child and spent time early in life in Saudi Arabia which have informed her views in adulthood.
Lorena is driven by and offers up: seasoned communications counsel to progressive organizations. published editorial writer, creates for not-for-profit communications and advocacy campaigns, produces educational programs, guards brands, plans public dialogue and special events, seeks beauty and focused on climate action.
A Sensemaking Metaphorical Tool You Personify:
A mirrorball. It casts new light in dark spaces, it brings fresh energy to a room and has the power to bring people together.
1. Who are you/ what makes you tick?
I’m a communications strategist and born storyteller. I love helping others articulate complex issues and embrace the power of narrative to make change or build new understandings.
I’ve always been intrigued by what the future might hold. Just a few of the books that have informed my curiosity include “Megatrends” by John Naisbitt, “The Popcorn Report” by Faith Popcorn and “What’s the Future and Why It’s Up to Us,” by Tim O’Reilly.
I’m currently focused on the future of work. Seeing our homes as a sanctuary has been altered by the presence of technology and by remote work. There’s an urgent need to make sense of how our reality is changing and what kind of future we will create. I thrive on creating the space for deep reflection to occur and then articulating these big ideas in ways that are tangible and action-oriented.
2. What are some of the important questions that you are making sense of nowadays?
- How has the definition of what we call home changed because of remote work?
- How is Big Tech influencing our interactions outside of our tech bubbles? How can we build engagement in the “offline” world for the greater good?
- How is the attention economy affecting our mental environment and how can we influence it for the better?
3. How are some of the ways you go about making sense of the world?
Reading books from courageous thinkers such as Edward Snowden (“Permanent Record”) and Jenny Odell (“How to do nothing”) and practicing mindfulness.
4. What is overhyped? What is underhyped?
- Overhyped: Endless multitasking.
- Underhyped: Humour.
5. Who is at your sensemaker last supper? Four people?
- Edward Snowden, Computer intelligence consultant and whistleblower
- Jacinda Arden, New Zealand’s Prime Minister
- Jody Wilson-Raybould, Indigenous Rights Activist and former Attorney General of Canada
- Jerry Seinfeld, American comedian
6. What big and small question would you love answered or solved?
Big question: How can we effectively mobilize and work together to solve the climate crisis?
Small question: Why are there so many apps and do we really need any more?
7. When you are not thinking deeply about the world, what else are you passionate about in your day to day life?
- Vegan cooking and baking (No longer fringe!)
- Gardening (AKA endless kale harvesting)
- Physical fitness and yoga
- Storytelling and comedic writing
- Exploring and appreciating nature with my children
- Seeking the perfect blend of Oolong tea
8. What do you enjoy about being in the Guild, Global League of Sensemakers and Expert team?
I am stimulated by people who are passionate and curious about our rapidly changing environmental and digital landscape. It’s a privilege to collaborate with such a diverse and talented group.
Find Lorena at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenadexterchaichian
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rainctyromantic
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Interested in Joining the Grey Swan Guild:
Visit our website: https://www.greyswanguild.org/
Become a member: https://bit.ly/gsgsmemberform
Attend our next new member onboarding regatta: https://bit.ly/gsgregattaOct21
Join our Futures & Sensemaking Discussions: https://www.clubhouse.com/join/grey-swan-guild/gJ5MfbZv/maA88zZW
Grey Swan Guild — Our Mission
To Make Sense of the World’s Biggest Challenges and Next Grey Swans — curating and creating knowledge through observation, sensemaking, critical thinking, informed futurism, strategic foresight and analysis. www.greyswanguild.org
