Can Anyone Create Change? Plus, Insights on Screen Addiction and the Economic Development Assembly.
My latest newsletter discusses the essentials for influencing policy change and highlights from the recent Economic Development Assembly in Abidjan, along with the new 'Media Stamped' TV series.
Hi everyone,
It's been a minute since my last update, and a lot has happened! The Global Citizen team went straight from Climate Week NYC to Abidjan for the Economic Development Assembly. This past weekend, I was in Cannes, France, where we launched Media Stamped, a fun and engaging media literacy TV series for kids.
As always, I’m so grateful to those who’ve left reviews for From Ideas to Impact on Amazon, Audible, or Goodreads. With how algorithms work these days, reviews are one of the best ways to support first-time authors like me!
Also, a quick reminder: before the end of the year, I’ll be releasing the long-awaited bonus chapter, featuring a new leadership style. If you’d like to be on the distribution list, just email a copy of your From Ideas to Impact receipt to michael@michaelsheldrick.com.
Lastly, Idris and Sabrina Elba have signed three copies of From Ideas to Impact, and you can win one by taking action on the Global Citizen platform!
Can Anyone Create Policy Change?
A common question I hear, and one that I explore in the conclusion of From Ideas to Impact, is: Can anyone really influence policy? After Climate and Capital Media kindly posted an excerpt from the conclusion, this question resurfaced. My answer, and the core message of the book’s conclusion, is yes—anyone can contribute to meaningful policy change, regardless of their proximity to power.
The book outlines eight approaches (“policy entrepreneurship”) for influencing policy from any position—whether you're a student, community leader, or elected official. The idea is to make policy change more accessible to everyone.
Do You Need Power to Create Change?
At a recent book event, a fellow panelist argued that you likely need to hold some position of power to enact change. While power helps, I’ve seen countless examples of people with little formal authority achieving policy victories. Take Nokuzola Ndwandwe and Candice Chirwa from Chapter 4 of From Ideas to Impact, who are addressing period poverty in South Africa, or Josie Perkins, a 9-year-old advocating for elephant conservation—none of them had traditional power, yet they made a difference.
But if not a position of power, what does it take to leverage the eight tools of policy entrepreneurship? Here are some thoughts:
1. A Clear Sense of the Challenge
Most changemakers start with a problem they care deeply about. As I acknowledge in the book’s opening, if you've picked up From Ideas to Impact, you likely already know the challenge or are motivated to act—the real question is how. Many of today’s changemakers began with nothing more than an idea and a commitment to see it through.
2. Building Relationships and Asking for Help
It's not just about access to those in power, but about forming partnerships that open doors. For example, a 9-year-old Josie Perkins saw me mentioned in a local newspaper and reached out to her local Member of Parliament, who happened to know me. (In many democracies, reaching out to your elected official is underrated, but in the U.S., officials' offices are obligated to give you a meeting.)
However, the people you reach out to don’t have to be powerful to influence policy. Nokuzola and Candice, from South Africa, teamed up with like-minded advocates—none of whom had traditional power—to first get Global Citizen's attention on social media through what I called "Twit-Plomacy." Today, platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram are powerful tools. Not everyone will reply, but tenacity, persistence, and creativity can increase the odds.
3. Credibility
While you don’t need formal power, you do need to bring something of value, whether it’s expertise, data, a unique perspective, lived experience, or a track record of results. Essentially, why should someone trust you, take what you say seriously, or give you their time? In the book, I discuss tactics for demonstrating credibility, including finding third-party messengers to help amplify your message.
A Practical Example: Climate Changemakers
Last week, I attended a small Climate Changemakers gathering at a friend’s apartment in Manhattan, organized by Dana Cowin. These “hour of action” gatherings push friends to think beyond viewing climate action as just being about lifestyle changes and to engage in actions that impact policy, like writing letters to their future selves about policy goals (a proven way to boost agency) or letters to the editor linking recent hurricanes to climate change.
Though Dana is a food and wine journalist with a passion for sustainability (thus she has credibility!), most attendees were her friends—not in positions of power. Yet, past gatherings have shown that these events help people believe their actions can make a difference, opening the door to more meaningful systemic change. It’s a great example of Eleanor Roosevelt’s saying: “The way to begin is to begin.”
Secrets to a Successful Gathering
I asked Dana what the secret to a productive gathering was, and she emphasized intentionality—setting a clear intention in the invitation so people arrive ready to act. Another key element is proof of impact—offering tangible examples of success. Dana uses small, relatable actions like sustainable food choices to demonstrate change, aligning with my book’s 8th step on the importance of sharing success stories.
Dana also highlighted the importance of follow-up. She has attendees write letters to themselves about the actions they’ll take and sends them out later as reminders. Research shows this boosts agency. Inspired by this, Xinyi and I are planning a similar gathering at our home in Brooklyn early next year—fellow New Yorkers, stay tuned!
If you're interested in hosting impactful events:
Follow @theclimatevote on IG and visit the Climate Changemakers website for weekly events and resources.
Organize a potluck featuring foods that benefit both people and the planet by following @progressive_hedonist on IG and taking the Progressive Hedonist quiz to see how you rate.
Grassroots Power in Action
Personally, one of the most effective gatherings I’ve witnessed was a small concert at a local bar in Edmonton, Alberta, years ago, featuring a local band. There were about 300–400 people in the tavern, and the band had dedicated their performance to advocating for Canada to do more for global health, especially for children under five. They invited a local Member of Parliament to the event, and during the show, the crowd got fired up with chants like “End Polio Now.” The band then invited the MP to respond, and not only did he speak (without getting booed!), but he also followed up by writing to Prime Minister Trudeau in support of $100M in additional funding to eradicate diseases like polio. This event always reminds me that change can happen in any space.
What a week in Abidjan!
Global Citizen held the inaugural Economic Development Assembly: Advancing Africa’s Future in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on October 9-10 with Bridgewater Associates and in partnership with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and Harith General Partners.
Through a series of engaging panels and roundtables, we outlined the investment case for the world’s largest economies to increase their contributions to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and help empower 77 of the world’s most vulnerable countries to thrive, about half of which are in Africa. Our call to action was the Abidjan Accord, signed by over 100 eminent African and international organizations, world leaders and artists. Here was a pretty good summary from a high school participant in the Assembly:
African nations demonstrated leadership in global health by contributing over $100 million to Gavi, the vaccine alliance, with Côte d’Ivoire fully paying $9.9M. Additionally, Energea and Hecate Energy announced plans to build large-scale solar installations to power millions of African homes and businesses.
During one of the panels I moderated, Eswatini’s Finance Minister, Neal Rijkenberg, discussed how the World Bank could better support climate vulnerable countries, drawing parallels to the natural disaster pause clauses advocated by Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados (which I discuss at length in chapter 5 of From Ideas to Impact). Here is a snapshot:
The road doesn’t end in Abidjan! We’ll continue our advocacy through the World Bank annual meetings occurring this week, all the way to December when the final fundraising conference will take place in Korea.
Pressing the German Government to Increase Support
Just right before we kicked off the Economic Development Assembly in Abidjan, we hosted a Parliamentary Breakfast together with our partners from ONE Campaign, on October 8 at the German Parliament, bringing together key figures, including Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, and German policymakers, to discuss the future of the International Development Association (IDA). The session ended with a call for Germany to increase its IDA commitment amid budget negotiations that will conclude on 14th November. Join global citizens in calling on German decision makers to keep its word and do its part for a just world – sign our petition here.
Is “Screen Addiction” a Real Thing? Media Stamped has the answers you need - and it’s out NOW!
Season 1 of a new docu-series, focusing on media literacy, has officially launched on Global Citizen’s channels! This four-episode series is designed to empower young global citizens (ages 9-15) to navigate media and use their voices for good. Co-produced with Sinking Ship Entertainment (24 Daytime Emmy® Awards) and hosted by the award-winning Nicole Stamp, the series is backed by Telus (Canada’s telecom provider), and features educational curriculum support from the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts.
We’ll be releasing one episode each week, starting with Episode 1 this week, available for a limited time. Check it out and take the screen time test! Personally, I can’t wait to share this program with fellow parents and hear their thoughts!
How Global Citizen is advocating for increased participation and protection on the part of Environmental Defenders
If you watched the Global Citizen Festival in New York on September 28, you saw the launch of the LEAD initiative, which aims to increase participation and protection for environmental defenders worldwide. Since 2012, around 1,910 Environmental Human Rights Defenders have been killed, with many more facing threats like arrests, lawsuits, and intimidation for their climate advocacy. Indigenous groups, in particular, face unjust criminalization. Global Citizen is proud to join the LEAD initiative, co-created by defenders, civil society, and governments, to ensure EHRDs are recognized in climate discussions.
Global Citizen’s continued work with Environmental and Human Rights Defenders
Global Citizen continues to partner with organizations to support human rights and environmental defenders. Here are three of the latest collaborations. First, with our long-time partner Civicus, we've launched an action calling for the release of imprisoned lawyer and activist Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov from Tajikistan. We’ve also amplified the work of Guatemalan artist and activist Lucia Ixchiu, who uses art to defend Indigenous peoples and their lands. Lastly, as part of our Emerging Creatives Program, we’re showcasing the work of Thiha, a self-taught artist from Myanmar now living as a refugee in France, who expresses his journey through paintings and cartoons. Please help us share the incredible stories of these resilient artists and activists! If you’d like to connect with any of these partners for collaborations or support, please contact Ruben at ruben.hasbun@globalcitizen.org.
Book Tour Update
In recent weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to speak at various institutions, including the Parsons School of Design on the relationship between sustainable fashion and policy (stay tuned for an upcoming Forbes piece on this topic!), as well as with students studying global political risk at NYU and at MIT’s School of International Affairs.
For those in South Africa, mark your calendars: I’ll be at Exclusive Books in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, on December 3rd, and at Exclusive Books at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on December 5th. More details to come!
My Weekend Reading List
A tribute I wrote to the former Finance Minister of South Africa, Tito Mboweni, who responded to advocates’ calls to remove the tax on menstrual products and ensure access to free sanitary pads in public schools.
Boosting the impact of the world’s largest source of concessional finance
Climate crisis drives developing nations deeper into debt, says report
Hurricanes Highlight Climate Crisis As This Foundation Offers Hope
Till next week,
Mick