Flourishing Enterprise Institute

The Flourishing Enterprise Institute (FEI) is committed to accelerating the development and mobilization of systems-based management innovations that will enable enterprises to flourish. The leadership of the FEI secured a SSHRC Connection Grant designed to support the 2300 plus members of the Strongly Sustainable Business Model Group (SSBMG) (the pre-existing community of practice that provoked the establishment of an applied academic research institute) co-creatively developing the foundations upon which FEI would be built.  In August, 2019 a Founding Forum was hosted by VERiS in Waterloo, Canada, convening a diverse and forward-thinking group of SSBMG members. Twenty-six esteemed professionals from across the US, Sweden, Germany, Italy and four Canadian provinces, participated in what was a jam-packed and inspiring two day conference. The event featured a public keynote presentation delivered by world-renowned academic, author and founder of Appreciative Inquiry, Dr. David Cooperrider.

While preparing for the launch of additional nodes internationally, the FEI is presently concentrating on the development of its first node, which is hosted at VERiS in partnership with OCAD University.  The FEI recently secured a SSHRC Partner Engage Grant in partnership with the City of Kitchener and REFOCUS to study the how City’s Corporate Leadership Team experiences REFOCUS’ innovative Enterprise Evolution program.  The FEI has also become a core partner within an international VERiS-led project launched in June of 2020, focused enabling municipal leaders to adapt strategic management practices in response accelerating global change.