As 2025 unfolds, social innovators are looking for more than inspiration—they need practical tools to chart their journeys of change. In the latest episode of Changemaker Q&A, host and impact strategist Tiyana J shares a framework she has developed through her doctoral research: the Impact Blueprint, a step-by-step guide designed to help changemakers move from vision to strategy with clarity and adaptability.
For Tiyana, this year marks a personal turning point. Having submitted her PhD thesis, she is now dedicating herself full-time to the Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN), which she founded in 2020. What began as grassroots workshops in Brisbane has since grown into an international learning platform through HCN’s School of Social Impact, launched in recent years.
“Change making is a long, likely ongoing lifelong journey,” she explains on the podcast. “We begin with our vision in mind, because our vision is like the destination that we’re heading towards.”
A Map for the Journey Ahead
The Impact Blueprint consists of four stages:
- Vision – defining the future a changemaker is working toward, rather than reacting only to immediate problems.
- Theory of Change – mapping the broader system using the Theory of Change Canvas, a tool developed during Tiyana’s PhD research.
- Strategy – creating an adaptive plan informed by the evolving map of the social landscape.
- Critical Path – outlining the concrete next steps needed to implement the strategy.
This emphasis on adaptability reflects growing recognition in the social sector that rigid plans can falter in dynamic contexts. The importance of updating strategies is echoed by research from the Stanford Social Innovation Review, which argues that “complex social challenges require flexible approaches that evolve as circumstances change” (SSIR, 2020).
Building Skills for Systems Change
A major focus of the School of Social Impact is helping grassroots changemakers build capacity in systems thinking, a method for understanding the interconnected causes of complex problems. Systems approaches are increasingly recommended by organizations like the OECD, which highlights that tackling issues from climate change to inequality requires “moving beyond linear cause-and-effect models to embrace systemic complexity” (OECD, 2021).
Through workshops, digital toolkits, and programs like the 30-Day Changemaking Challenge, HCN provides participants with structured pathways to apply these frameworks to their own projects. These resources, Tiyana notes, are designed to equip changemakers “with the inner compass and practical tools to navigate their journey effectively.”
Craft Your Own Impact Blueprint
Learn more about how to Craft Your Own Impact Blueprint via the School of Social Impact.
A New Chapter for Changemakers
While Tiyana emphasizes that she does not focus on operational execution at the organizational level, her work offers crucial foundations: visioning, theory of change, and impact strategy. These frameworks, she says, not only support grassroots leaders but also strengthen larger organizations seeking to align with evolving social contexts.
As changemakers across the globe set intentions for the year ahead, the Impact Blueprint offers a reminder that impact is not only about solving problems but also about shaping futures with clarity and purpose.
