Leading through paradox: Navigating tensions in transformative networks

Abstract Managing multiple paradoxes is critical to transformative systems leadership, particularly in the context of translocal networks. In this paper, we explore a novel aspect of Earth Stewardship: how leaders of these networks harness paradox management to generate and scale innovative sustainability solutions. By integrating seemingly contradictory forces, such as harmony and disruption, cohesion and autonomy, and reflection and action, leaders foster dynamic environments conducive to both innovation and transformative learning. We identify three key paradoxes: (1) the embrace of harmony and disruption, fostering transformative learning; (2) the tension between cohesion and autonomy, which promotes innovation by scaling solutions within diverse contexts; and (3) the interplay between reflection and action, which enhances metis, a crucial strategy for navigating the uncertainties of transitioning systems. These paradoxes, when embraced rather than resolved, enable translocal networks to catalyze systemic changes. This paper explores how these leadership practices drive sustainability solutions, an essential yet underexamined aspect of Earth Stewardship.