Definition:
A coined philosophy emphasizing circular structures, cyclical time, reciprocity, and decentralized relations.
Circleism values interdependence over hierarchy, wholeness over fragmentation, and iterative co-creation over linear progress. It is often used in contrast to extractive or colonial paradigms.

Discover how we’re integrating intergenerational governance into the Sumati Group.

Definition:
The set of skills, experiences, relationships, reputation, and credentials a person accumulates over time, which increases their ability to create impact and access meaningful opportunities.
In the context of social impact or effective altruism, building career capital is considered a strategic investment that enhances a person's ability to contribute to important causes over the long term.

Definition:
A group of individuals or entities that come together with a shared purpose, often characterized by cooperation, mutual support, and decentralized decision-making. In social innovation or organizational contexts, a collective emphasizes shared power and co-creation rather than hierarchical control.

Definition:
User-centered, real-life environments where innovation is co-created and tested in collaboration with multiple stakeholders—citizens, researchers, companies, and governments. Living Labs integrate research and experimentation into everyday settings to develop and evaluate solutions in real time.

Definition:
A framework for innovation that promotes collaboration beyond organizational boundaries. It encourages sharing ideas, resources, and technologies with external partners (startups, academia, communities, etc.) to accelerate development and mutual benefit.

Definition:
A connection point within a network—be it digital, social, organizational, or informational. In systems thinking or decentralized structures, a node represents a local unit that both receives and transmits input, contributing to the health and adaptability of the whole.

Definition:
A blockchain-based organizational structure governed by smart contracts, where decisions are made collectively by token holders rather than centralized leaders. DAOs aim to create transparent, trustless systems for governance and resource distribution.

Definition:
A digital application that operates on a blockchain or peer-to-peer network instead of centralized servers. DApps are open-source, autonomous, and often incentivized by tokens, enabling users to interact without intermediaries.

Definition:
An abstract idea, framework, or mental construct used to understand or organize experiences, knowledge, or systems.

Concepts are foundational to theory-building and can evolve through experimentation and interpretation.

Definition:
The capacity of individuals to act independently, make choices, and effect change in their lives and surroundings. Human agency involves self-awareness, intentionality, and the ability to shape one’s destiny despite structural or societal constraints.

Definition:
Curriculum refers to a single, structured program of study or educational plan.
Curricula (plural) encompasses multiple learning pathways, philosophies, or educational designs. In theory, curricula reflect diverse and sometimes interdisciplinary frameworks for knowledge transmission, often tailored to different learner needs or cultural contexts.

Definition:
Derived from Sanskrit, Sumati combines "su" (good, wise) and "mati" (mind, intention). It symbolizes "a wise mind" or "benevolent intention." In applied frameworks like The Sumati Concept, it refers to an integrated wisdom that unites heart intelligence, ancestral knowledge, and critical inquiry to support collective thriving.

Definition:
A historically sacred, walled part of a North African city, often the spiritual, cultural, and economic center, car-free.
Symbolically, Medina represents a layered and interwoven community space—dense, alive, rooted in history, and open to spiritual and cultural exchange.

Definition:
A mindset and approach to planning, building, or acting with the long-term future in mind—often extending beyond one’s lifetime.
The term originates from the construction of medieval cathedrals, which took generations to complete. Those who laid the foundations knew they might never see the final result, yet they contributed with care, vision, and commitment for future generations.
Cathedral Thinking involves visionary foresight, intergenerational responsibility, and patient dedication to projects or goals that require sustained effort over time to benefit the collective good.

Definition:
A moral and strategic perspective that prioritizes the long-term future of humanity. Long-termism argues that the actions we take today should consider the well-being of future generations, especially given the vast potential of human civilization. It often focuses on reducing existential risks and investing in systems that ensure humanity's survival and flourishing over centuries or millennia.

Definition:
A governance approach that explicitly incorporates the rights, needs, and well-being of both current and future generations into decision-making.
It seeks to balance short-term interests with long-term consequences by embedding responsibility, sustainability, and continuity into law, resource management, and social structures—often through inclusive dialogues (ref. Our Board of Council), foresight tools (ref. Data collection and living lab methods), and frameworks like "seventh-generation thinking."

Discover how we’re integrating intergenerational governance into the Sumati Group.

Definition:
A philosophical and practical movement that uses evidence and reason to determine how to do the most good. Effective altruists aim to maximize the positive impact of their resources—whether time, money, or talent—by focusing on causes that are neglected, tractable, and high in scale (i.e., they affect many lives). It encourages critical evaluation of charity, careers, and systemic change efforts, with a focus on global well-being and long-term outcomes. (Sumati works on systemic change efforts, behavioural change long-term, career shifts in how we view the hospitality industry and ‘blue collar workers’).