Understanding the Systems Thinking Toolbox with Drs Derek & Laura Cabrera

What if you could train your brain to think more effectively, to see connections, anticipate ripple effects, and redesign the systems you operate in?

In this episode of the 2025 Cosmic Conference: The System is the Strategy, Cosmic Centaurs CEO Marilyn Zakhour is joined by Dr. Derek Cabrera and Dr. Laura Cabrera, founders of the Cabrera Research Lab and professors at Cornell University. Together, they unpack what systems thinking really means and how leaders can move from firefighting to future building.

💡 In this session, you’ll learn:

• What systems thinking is and why it’s an essential skill for leaders.
• The six practical moves that can improve your systems thinking ability by 550%.
• How to apply systems thinking across contexts, from leading teams to raising kids.
• Why understanding and aligning mental models can resolve most workplace (and personal) conflicts.

🌍 Whether you’re leading a team, building a company, or simply trying to make sense of complexity, this conversation offers a simple, science-backed framework for thinking smarter about the systems that shape our world.

🎙 About the Speakers:
Dr. Derek Cabrera is a systems and cognitive scientist, author of Systems Thinking Made Simple, and founder of the Cabrera Research Lab at Cornell University.

Dr. Laura Cabrera is CEO and co-founder of the Cabrera Research Lab and a leading voice in making systems science accessible and practical across sectors.

Host: Marilyn Zakhour, CEO of Cosmic Centaurs, organizational and leadership development consultancy.

🧭 The 2025 Cosmic Conference Theme:
The System is the Strategy: How the most effective leaders shift from Firefighting to Future Building.