It’s a question many of us return to again and again. For the Waters Center, our response to that question has been rooted in systems thinking. Not systems thinking for its own sake, but to support people in making sense of complexity, shifting the systems they are a part of, and uncovering possibilities.

Nearly a decade ago, on a sunny bench in New England, this very question surfaced in a casual conversation between Tracy Benson, former President of the Waters Center, and Jay Forrester, an early pioneer in the field of systems thinking who is often credited as the father of system dynamics (System Dynamics Society, n.d.).Tracy was visiting Jim and Faith Waters, the founders of the Waters Center, then the Waters Foundation. The Waters and Forresters lived in the same community and were friends, so it wasn’t uncommon to bump into Jay during visits.

In a conversation about systems thinking, shared history, and outreach, Jay spoke of a potential tipping point for impact: if systems thinking could reach 10% of the entire world population, it might spark exponential growth—enough to change the world for the better.

At the time, it was just an idea, a passing topic in a much broader conversation. But the phrase lingered, resurfacing over the years in unexpected ways. It came up in conference presentations, in Advanced Facilitator Credential (AFC) sessions, and one day it took on new life during a conversation between Tracy and Kisha Davis-Caldwell, a Waters Center credentialed advanced facilitator.

“We were talking about how many people you need in an organization to be systems thinkers for it to be impactful,” Tracy recalled. “We talked about the power of one, and how one becomes two, then three, then four. Then I remembered what Jay Forrester said about how 10% of the world, or even 10% of an organization, is the tipping point for sustainable impact. And Kisha said, 'That sounds like the title of a book to me, The Road to 10%: How to Transform a System, or How to Transform the World.'”

In 2024, the “Road to 10%” became more than an idea. It became a guiding premise to capture the mission of the Waters Center: how systems thinking can make the world a better place through steady ripples over time, ripples rooted in caring relationships, learning, and adaptability.

As the Waters Center marks 35 years, we’re reflecting on our journey toward our mission. Not just what the Road to 10% means to us, but what it might mean more broadly: for communities, organizations, and people everywhere who are navigating complexity.

How systems thinking can help create a better world

At its core, systems thinking helps us recognize the interconnectedness of everything, from people to policies to the patterns that shape our lives. It invites us to both zoom in and out, ask informed questions, and notice how even small actions can create long-term impacts.

Importantly, it’s not merely a collection of tools or a single solution. It’s a lens, something we bring to how we honor perspectives, recognize moments that matter, and work together to make decisions.

As Tracy explains, “If you truly are a systems thinker, you pay attention to the consequences of what you say and what you do… There's increasing awareness and expectations that things move quickly. And because of that, the speed of thought and action can create a lot of messes. I think that systems thinking can still live and breathe in a quick, fast-paced world, but it requires some intentionality.”

And that kind of intentionality is important. Not just for addressing big challenges, but in our daily conversations and relationships. Systems thinking helps us shift from looking at individual causes to structures and patterns that are creating outcomes. It invites pause and consideration of an issue fully and the opportunity to practice many of the other Habits of a Systems Thinker (the Habits).

Joan Yates, former Senior Vice President of the Waters Center, noted the impact of systems thinking and practicing the Habits: “If everyone could simultaneously see the big picture, surface and test their assumptions, understand where the leverage is... it would allow people to function more compatibly and productively within the systems they live and work in.”

Over the years, we’ve seen how the smallest shift in perspective can change how people engage with complexity. When someone makes their thinking visible and has the space to explore it, they often show up differently. As Sheri Marlin, Executive Director of the Waters Center, shared: “[Systems Thinking] gives people confidence that they can think through and solve a problem, whether it's very close and personal to them or whether it is taking on a bigger change in their community or their nation.”

Walking the Road

The global population is estimated at 8.2 billion people. That means 10%, the tipping point Jay Forrester spoke of, would be 820 million. A lofty goal by any measure. So how do we get there?

We start where we are.

Systems change doesn’t come from one grand solution. It comes from intentional practice. From the structures we build. From the communities we nurture. And, perhaps most of all, from the relationships and networks we invest in over time, across distance, through shared purpose.

And purpose is a critical consideration. Systems thinking provides a powerful lens shaped by the mindset and values of the people applying it. That’s why it is important to not just focus on concepts and tools, but the relationships and reflective practices that help ground systems thinking in purpose and care.

That grounding has guided the Waters Center since the beginning.

Our story began with a conversation between MIT Dean Emeritus Gordon Brown and Catalina Foothills Superintendent Dr. Bob Hetzel. From there, shared applications from Dr. Brown took root in Tucson, Arizona. Middle school students explored system dynamics using classroom sets of computers secured through Apple’s Classrooms of Tomorrow program. Teachers gathered after hours to read The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge. A newly hired principal, Mary Scheetz, a naturally talented systems thinker, insisted on taking a whole-school approach.

What began in a single classroom made its way into new spaces—one conversation, one connection, one insight at a time. The work happening at That School in Tucson caught the attention of systems thinkers like Donella Meadows and Peter Senge. As more people took notice, the ideas began to circulate: first across the district, then around the U.S, and eventually well beyond.

In-person workshops and convenings emerged to meet the moment. Over time, online offerings took shape, evolving into the Thinking Tool Studio. Then came Open Studios, collaborations and consulting, and the Advanced Facilitator Credential. All of it growing out of a desire to support people not just in learning the tools and Habits of a Systems Thinking, but in walking the road to 10% together.

The approach hasn’t changed: stay in relationship, learn what works, and keep adapting with care. In the words of Tracy, it's a, "deep curiosity about what’s really going on with people, not just delivering tools but helping people apply them in a way that feels meaningful."

That curiosity is still at the heart of what makes this work possible, not only in schools or organizations, but in everyday life. When we bring systems thinking into our relationships, our work, and our communities, we create the conditions for connection and change.

An Invitation to Walk

The Road to 10% isn’t just about reaching a number; it is a vision, an invitation. Not always fast. Not always visible. But always moving through connections.

For the Waters Center, 35 years of systems thinking work has taught us that transformation doesn’t happen from the top down or outside in. It happens through people. Through stories. Through practice. When we support each other in seeing systems more clearly and in responding with greater intention, something shifts. And those shifts ripple.

Wherever you are, whether you're deep into your systems thinking journey or taking your first steps, we invite you to walk this road with us.

What’s one small ripple you can make today?

With Gratitude

In writing this piece, as a beneficiary of the Waters Center’s work before joining the team, I had the distinct privilege of interviewing Tracy Benson, Sheri Marlin, and Joan Yates. Their titles appear throughout, but behind them are decades of laying the foundation for this work, building relationships, and sending systems thinking ripples around the globe.

Works Cited

System Dynamics Society. (n.d.). Jay W. Forrester. https://systemdynamics.org/product/principles-of-systems-1968/