Global strategist and changemaker Ivy McGregor delivered a compelling lecture at the UC Regents’ Lecture on October 8, 2023, hosted at UCLA’s California NanoSystems Institute. In her presentation titled “Four-squared: Unlocking Systemic Change Through Radical Collaboration,” McGregor emphasized the necessity of “radical collaboration” to tackle the pressing social challenges faced today.
McGregor, who has extensive experience in driving systemic impact, showcased a framework designed to connect varied initiatives across the nonprofit, corporate, philanthropic, and entrepreneurial sectors. “I’ve seen each of these pillars move mountains,” she noted during her talk. “But I’ve also seen their brilliance trapped in silos, and I came to believe something radical — and it is that the future will not be built by one sector alone. It will be built at the intersections.”
As the lecture marked the beginning of her visiting residency at UCLA, McGregor expressed her eagerness to engage with faculty and students. Her goal is to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration that could lead to innovative solutions for complex societal issues.
For over a decade, McGregor served as the executive director of the BeyGOOD Foundation, a public charity founded by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. The foundation focuses on empowering marginalized and underserved communities. Throughout her career, she has developed and led programs addressing critical areas such as health disparities and anti-human trafficking initiatives. Additionally, McGregor has provided advice to world leaders, corporations, and the United Nations, reflecting her broad influence in the realm of social justice.
The insights shared during her lecture highlight the importance of collaboration across different sectors to harness collective strengths. As McGregor interacts with the UCLA community over the coming weeks, her emphasis on interconnected solutions is expected to inspire new approaches to ongoing challenges in society.
This engagement not only underscores UCLA’s commitment to fostering impactful discussions but also showcases McGregor’s belief that transformative change is achievable when diverse groups work together. Her residency promises to be a catalyst for innovative thinking and collaboration among students and faculty alike.
