Masterclass: Introduction to Anthropological Thinking
Rethink people, power & systems. A 2.5-hour intro to anthropological thinking—designed for curious mid-career professionals.
Date and time
Location
Online
Refund Policy
Lineup
About this event
- Event lasts 2 hours 30 minutes
Rethink how you understand people, power, and systems.
In this 2.5-hour masterclass, you’ll be introduced to the core ideas and tools of anthropological thinking—designed specifically for mid-career professionals who are curious about human behavior, culture, and change. Whether you work in business, design, policy, innovation, or organizational leadership, anthropology offers a radically useful lens to better understand the complexities of modern life.
Through a mix of short lectures, guided reflections, and interactive exercises, you’ll explore:
- Why anthropological thinking matters in business and organizational contexts
- Key concepts like cognitive empathy, power & hierarchy, structure & agency, and belonging
- How anthropology approaches scalability and systems in transition
- Practical tools to help you analyze and navigate complex environments more insightfully
This workshop draws from ethnographic practice and anthropological theory to help you move beyond surface-level analysis and engage more deeply with human systems—at work and in the world.
No prior background in anthropology is required—just curiosity and a willingness to think differently.
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✅ What You’ll Learn
This masterclass goes beyond ethnographic methods to introduce the conceptual core of anthropological thinking. You’ll come away with:
- A clear understanding of how anthropological theory frames human behavior—not just what people do, but why systems and structures shape what’s possible
- Tools to work with key concepts like cognitive empathy, power, agency, and belonging—and how these ideas illuminate dynamics within teams, organizations, and society
- A framework for analyzing systems in transition, with attention to uncertainty, identity, and cultural disruption
- Practical reflection exercises that help you examine your own positionality and assumptions when navigating complexity
- A foundation for integrating anthropological thinking into your strategic, organizational, or design work—especially where cultural nuance and systemic awareness matter
Frequently asked questions
This masterclass is designed for mid-career professionals—in fields like business, design, innovation, policy, HR, or leadership—who are curious about how anthropology can deepen their understanding of people, systems, and change. No prior background in anthropology is required.
The masterclass takes place online on September 22nd, starting at 7:00 PM CEST (Central European Summer Time). That’s 1:00 PM EDT / 10:00 AM PDT, making it accessible for both European/African evening and North/South American daytime participants.
Yes. The session will be recorded, and all registered participants will receive access to the recording afterward, along with any shared materials. Note however that this is a workshop, involving experiential learning; and we cannot record break out rooms and exercises.
No preparation is needed. Just bring an open mind, something to write with, and optionally, a current work-related challenge or situation you’d like to reflect on using the concepts we’ll explore.
A balance of both. You’ll learn key anthropological concepts in an accessible way, followed by reflection and application exercises to help you bring these ideas into your professional context.
Absolutely. While the workshop is geared toward professionals with some career experience, anyone with a sincere curiosity about anthropology is welcome.
You’ll get a summary of the core concepts, access to the session recording, and a curated list of further reading and resources to continue your learning journey.
The workshop will be hosted on Zoom or Butter.us . A link will be emailed to you after registration, along with a calendar invite.