Escape 100 2021 spotlight: RE!NSTITUTE

As we continue to look back at some of the winning organisations that were at the forefront of the Escape 100 campaign in 2021, we caught up with RE!NSTITUTE (formally Rapid Results Institute). They are a non-profit organisation that unleashes the power of front-line teams to create transformative impact on complex societal issues.

Echo Collins-Egan, Chief Impact Officer at RE!NSTITUTE shared her insights on how winning the Escape 100 positively impacted their culture and values, and the importance of colleague connection.

Congratulations on being an Escape 100 winner in 2021! Can you give us a brief introduction to RE!NSTITUTE and your role at the company?

RE!NSTITUTE 100-Day Challenges inspire those closest to complex societal problems to set unreasonable goals, and harness the intense levels of collaboration, innovation, and execution required to achieve them. The methodology places teams and their ideas at the forefront, and supports leaders in leveraging initial goals into sustained, long term impact.

RE!NSTITUTE has emerged as a pioneer in catalysing tangible results in system changes with governments, communities, and organisations around the world, including work in multiple sectors such as homelessness, governance, anti-corruption, healthcare, and criminal justice systems. 

I am RE!NSTITUTE’s Chief Impact Officer. I am here to support the organisation’s growth — expanding the depth and breadth of our impact and driving the change we want to see and be in the world. I love it!

What makes you proudest to work at RE!NSTITUTE? 

Two things - the first is the work we do. There is nothing like seeing communities we work with across the world own their challenges and come up with and implement transformative solutions. From justice workers in Mexico reimagining how gender violence is addressed, to cities across the US radically shifting how they house people. 

The second is our team of committed, brilliant and kind individuals. I have never worked in or seen an organisation that walks the talk the way this one does.

Did the process of the Escape 100 application help to identify your organisation’s core values, or help celebrate certain successes? If so, what were these? 

The Escape 100 has been a great opportunity to take a deep dive into our organisational culture and realise how proud we are of what we are building together, both internally and externally. It helped us celebrate living and breathing the values we so believe in collectively.

In contrast, were there any gaps or areas for improvement that the Escape 100 process helped you to identify?

It was a great reminder to value and continue to invest in what we are proud of. To not take for granted the culture we so celebrate and be intentional in our efforts to continue to grow and expand our team’s experience of the organisation.

Escape’s take on RE!NSTITUTE: “If there's one thing employees at RE!NSTITUTE have it's boundless ambition. It's a bold mission and one that's seen their approach used in over 20 countries to address healthcare, unemployment and criminal justice. Small wonder that its employees wax lyrical about a company that "lives its mission and vision".

There has been so much going on over the past year that has affected people, organisations and the world. Has RE!NSTITUTE changed during this period and if so, how has it evolved?

Our determination to continue to support the systems, people and communities we work with and contribute to more Equal, Just and Safe communities led us to virtualise what we do. We continue to innovate constantly to support those on the frontline of housing, justice and health. We have had to be flexible, empathetic and patient. 

We normally have all staff retreats at least once a year; not being able to have those has meant we have had to reimagine how we communicate and connect. Newer staff members have never met us in person! More thorough and in-depth onboarding processes, virtual holiday parties with international secret santa, flowers in times of grief or celebration, virtual appreciations and many more things have helped us stay connected to each other, despite a year full of challenges.

What piece of advice would you give to other organisations that are hoping to be in the running for the Escape 100 in 2022? 

Take this as an opportunity to dig deep into who you are and how you put that into practice. It’s a reminder and a privilege to go back to your core values and examine how you are living them.

The Escape 100 aims to shine a light on the organisations doing things differently: the ones that really are progressive, mission-oriented and care about the people in their teams and the planet around them. 

For more information and to apply click here. The highest scoring 100 organisations will benefit from an accreditation, visibility and a cool prize package! Plus it’s free, so why not give it a go!