Ideas in Flight

The name Wingseed, is inspired by the Tipuana or Tipu tree, which has a distinctive one-seeded fruit with a large wing that causes it to spin like a helicopter blade as it drifts away from the tree. The seeds can travel quite a distance.

Wingseed is about connection, fertility and creativity – spreading and seeding ideas, helping them grow and bear fruit.

Wingseed works with foundations, nonprofits and individuals, using storytelling and listening to connect people, spread and seed ideas, and unlock resources for change.

Together, we bring about transformation – in the stories we tell about ourselves and others, in how we see the world, and how we relate to one another.​

Winged seeds
Brett Davidson speaking

Brett Davidson

Founder and Principal

There’s nothing like the magic of connection that happens in a room where people are doing deep and real storytelling and listening.

Storytelling and listening have been central to my life and my work for as long as I can remember. I started out as a lecturer in communications then went on to work in radio as a journalist, producer and anchor on a daily nationwide current affairs show during South Africa’s transition to democracy. After that I moved to the nonprofit world, partnering with community radio stations around the country to tell the story of our young democracy, particularly at the local level. In 2010 I moved to the US for a senior role in philanthropy, supporting activists around the world to use storytelling, creative campaigning and narrative strategies in their fight for the right to health. I founded Wingseed in 2022 to do this work in a more hands-on way, working with changemakers individually or in teams and organizations, to supercharge their impact.

Through Wingseed I also serve as Lead: Narrative Field Building with the International Resource for Impact and Storytelling, supporting the global field of narrative change. You can see me in action in that role here.

Read my writing and learn more about my own story here, or listen to me speak about my work.

Learn more about me and my work on LinkedIn.

Brett brings the mind of a strategist, the soul of an activist, and the savvy of a trained journalist to help people frame challenging issues and make change.  I have seen him work his magic with the smallest  NGOs and with large, established institutions.  For me and others with long experience in public health, he has also been the best kind of teacher—kind, creative, adaptive and reminding us all of the incredible power of narrative to inspire action and reimagine the possible.

Daniel Wolfe: Director, Community Health & Criminal Justice, OSF (2017-2021)

Brett is that rare combination of scholar and practitioner, steeped in the research on using arts, culture and story-telling for social change while at the same time effectively applying this knowledge in the field to empower advocates and shift power.

Prof Stephen Duncombe: Gallatin School of Individualized Study, NYU

We are privileged to have worked with you as our lead consultant in developing a strategic plan for KUZA TRUST. your expertise in narrative change was instrumental in guiding us through a comprehensive and enlightening process.

Your approach, rooted deeply in the Strategy as a Story concept, was truly remarkable. you demonstrated an exceptional ability to understand and simplify our ideas, turning them into a coherent and captivating narrative.

Working with you and leveraging the Strategy, as a Story concept was transformative for KUZA TRUST. Our draft strategy isn’t just a document; it’s a compelling narrative that captures the essence of our mission.

Chris Abuor: Executive Director, Kuza Trust

Brett has been a joy to work with. His approach as a consultant is rigorous and he is an excellent thought partner whose insights cut to the heart of strategic dilemmas an organization is facing. Working with Brett allowed us to hear from our grantee partners and others and make sense of our communications grantmaking, setting us on a sure path to creating a more effective approach.

Erin Malone: Fmr Director of Comms, Foundation for a Just Society

Brett Davidson is a key thinker, leader and important voice for the expansion of narrative strategies that transform social conditions, politics and culture to shape an inclusive future based on equity and freedom. His work brings clarity and visionary creativity that is necessary towards building an inclusive society.

Alvin Starks: Director, Equality team, Open Society-US

Xavi Bou

The images featured on this website are part of Ornithographies and Entomographies, projects by visual artist Xavi Bou.

Ornithographies captures the unseen poetry of bird flight, while Entomographies focuses on insects -- tracing paths that escape the human eye with both scientific precision and artistic sensitivity. While unrelated to the main theme of this site, these images offer a contemplative pause, a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world around us.

The theme of flight links these images to the idea behind Wingseed, and they offer a contemplative pause, a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

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