When Do Good Interventions Become the Path of Least Resistance? Part 2: From Heroics to Systems

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Many impactful projects quietly depend on one thing: a single person who cares enough to keep them running. When that person burns out, moves on, or loses funding — the project stalls. But what if the work didn’t have to rest on individual shoulders?

In this second session of our series, we move from theory to practice: How do you build something that keeps working even when the heroes leave?

We’ll look at why over-reliance on key individuals is a structural vulnerability — not just a personnel problem — and work together to find concrete ways to reduce it.

What We’ll Do:

  • Examine why depending on individual people is a risk, and why it’s so easy to fall into that trap

  • Collect and discuss real examples — from EA projects, nonprofits, and beyond

  • Explore what working systems actually look like, and what it takes to build them

  • Work in small groups to identify changes you could apply in your own project or team

  • Share findings across groups and discuss next steps

No prior attendance at Part 1 is required — the session is designed to stand alone.

This is hosted by Effective Altruism Hamburg — a group focused on using evidence and reason to figure out how to do the most good. New faces are always welcome!

Please drop us a line below (or via pm or email) if you want to participate and have not been in contact with us before.