Our storyLeadership that centres dignity, restoration, and hope.
We’re a team of community-minded innovators, practitioners, and learning focused movement-builders, who believe that real change takes practice. Guided by principles of dignity, trust, brave civility, and chosen responsibility, we create spaces where people feel valued and empowered to grow—together.
Born from connection, built for change.
Forge began with a conviction born out of more than 25 years of studying dignity, transformation, and leadership. Founded by Dr. Jeff St. John, Forge has grown out of decades of research, teaching, and hands-on practice with social innovators, organizational leaders, professional helpers and academics. Across this work, one insight kept returning: real change happens when people take responsibility for themselves, and for the space between them. What started as a scholarly and practice-based exploration of dignity and human development has evolved into a creative and relational approach to personal, organizational, an social transformation.
Ubuntu - “I am because we are”
We’re inspired with the idea that being and becoming human is always in relation to others and the world. Choosing to be responsible for your relationship to others is the heart of dignity-driven practice. This belief shapes everything we do. We’re committed to forging deep capability for shifting systems that divide and cause harm. Forge has always been built on collaboration, courage, and action - with a spirit that is kind, grounded, and quietly bold.
To explore, create & inspire practices that foster brave civility, relational leadership, and social imagination in service of a more open, just and hopeful future.
A world where dignity-driven practices transform lives, relationships, organizations, and communities.
We believe leadership is an expanding journey of awareness, inquiry, and practice. Our practice-based, learning focused approach isn’t just theory; it’s evidence-based and artful. Thoughtful and bold. It is about ground-up, interconnected and real-world experiences that lead to meaningful change.
Brave Civility Starts with an Invitation
Embracing the complexity of being human, honouring our differences and disagreements, not with mere politeness, but by forging new possibilities for living forward together.
Dignity is Foundational for Leadership
Honouring dignity means respecting the worth and freedom of individuals in tension with accountability for the impact of our actions.
Words Have the Force of Action
Shaping our understanding, relationships, and world—words either emphasize agency, choice, and responsibility or reduce, obscure, and erase our own and others’ actions.
Restoring Wholeness Makes Integrity Possible
Embracing imperfection or brokenness is the beginning of recovery, responsibility, and restoration for ourselves and our relationships.
Cultivating Grounded Openness
We practice navigating challenges with flexibility, openness, and a commitment to lifelong learning and formation.
Centering Dignity, Safety & Trust
We practice presence, curiosity, and vulnerability, creating space for voices to be heard, allowing the system to see itself in transformative ways.
Creating Contexts for Learning in Action
We practice rigorous and developmental learning to challenge our habits of seeing, thinking, acting to create space and support for new ways forward.
Choosing Responsibility, Practicing Repair
We practice repair, resilience and purpose by taking responsibility beyond ourselves, contributing in service to strengthen community and foster meaningful impact.
Behind Forge is a group of passionate, dignity-driven leaders committed to making a difference.
Founder of Forge and The Men & Project, Jeff advances dignity-driven leadership and awareness-based practice to help people and systems learn, lead, and connect toward meaningful transformation and social health.
Forge’s key partner in designing world‑class practice‑based tools and communications, Ryan operationalizes dignity through design, media, and technology. Ryan is a former founder and CEO of a learning design firm and specializes in creating innovative learning experiences that drive real‑world application and transformation.
Information specialist, writer, and content creator with a gift for making useful sense of complex topics. Jen supports Forge’s work in advancing mental and social health through clear, accessible resources.
Executive and systems‑change leader with decades of experience advancing safety, equity, and social health through community‑driven solutions. Kim is co-lead of The Men & Project.
Dr. Nir Tsuk is the Founder and Director of NYU’s Institute for Impact & Intrapreneurship (i³) and serves as NYU Global Distinguished Scholar and visiting professor in entrepreneurship at Osaka University.
Relational community builder bringing The Men & Project to life in community. Brielle connects and mobilizes like‑minded partners to advance men’s social health and violence prevention.
B Corp + 1% for the Planet
As a certified B Corporation, we’re committed to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and accountability. We also proudly partner with 1% for the Planet, joining a global network of businesses dedicated to giving back and driving meaningful change for people and the Earth.
Together, we can create a world where dignity and shared humanity shape the way we live and lead.
As a B Corp certified organization, we connect great people with great companies to drive positive impact.