Meet Genefer Baxter, Founder of Aula Future
“We’re not just preparing people for the future. We’re helping them shape it.”
When we spoke with Genefer Baxter, one thing was clear: she’s not here to tweak old systems—she’s here to transform them. As the founder of Aula Future, she designs learning ecosystems that equip people and organisations to lead, adapt, and act in a world that’s constantly shifting.
“I’ve always been drawn to working with innovators,” she told us, “especially those who are bold enough to imagine systems differently—whether it’s education, leadership, or strategy.”
The vision behind Aula
Genefer’s work is grounded in lived experience. “I’m dedicated to helping people redesign everything from how we learn to how we make decisions. Too often, systems are built for efficiency, not empowerment. I wanted to build something that helped communities—especially those underrepresented in decision-making spaces—engage with learning in a way that is liberatory, not extractive.”
Aula Future doesn’t just deliver content. It delivers capabilities. It helps people understand complexity, navigate uncertainty, and act with clarity. And it does so in ways that are co-created, not imposed.
A defining moment
That clarity came into focus when Genefer began creating spaces where people could step into agency—not just absorb information. “It wasn’t one moment,” she said, “but a series of moments that revealed how powerful it is when people feel ownership over their learning. That’s what moved Aula from idea to action.”
What sets Aula apart
Most learning design starts with content. Aula Future starts with the learner. “We focus on helping people feel seen in the systems they’re navigating,” she said. “That includes practitioners, community leaders, and others whose wisdom isn’t always validated by traditional credentials.”
By designing with—not just for—communities, Genefer is reframing how knowledge gets shared and who gets to define expertise.
“We’re not just preparing people for the future. We’re helping them shape it.”
Leadership as practice
“I believe staying driven and having a determined spirit are key,” Genefer shared. “I try to lead by example—showing what it looks like to stay committed even when it’s uncomfortable.”
She builds learning systems that aren’t passive or prescriptive—they’re dynamic, rooted in inquiry, and connected to lived realities.
What’s happening now
Right now, Genefer is developing solutions that stretch the boundaries of what learning can do—especially in communities navigating systemic challenges. “We’re bringing together strategy, foresight, and creativity to help people build the futures they want to see.”
The role of community
Being part of Founderland has been deeply meaningful. “It’s powerful to be in a space where so many brilliant women of colour are rewriting the rules,” she said. “Founderland gives me community, validation, and a sense that I’m not alone in this work.”
Designing for resilience, not just impact
In mission-driven work, Genefer knows how easy it is to overextend. “For a long time, I believed rest was something you earned after the impact,” she said. “But eventually I had to re-learn that rest is part of the impact. You can’t sustain systems change if you don’t design for your own sustainability, too.”
Now, reflection and recovery are intentionally built into how she works. They’re not an afterthought—they’re part of the system.
What she’d tell her past self
“If I could go back,” she said, “I’d tell myself: start before you feel ready. You don’t need to know everything to make a difference. Let go of perfection. Learn in public.”
It’s a mindset she carries forward in her work: clarity comes from action, not hesitation.
The people who shape her thinking
Genefer finds deep resonance in the work of Adrienne Maree Brown, a writer, activist, and facilitator known for shaping how social movements think about transformation. “Emergent strategy, transformative justice—her frameworks remind me that real change is relational, not performative. That’s shaped how I build learning spaces: they need to feel human before they feel efficient.”
On staying grounded
Creativity isn’t a side practice—it’s fuel. Whether through writing, art, or movement, Genefer builds in space to return to herself. “The people I’m designing for—those on the margins, those pushing boundaries—they’re my compass. That’s where I come back to when I need to reset.”
A mantra she carries
“I can do this.” It’s not a declaration of certainty, but of commitment. Of showing up—even when the path isn’t clear y
Follow Genefer’s Journey
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