Makesensemess is the nerdiest party of the year.

Video Access Now Available!

Makesensemess 2025 already took place, but that doesn't mean you have to miss the fun. The video is now available for purchase.

Every year, sensemakers gather to reflect on how hard, yet rewarding sensemaking work is.

In 2025 we talked about the brave stuff. The moments when a sensemaker had to stand up and say something.

In a world buzzing with chaotic energy, we made space for stories that remind us change is possible, and that it often takes one person’s courage to shine a light into a dark corner.

But don’t get it twisted, neat and tidy case study results were NOT what our speakers presented!

We showcased the journey, and what it takes to make sense of real messes over time — with all the bumps and (ego)bruises along the way.

Some stories were set at work, while others were set in a less professional setting. Some tackled topics that are incredibly niche to their interests, while others were more common experiences many of us share.

When all these stories were told together they spoke to how critical it is that you keep shining your light on the messes you face.

Below is the growing list of organizations we are proud to have had past speakers of Makesensemess support with their storytelling over the last five years.

2025 Agenda

November 7th 2025

12:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern

Sara Wachter-Boettcher

Sensemaking Through the Storm

Does any of this even matter? I’ve been asked this countless times over the past year. It hardly matters what the “this” in question was: building inclusive design systems, trying for a promotion, advocating for user research, building influence with stakeholders.

Who can worry about leadership, or personal growth, or career goals, at a time like this? We’re overwhelmed, exhausted, and more than a little scared. Maybe we should just hunker down. Stop asking hard questions. Stop striving. Stop everything.

Why try to make sense of a world that’s senseless?

That’s the question this talk will answer. We’ll look at why staying a sensemaker and a truth-teller still matters—and how it can help you hold onto your values, and your self, in the darkest of times.

ABBY COVERT

When did you stop learning to make sense?

In this keynote, you’ll learn how to recognize the seven signals that you’re outsourcing your own sensemaking—and why that’s dangerous. You’ll see how these signals show up in everyday life, from media headlines to corporate failures to global crises. Most importantly, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of sensemaking as a skill you can practice, and why building that skill in community with others is key to navigating a world that often feels overwhelming.

STORIES FROM

Brave Sensemakers

This year we asked for stories of bravery—moments when a sensemaker had to shine a light on a mess, no matter how big or small, no matter how neat or unfinished the outcome. And wow did this community step up!

From first-time storytellers to seasoned speakers, this lineup is a mix of voices and perspectives. What unites them is the courage it takes to point at the messes many would rather ignore, and to share openly what it means to wrestle with them.

Chloe Westman is diving into what it takes to set and maintain stronger boundaries in sensemaking.
Catherine Bell brings us inside her team’s work as they tackle the tangled mess of voter education.
Jem Ahmed offers a personal account of what it means to start fresh—launching a business and reshaping her life in the process.
Cass Fellerman recounts the wild ups and downs of pulling an entire organization chart together from the bottom-up.
Shirley Chan challenges us to recognize how newspeak seeps into our thinking, and even our spirit.

Illustration of person with many stories

Jasmine Ibrahim

Productivity isn't a Virtue

Our newest Sensemaker in Residence this year is Jasmine Ibrahim. She will be joining us to share her journey into making sense of herself, and share some of the more mind blowing revelations she wants to teach other sensemakers.

AND THEN ...

We Mingle

Through the magic of break out rooms you will be placed in small groups and given discussion prompts. Last year this was marked as a highlight, so we are thrilled to bring it back. It is 100% optional.