About Us
Thriving in tension is at the heart of what we do. Tension is a gateway to innovation, not an obstacle to it. It is the creative friction between opposing ideas. When explored, rather than resolved too quickly or avoided, leads to new possibilities. For over 15 years, I-Think has drawn on research and the science of tensions to teach young people and professionals how to navigate it with skill and confidence.
A generation that is unafraid of tension will meet the world’s most pressing challenges with curiosity, adaptability and ingenuity. This is not a nice-to-have. It is essential for the future of a thriving Canada.
The pathway to a thriving Canada depends on raising a generation that can sit with and work through tension. Tension is a natural consequence of exposure to differing perspectives, and learning to navigate it is how we build strong relationships and create the conditions for real innovation. By equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to embrace tension, we can foster a generation that is engaged, thoughtful, and capable of shaping a better future. Imagine a society where young people learn to slow down to listen to one another, approach relationships with curiosity instead of fear, and build ideas stronger than any individual vision. Imagine a future where tension sparks innovation, collaboration fuels creativity, and every voice is valued in shaping a Canada that works for everyone.
Meet Our Team
Meet the staff, Board and Advisors leading I-Think.
Learn about Integrative Thinking
Get more information about navigating tensions with the methodology that underlies our work.
See our FAQ
You have questions, we have answers.
Take our 101 Series
Sign up for asynchronous courses on Integrative Thinking and the Ladder of Inference.
See us in the News and Upcoming Events
Learn more about us from books, news segments and articles.
Our History
Integrative Thinking was created by former Dean of the Rotman School of Management Roger Martin. He began teaching the methodology to MBA students and executives from around the world. The history of I-Think began as a question: Could students younger than MBAs solve real-world problems with Integrative Thinking? The answers are the series of interventions we’ve designed and scaled to make better learning for everyone.
Can I-Think work for the most underserved students?
When Manon Gardner, former Associate Director of the Toronto DSB, asked Roger Martin this, he answered: “Together we’ll make it possible.” That vision took shape with I-Think and two TDSB teachers reimagining the grade 12 Business Leadership course (BOH 4M). For the past 13 years and counting, students have stepped outside the classroom to consult for organizations like Metrolinx, North York Harvest Food Bank, University of Toronto and Parks Canada. This partnership has created real-world impact, shaping both student lives and the communities they serve.
Over 150,000 number of students have consulted to over 400 organizations.
Launched 2011 | Grade 12 Business Leadership
Launched 2013 | Real-World Problem Solving Institute
Launched 2014 | Innovation Creativity Entrepreneurship at Scale
Can I-Think be used in K-12, not just high school business?
At the turn of the 21st century, we set out to reimagine how education could evolve to meet the changing needs of society. When school boards partnered with organizations like I-Think, innovation spread quickly. With I-Think, Grade 1 students solved classroom challenges, while older students addressed graffiti, lateness, and watershed issues. Essays, science labs, and community-building were reimagined, showing that Integrative Thinking can spark critical and creative learning at every grade level. The Ministry of Education named us as a pedagogical leader.
Watch the video series: Innovations in Thinking and Learning ➔
Can I-Think scale?
I-Think created the Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) framework used in the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Ontario, Canada. ICE was added to the SHSM program to strengthen students’ futures with the tools and mindsets necessary for future economic prosperity. This framework, mirroring Business Design, guides students through distinct phases of innovation: Empathy & Needs Finding, Ideation & Prototyping, and Strategy & Testing. The ICE experience supports students in shifting their mindsets on their abilities, and gaining a deeper understanding of careers in their chosen sectors.
Every year over 50,000 students across Ontario have an ICE experience.
Launched 2015 | Integrative Thinking for Leaders
As teachers embraced new ways of teaching, their Principals and Vice-Principals grew curious and wanted to join in. Soon, the ripple effect reached Superintendents and Directors of Education, who saw the potential for change at a system level. To meet this demand, I-Think created leader-specific programs that mirrored Rotman’s globally recognized Executive offerings, tailored to the realities of education. Along the way, leaders strengthened their strategic thinking, ability to collaborate with the community, and guide their teams through complexity with confidence.
Over 2,000 leaders have navigated tensions to strategically improve their schools.
Can we make real-world problem solving possible in every classroom for every student?
Teachers struggled to reach out to community partners to bring real-world challenges into the classroom. Our solution was Challenge Kits: professional learning paired with pre-framed tensions from community partners, curriculum-connected resources and a detailed Facilitator’s Notebook. The first kits launched with Crosswalk Company and Peacebuilders, and by 2021 we expanded to include Friendship in Action, Ontario SPCA, Ophea, and others. Since then, partners like TRCA and School Mental Health Ontario have joined in, using the Challenge Kits as an opportunity for community engagement. Today, our series explores topics such as Afrofuturism, Artificial Intelligence, Remembrance Day, and Well-Being.
Over 25,500 number of students have learned to navigate tensions with a Challenge Kit.
Launched 2018 | Challenge Kits for K - 12
Launched 2025 | I-Think Different Board Game
What would this look like with no professional development?
The Waterloo Catholic DSB asked I-Think this question. Six weeks later, the I-Think Different About Board Game went to print. High school students shaped content through a Student Leadership Day, where they learned about social media and completed a Pro-Pro. Their reflections and Pro-Pro, informed the content of the game and Empathy Cards. Our team designed gameplay by playing games and aligning that with the ethos of Integrative Thinking! In May and June 2025, every grade 7 and 8 student in WCDSB played the game and in October 2025 WCDSB hosted a family game night.
In our first prototype, over 3,000 students have played the game.
Join the Movement
Raise a generation with the ability to navigate tension.