In a powerful and timely collaboration, BrightRock, the needs-matched life insurer, with academic partner Henley Business School Africa, officially launched the Change Science Institute on 18 June 2025 at Henley’s Johannesburg campus, ushering in a world-first multidisciplinary platform focused on equipping individuals with the tools and insights to navigate change.
The Change Science Institute is a first-of-its-kind South African platform that aims to draw together different strands of behavioural science, psychology, neuroscience, and leadership theory, translating academic insight into practical tools people can use to navigate change in everyday life. Its purpose is clear: to help individuals become more resilient, self-aware, and change-fit through the usable, credible, and empowering application of change science.
From designing tools to help you understand your change personality and level of change-readiness, to offering expert-led learning opportunities , the Institute’s aim is to bridge the gap between science and people’s lived experience.
BrightRock’s purpose
Speaking at the launch, Suzanne Stevens, CEO of BrightRock, shared the company’s long-term vision for the Change Science Institute and how it connects to BrightRock’s broader mission:
“At BrightRock, we’ve always believed life insurance should evolve with people’s needs, because in life, change is inevitable. Our purpose is to help people navigate change in their lives and the Change Science Institute is a natural extension of that thinking. It’s about giving people agency and confidence as they face life’s transitions, whether personal, professional, or societal. We’re proud to bring together academic excellence, behavioural science, and our deep community insight to help individuals navigate transformation not with fear, but with resilience and optimism.”
What’s Next
The Change Science Institute aims to develop tools, learning programmes, and resources. Users can already engage with a range of self-directed learning tools on its website. These tools are designed to support individuals at all stages of life to deepen self-knowledge and equip people to tackle change more confidently.