Design meaningful events using psychological safety, connection and deep sharing
When you’re at an in person event, do you put up your hand and share openly when there’s an opportunity? Do you let your questions swim around in your mind or step up to the microphone and use your voice? Too often, when facilitators open up the floor, they face uncomfortable silences or see the same hands up in the audience (the extroverts). With a different approach, one that is more intentional and thoughtful, events and conferences can be designed for everyone to feel ready to step in to share. Not just to hear themselves talk, but to contribute meaningfully and connect deeply with others. The opportunity: For 30 years, the Hollyhock Leadership Institute has supported social entrepreneurs to find solutions to specific strategic challenges while maintaining their organization’s social mission. Hollyhock’s flagship event, the Social Venture Institute, is an immersive annual ‘unconference’ held in a remote oceanside retreat centre.
Design events for lasting legacies
For four days across snow and ice, veterans from around the world were guided on a symbolic journey through the First Nations territories of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh. This expedition through the Four Host nations land culminated at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025. It’s one of the many legacies that will endure long after the closing ceremonies concluded the event. …”This journey is not about just carrying the flag. It’s about healing from past wounds… This expedition is about connection, respect, and empowerment. Together, we honour the land. We honour the journey and we honour the warriors past, present and future…” Watch the video below. It gave me goosebumps! This journey is a reminder that no path is ever walked alone. What other lasting legacies can be created and leveraged from major events hosting? In my work with tourism professionals across BC, we’ve
Community, connection, and lasting impact for the greater good
Negative headlines have taken over my news feed. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, discouraged and stuck, especially as an entrepreneur. If you need some inspiration, then join me this spring for a new event coming to Whistler. Surround yourself with people who are changing the status quo and using business as a force for good. The Social Venture Institute (SVI) is hosting its first ever Sea to Sky conference to bring together changemakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to strengthen the impact economy in the corridor. Over the last three decades, SVI has built a thriving community of social ventures making meaningful contributions to environmental conservation, social justice, human and planetary wellbeing, and shared prosperity. Conference designed to align the region’s economy for greater community impact I’m part of the organizing committee, and we’re aiming to bring together social entrepreneurs, advisors, funders, and others to shape a corridor-wide, cross-sectoral network of
Destination Canada features Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism planning guide
In the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of facilitating processes to help advance place-making and destination development strategies across British Columbia. A lot of this work lands at the intersection of tourism and economic development. Many places across BC and Canada are considering how to approach tourism to bolster the local economy. Other destinations are trying to reduce the impacts of overtourism. Both new and established tourism economies need to plan for the long term. The approach must be designed to explore and align with community aspirations. Tourism is shaped by local government decisions. Successful community-based tourism occurs through collaborative relationships with local government and community organizations, taking into account and respecting local interests. To support communities across the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism region, I led the creation of a new guide. Designed to accelerate actions for the region’s destination development strategy, it outlines steps to develop
SOAR to reach new aspirations
Use this planning tool to transform your future Fall is often a time of year to plan ahead and make change for the new year. For many, it’s also time to dust off your strategic plan and update it for the next few years. When my clients are looking to design an engaging and uplifting planning workshop, SOAR is a tool that I recommend. I first used SOAR in the middle of the pandemic with a client who was stretched thin. We needed to inject energy and lightness into the planning process so we could rise above the day-to-day and look forward. SOAR focuses on planting seeds rather than pulling weeds. We introduced a new tool that allows organizations to focus on the positives and envision a thriving future. We shaped the dialogue around 4 themes: Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results (SOAR). SOAR focuses on elements that are more likely
A Hierarchy for Effective Strategic Planning
The Language of Strategic Planning I love wordsmithing. Playing with words to simplify and clarify ideas is something I find challenging and satisfying. I benchmark clever copywriting and corporate communications that has a unique and compelling voice. Carefully chosen words break through the clutter and get your target audience’s attention. When I begin a strategic planning exercise for my clients, we define the anchors of the plan to outline the strategic direction. Before launching a planning exercise with your leadership team and Board, find out if everyone is starting from the same page. Chances are, you’ll need shared definitions so that everyone is rooted in the same foundation. Strategic Planning Hierarchy I am a big fan of starting with Why? Why does your organization exist? Why does your team show up at work each day? As Simon Sinek has shared: “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you