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. To reach a new audience and build its network, a new version of the event was introduced in Whistler, British Columbia.
An unconference is a participant-driven meeting that avoids hierarchical aspects of a conventional conference. Wikipedia
How we designed the experience:
Curated the agenda
An event designed for purpose-driven entrepreneurs, we selected speakers with lived experience. We encouraged them to share personal stories that celebrated their success and highlighted how they learned from failures.
We featured ventures at different stages of development and included businesses from a variety of sectors, ensuring the content was relatable to a range of participants.
Designing for inclusivity, we chose a visibly diverse group of advisors to share their perspectives.
Integrated storytelling, cultural sharing, and movement
The event opened with an Indigenous leader who shared her personal truth and entrepreneurial journey. Her stories helped participants understand the unique cultural challenges and barriers that Indigenous businesses face. Her openness and vulnerable sharing set the tone for the entire event.
Every transition through the event was thoughtfully designed. Indigenous performers in colourful regalia shared songs, drumming, and storytelling. Participants were guided through gentle movement and dance to shift energy and embody learning.
The event was held in a beautiful space at nature’s door. Participants were encouraged to walk and talk outside along forested trails or recharge beside the bubbling creek nearby.
Balanced voices using several facilitators
This event invited many voices to lead discussions, share insights and weave moments together at every stage. Our diverse team co-facilitated from start to finish, smoothing transitions to keep participants engaged.
With a variety of voices and facilitation styles, the event was designed to avoid having one sage on the stage or dominant voice lead conference sessions.
Held space for deep listening and learning
The venue, Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, is a stunning cultural hub with tons of natural light. We made the most of its Istken Hall, using the round room to set up a welcoming space with different seating options. Shoulder to shoulder on floor seats, nestled into a couch or at seated at round tables, participants could choose where they felt most comfortable.
The varied format included the deep, soulful True Confessions with seasoned entrepreneurs, Case Studies for ventures at a crossroads, roundtable talks for Peer to Peer learning and participant-led One on One meetings. This proven approach has been refined by the Social Venture Institute from hundreds of events hosted over decades.
Every session was designed with ample time for questions, discussion, and inquiry from participants who craved deeper learning.
Impact for participants:
The event attracted a new cohort of social entrepreneurs who are balancing profit with purpose in the early to growth stages of their ventures. Highly interactive and experiential, participants received practical business advice with personal connection and inspiration. The format was intentionally designed to be safe and inclusive, immersive, and set in a supportive environment that fostered collaboration among like-minded social entrepreneurs.
The Whistler event delivered a memorable experience and opportunity for social entrepreneurs to fine tune their business strategies, learn best practices for solving problems, and build new supportive relationships.
SVI is like no other conference I’ve ever been to. It’s not just about ideas—it’s about depth, shared values, and honest conversations. Special shoutout to Diana Mulvey for the time, energy and care she put into facilitating our Case Study. There are too many connections made for LinkedIn to let me talk about in one post. Suffice to say, THIS is what being in community in business looks and feels like. Let’s keep the conversations going. Melanie Ann Bitner, FireSwarm Solutions
Contact me today to find out more. Let’s design transformational experiences and events that connect deeply.
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