The Alchemy of Community

This past week I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the Women Build It conference at the Ritz Charles in Carmel (on effective, responsible AI usage).

My good friend and executive coach, Leona Schrock was able to attend as my guest.

The room was buzzing with the energy of 400 women devoted to construction, design, homes, and community.

As a founder with a 100% remote team, the potency of being in person can be forgotten at times.

The elevation and quantum leaps that happen when people gather.

Especially women—fierce, determined, connected and relational.

I left the time with dozens of great connections, and a question circling my mind—Where was untapped community available to me? Where was support and upliftment being offered, but I was not attuned to it?

The journey of the founder can often be characterized by loneliness and isolation. We feel that the problems we're experiencing are our own to bear. Our own codes to crack.

But when we let in others—share our experiences; gather; dream together—powerful alchemy happens.

What was once a looming mountain of uncertainty or rushing ravine of stress transmutes into something more tame. Not always completely solved, but solvable.

I've been on a journey of planting my feet more firmly in the local community—showing up to events nearby and meeting for coffee in person. This event felt like a beautiful culmination of that movement.

I am forever grateful for the connections I have out of my city, state, country. And I look forward to forging more of those.

And I am grateful for the irreplaceable experience of meeting people face-to-face. Hugging them.
Learning their drink faves.
Seeing their outfit of the day.

May we all continue to weave and connect.

And if it's been a while since we connected, feel free to reply and let's get some time on the calendar.

Onwards + Upwards,

Edi

P.S., here's the recap video if you want to catch a bit of the vibes. I plan to sponsor a table next year and would love to see you there.