GATHER for HER
A celebration of the 10th Season of Conversations in Whole Leadership, and an Introduction to a New Way of Gathering.
Reflections - Part One:
When I reflect back on the journey of co-hosting and executive-producing GATHER for HER over the last few years, it is with hope, positive anticipation, and excitement.
There have been experiences of joy and absolute challenges. We had a vision of what it might look like, feel like, if we were to track the conscious conversations and the story that was unfolding just in front of us on a week by week basis, As a community of changemakers, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who are walking towards 2030 with open hearts, with active minds and with intentional action.
I have a dream, a vision, to create a documentary. And so for me, this experience is collecting - let's call it - "conscious B-roll" of the words that are being expressed from us and between us and among us and through us: collective wisdom.
What's coming through when we sit in a circle, commit to a consistent rhythm and practice a state of openness, interconnectivity, connecting as much to those that we see in the circle as we do to those that we don't see, but who we trust are definitely there. It's been quite the journey.
~ Charlene SanJenko
Braid Co-Host, Founder of PowHERhouse
Meet Char here
Reflections - Part Two:
I think the biggest thing about GATHER for HER is that it's changed the way that I lead in the most warming, nourishing, replenishing way.
If you've met me, you know that I'm a total story gal and I live in that right-brain artistic realm. I'm a driver, and my calendar is always exploding - I stuff as much as I can into my life, into my bags, into my calendar. "I don't have time for GATHER for HER," is what my brain would say. "We're just gathering to gather? What?!"
But of course, we're not just gathering to gather: we're gathering to connect; to learn from each other; to rest in in a community of like-minded Changemakers.
Our most recent conversation (Heather Murphy, S9, E6) felt like a culmination of every episode: I feel like I really got it. I really got the blend of Indigenous wisdom and Western leadership, the bringing together of two things that feel like they don't fit. Things like building a business around social impact, like leading through a matriarchal lens and bringing your kids to work, like marketing and making kissing noises to warn your child of the fire around which they dance.
I think that's the biggest piece about GATHER for HER: connecting these two worlds, business and being in relationship. It's not about stuffing your calendar; it's about the efficiency that happens in the connection of community.
~ Tina Overbury
Braid Co-Host, Managing Director of PowHERhouse
Meet Tina here
Reflections - Part Three:
When I think about some of the things that I have loved about GATHER for HER over the seasons, it is the depth and breadth of wisdom that has been harvested from the conversations.
It gives me so much hope. It feels like the only kind of conversations that I want to have: soul-to-soul conversations. My mind is blown away regularly! I'm always learning something new, and just when I think "What possibly new could emerge from this conversation?" - something always does. Hearing different perspectives with different voices - having someone to voice a truth that I haven't been able to yet give words to - I think it's transformed my thinking.
I have taken lots of notes over the sessions, and when I look back over those notes, I'm often not only inspired, but I get it! I get that it transforms how I think about my own work and how I deepen my own practices when it comes to transformative change.
We're working with a wide audience of changemakers: it's not only the the folks that we interview, it's also the people that are listening. I am incredibly hopeful that everyone doing their work in the world is creating transformative change because of this. I've learned to appreciate that our external world reflects our internal world - GATHER has shown me that we can only move at the speed of trust or the speed of safety, and I love our conversations about relational leadership that unfold through this process
~ Christina Benty
Braid Co-Host, Strategic Leadership Solutions
Meet Christina here
Reflections - Part Four:
As I reflect on the three years of GATHER for HER that we’ve co-created, the words 'growth' and 'gratitude' come up.
I’m grateful for each and every person that has stepped into these Wednesday circles - the relational leaders who were there to voice change, teach, and unlearn with us, and the changemakers who were there to listen, learn, hold space, and connect. I’m grateful for the awareness, the patience, the challenges, the coaching, and the vulnerability that everyone brought (and still brings) to our Wednesday gatherings. We’ve been given opportunities to grow individually, as a group, and as an organization, from these moments of collaborative energy. Here’s the part I love: There will never be a reason to close these gatherings because we will ALWAYS have something to learn from each other, at all ages, in all industries, and within each community, these gatherings continue to open up communication pathways towards change.
As someone that has been creating behind the scenes of GATHER for HER as a Digital Storyteller, Producer, and Ally, since its season premiere in 2020 I’m so honoured to be in the position to support the growth and connectivity of this storytelling experience. Over the last several years, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of building relationships with each guest behind the scenes and witnessing them come alive during a conversation that inquires about and reveals stories rich with truth and openness, beyond a business lens. I’ve been able to witness four women, with four unique leadership lanes, co-host and find their groove together as they hold the wisdom within them AND repeatedly integrate what they learn from each other within the worlds of government, artistry, media, and digital empowerment, and beyond.
My love for this conversation series grew over the first year of its existence as I attended each weekly circle. I can say with certainty that gathering for this hour together each week has been and continues to be a transformational growth experience at an accessibility level like no other. I’m grateful to walk with folks that model what is possible, with open hearts and honest expression, for future generations. Our last gathering of 2022 marked 152 circles, and we’ve got another full year planned for you in 2023!
~ Zoe Gray
Digital Storyteller, Producer of GATHER for HER
Dive back into the original graphic recordings by Sharon Marshall
Graphic recordings by Sharon Marshall, DEVA Program
The Original Vision:
Why do we GATHER?
This is live and integrated storytelling. During these changing times where we are living through global challenges, unprecedented unrest and a looming recession, the need for leaders who can operate within a different framework, with solid values, and crystal-clear capabilities is critical. Whether we are leading through a pandemic, racial discrimination, gender inequities, global warming or cultural, restorative justice and reconiciliation, these times of impact require an up-level of perspective, a responsive set of skills, and a clear process to make the best decisions possible.
2023 - The New Vision:
Creating a Community
As GATHER for HER has grown over the last 3 years, the sense of community that has followed has cultivated new ways of relational leadership. Now, in 2023, we at PowHERhouse want to create a safe space for leaders to play and grow. All are welcome here. GATHER for HER will become both a live and asynchronous series on our new space, where our biweekly Wisdom Circles will be held privately only on The Leader Path. Same rhythm, same co-hosts - new ways of growing and being in circle together!
PowHERhouse is committed to ensuring accessibility so we’ve reduced our Leader Path pricing from $99/mth to $25. We are dedicated to creating spaces that are inclusive and feel safe, so we’ve shifted the Leader Path to offer both LIVE learning sessions and pre-recorded to meet the needs of each participant in the circle. Click here to register and learn about our payment packages.
Changemaker Matchmaking
Creating a more integrated, interconnected and intentional world and having FUN while we do it!
Get to know the changemakers in The House, what their focus of work is, and how they lead and then let us know who you might like to be matched with in your own changemaker journey. We look forward to being hands at your back on this changemaker matchmaker path!
Find your Changemaker Match
Get immediate access to recordings and conversation pieces.
Changemaker Match Connections
Who would you like to be connected with from the House? Would would you like to introduce to us?
