Back in September, I was in New York for an incredible summit hosted by Dorie Clark. It was my first extended work trip since maternity leave, so I packed in as many coffee chats, Broadway shows, and live Peloton classes as I could in the days around it.
But there was one thing I didn’t want to come home without doing: gathering a great group of coaches in person.
So I invited close colleagues and coaches I admire to spend an afternoon at Fabrik in Tribeca, co-hosted with my forever colleague Sarah Agopian-Khalifé.
Our theme? Refresh. It felt fitting, with a nor’easter rolling through that week, summer turning into fall, and so much shifting in each of our lives. But truthfully, I picked it because few things feel as refreshing as an energizing afternoon with thoughtful peers.
It’s not that coaches don’t gather. But we’re allergic to stale networking (who isn’t?) and hungry for the kind of depth that sparks connection, and even collaboration.
So how do you help people hit it off and become resources for each other? Over at Group Life, Priya Parker regularly suggests giving guests roles as a way to build belonging. My spin was to make each role a contribution to our theme, “refresh.” We had a reading, a poem, a metaphor, a mental model, a dare, a challenge, words of encouragement, somatic movement, conversation cards, a harmonica tune, and even a make-a-wish dessert to close.
From there, we mingled, with plenty to talk about and an even fuller sense of who we were connecting with.
I came away with two reflections.
First, colleagueship can take time, but mostly it takes intention. We need opportunities to keep seeing each other around, on-ramps for better conversation, and windows into who we are, not just what we know.
When you launch your coaching practice or a new evolution of your work, finding your people is often a top priority. That means the people you’ll coach, of course. But just as vitally, it means fellow coaches who can be partners in the process. Colleagues who speak our language, show us what’s possible, steady us through tough dilemmas, cheer us on, open doors, and sharpen our thinking.
Second, it’s less about what you do together and more about who you’re with. We spend a lot of energy on the what of our work: offers, launches, formats, agendas, venues. As much as these matter, it’s the who that makes it meaningful. Just think of an ordinary experience that felt extraordinary because of who you were with.
A project with a colleague.
A session with a client.
A meeting with your team.
A meal with a loved one.
A walk with a friend.
A morning with yourself.
So let’s keep gathering. What started as a refreshing afternoon in New York is now Inspo, a roving series that brings coaches together in person, city by city, often alongside amazing local co-hosts. Come inspire, be inspired, and leave with lasting connections. RSVP for upcoming →