Inside Our 2025 Global Offsite: Big Ideas, Shared Purpose & Member Magic
James Michael Nichols, Director of Communications, shares highlights from our team Global Offsite meeting in May 2025.
In May 2025, our global Founders Pledge team gathered at the historic Elvetham Hotel for our annual offsite — five days of energizing collaboration, fresh thinking, and plenty of shared fun. From professional development sessions focused on artificial intelligence and strengthening internal processes, to moments of reconnection through activities like yoga and tennis, the week was a rich blend of learning and team building.
The AI-lliance: Exploring the Power and Risk of Artificial Intelligence
A standout session was “Smarter Together: The AI-lliance,” facilitated by Crystal Chiu, our Director of Community, and Founders Pledge member Joshua Wohle, CEO and Co-Founder of Mindstone. Together, they guided the team through the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its potential to amplify our work.
This hands-on session welcomed all levels of experience and sparked both excitement and critical thinking. We explored practical applications of AI for our day-to-day functions, considered the ethical implications, and brainstormed ways to use AI to deepen impact without compromising our values. It was a moment of shared curiosity, and it set the stage for future experimentation across teams.
Hearing From Our Members: A Powerful Panel
Later in the week, we were privileged to host a Member Panel moderated by Matt Hurst-Smith, Chief Experience Officer. The conversation featured:
- Lily Elsner, Co-founder & CEO of Jack Fertility
- Puli Liyanagama, CTO of Metica
- Silas Adekunle, Founder & CEO of Reach Industries
Their reflections on entrepreneurial impact, giving journeys, and why they chose to be part of the Founders Pledge community were thoughtful, energizing, and deeply inspiring. Each brought a different lens to what meaningful impact can look like — and reminded us of the importance of keeping member voices at the heart of everything we do.
Why It All Matters — And Where You Come In
Team offsites like this are an opportunity to build deeper team alignment, strengthen our culture, and stay close to what drives us: our members.
If you’re a member reading this, we’d love for you to help us shape how we learn and grow. Whether it’s by sharing your story, speaking on a future panel, or joining an internal session, your perspective helps make us better.
Are you a Founders Pledge member interested in getting involved with educating and inspiring our team? Get in touch— we’d love to hear from you.
And if you’re not a Founders Pledge member, find out how you can join us here.
