How do you help nurture a change-maker’s inner journey? What inspiration, tools, and knowledge do they most need? Thank you so much to everyone who showed up at our Catalyst Summit 2024 to help us explore and understand this.
We are so grateful for the contributions of experienced changemakers such as Manuella Cantalice and Bianca Pitt, She Changes Climate & Rhian Sherrington FRSA, Founder / Head Coach Women in Sustainability Network, who are already impacting the global stage.
Our catalysts had an action packed day:
In the morning, Manuella spoke about her career in climate finance and Bianca on their work for SHE Changes Climate – inspiring!
Rhian Sherrington then explored how we found our passion and purpose and ran practical exercises to help develop confidence – super helpful!
After lunch, we welcomed three alums back to hear about their green career stories – Amelia Crews, Lois Mfonobong John, and Isobel R. – very proud of you!
Our final session covered green careers and skills, changemaker superpowers, and active listening – top tips!
Our incredible alums, Amelia, Lois and Izzy were beacons of inspiration, sharing insights and wisdom. Their journey from participating at the Catalyst Summit only five years ago to becoming changemakers in their own right is a testament to the transformative power of this event.
As always, our new catalysts are a passionate, curious, and brilliant group of young women and non-binary changemakers who have already shared incredible feedback about its impact so far.
‘I loved the future vision activities! I enjoyed the energy and encouragement and being in a space with some amazing people.’ Amber
‘I wasn’t quite sure what to expect coming today, but I’m feeling more confident about my future already!’ Lisa
‘I feel I better understand what I value most out of my work/life/education and have some good ideas about how I can centre my career around these! I also loved Rhian’s session about confidence – lots to think about and feeling inspired after today.’ Kaitlyn
➡️So, what are the next steps? Day 2 is about taking action and going into the world. We are looking forward to meeting mentors and other sustainable businesses and organisations who will help, support, inspire, and guide catalysts to the next stage of their journey.
Ellie Wills, a Catalyse Change Mentor, shares her summary of Day 2
Excited, optimistic, inspired, energized, motivated, happy, curious, informed, hopeful, nourishing, empowering, thrilling, motivating, engaging, fun, uplifting, refreshing.
These are just some of the words that flooded the Zoom chat when attendees of the Catalyst Summit 2024 were asked to reflect on their feelings about the experience halfway through. With around 60 young women joining from across the UK (Brighton to Perth) and beyond (Latvia, Germany, and India), the energy, enthusiasm, and pure potential of this inspiring group was palpable.
Day 2 focused on taking action and going out into the world. There was no death by PowerPoint: it was more about sharing personal stories that connected with the audience. Open questions were asked about funding entrepreneurial activities, managing feelings of climate anxiety, and engaging with senior staff around net zero. The diversity of interests of the attendees was evident, reflecting the need for a wide range of sustainability skill sets and roles to thrive in the green transition.
The first speaker was Daze Aghaji, a climate activist who shared a ‘potted’ version of her career trajectory through getting her “hands in the ground” campaigning within Extinction Rebellion, working for climate communications agency Earthrise, and accidentally running to be an MP to “campaign for how we could re-imagine democracy” before starting her own company, Absurd Intelligence. Her path showed that experience is far beyond work experience in finding the path for us, sharing her advice to “through everything at the wall and see what sticks.”
She empowered the group to give care, love, and duty, networking through friends as much as colleagues and striving for a purpose-driven career, softly acknowledging that not everyone has the luxury to pursue this, so if we can, let’s. She shares, “Everyone should have the opportunity to feel like they can have an impact,” struck a chord to recognize the change we can make and the many ways we could do it once we take action and note it.
During the second session, breakout rooms were held with six women with green careers spanning consultancy, communications, and storytelling. The main message was that wherever we are in our journey, whatever it’s looking like, it’s valid and essential. The concept of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ successful career was ditched: instead, we have the right and opportunity to maximize our impact in the way that works for us and the world. One of the speakers and mentors, Sophie Brooks, highlighted this in a small breakout group as she expressed the need to “infiltrate all jobs with green skills.” “Green” is no longer a sector; it’s a future.
Catalysts asked insightful questions, shared wide-reaching recommendations (Waymaking, DownToEarth, Force of Nature, From What Is to What If…), and created a tone of possibility and determination that could set any workforce shaking with the sheer impact they may have!
The final section before lunch was to welcome the mentors: volunteers who have offered to support the Catalysts in their journey. A mentor isn’t a teacher; they are a support structure, a cheerleader, a guide. Co-creation was at the heart as another breakout room asked mentors and mentees alike what good practice looks like for both groups. As a mentor, I loved hearing from the mentees about what they wanted: lived experience, pathfinding, supportive challenge, and objectivity. Meanwhile, mentees considered their contribution, from being self-aware and open to recognizing that paths change and success doesn’t always link to a SMART goal.
Overall, in one morning, we covered a journey of possibility, with incredibly positive terms used to describe it. Combining lived experience, diverse role models, and space for co-creation, I am sure the Catalyst Summit 2024 has catalysed the start of, or continuation of, an empowered journey for all the young women involved, who can move forward knowing the community they are part of and will bring into the world.
Thanks, Ellie, for sharing these wondeful stories and insights from day 2 of the Catalyst Summit.
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