The Brain Trust: A Signature Fellowship Event

In late November, 42 highly accomplished community leaders gathered via Zoom to coach and advise our seven Initiators Fellows in an event we call the Brain Trust. This activity is designed to help Fellows question assumptions and find new approaches to existing challenges. Each Fellow poses a big question about how to take the next leap forward in the growth of their social enterprise and gets the opportunity to discuss it with a small group.

Brain Trust participants gathered in late November.
 In late November, 42 community leaders gathered via Zoom to coach and advise our seven Initiators Fellows in an event we call the Brain Trust.
Business CEOs and founders, foundation and college presidents, lawyers and public servants, came together and offered their hundreds of years of combined professional experience in service of our Fellows and their purpose-driven businesses. This was the biggest virtual event ever for the Initiators Fellowship, and though we missed the personal connections that come from in-person gatherings, the virtual convening had its benefits, too. For one thing, we were able to record each small-group breakout session so Fellows can review the questions, ideas, suggestions and connections offered by their advisors. Another advantage: Our Brain Trust advisors didn’t have to travel. Still, when times allow, we will convene the Brain Trust again in-person for the deeper human connection it allows.

Many thanks to all the Brain Trust advisors and small-group facilitators who generously gave us an entire morning to make this event a huge success. Initiator Fellow Rachel Stone explained why she rated our recent Brain Trust event so highly.

“Brainstorming and hearing all the different ideas, perspectives and questions from all the leaders in my sessions was so beneficial,” she said. “I feel like this has given me a huge sense of direction on how to successfully move my organization forward.”   


Contact, Chris Fastner, Initiators Fellowship program manager, at cfastner@ifound.org or (320) 631-2019. 

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