Connection

Yesterday on the train a young girl sat with her Nan and for the entire journey they talked, they coloured, they read, and they talked about their week.? The little girl was worried that she’d got a small hole in her tights from where she’d been playing out at breaktime at school, her Nan told her not worry.

For almost two hours, and according to the little girl a 1000 hour train journey, they connected – and not one screen between them, other to ring the young girls Mum to tell her they were 20 minutes away from the station.

Imagine then being at event all day, where the only time you focus on your phone is either to take pics or to share some love and gratitude.

No socials, no emails, no disconnecting from what’s going on in the room, or from the people you are with.

Truly connecting with the space you’re in and the people you’re with is what my utterly fabulous friend Michelle Hartley FCIPD was able to create yesterday, and to hear her say how proud she was of the day and herself by the end of it made it all the more magical.

From the moment the lift doors opened, and you were cheered and welcomed by the geek squad, you knew it would be an amazing day, and to see Jo Bailey as part of the team was heartwarming.

Bobby Davis FIoL FCIPD PCC kicked off the day with some beautiful and powerful breathwork, which many of you will know I find magical.? Leading us through commenting with ourselves, our purpose and the wider world was just incredible.? There is so much power in our breath and the way we move and Bobby created the most amazing grounding space for everyone that was echoed at the end of the talk delivered by Debra Corey and Ken Corey when they invited Jo Wright PCC onto the stage to share some more magical power.

Debra and Ken talk about the power of managers connecting to their people, as part of their fabulous No More Bad Bosses mission.? Debra shared her story of being a bad boss, and of course they rocked it in true Corey style.

It was fabulous to meet Ken in real life and to spend all day chatting as table buddies (that wasn’t actually a thing, but he was my buddy on the table) as we chatted and laughed together all day.? And to see him AND Debra rocking the cat ear headbands (yes really) was awesome!

Nicholè McGill-Higgins MCC ~ Queen of The Hive???? gave us all some unexpected stories, magic, power and strength in her talk.? And she launches her inner mistre4ss the world better look out because Nicholè is going to be helping even more women to embrace their true selves.

One geek that I have loved chatting to every single time I have seen her, is Orshy Futo , and if yesterday’s talk was anything to go by, the HR world has a new speaker to welcome to stages.? Orshy’s connection to herself, her career, her new home country and to her community is beautiful, and she’s only to keep growing.

Aime Rushton , whilst I still feel robbed of time, knowing I was on for all ten items on the carousel (IYKYK), was the absolute 80’s showmaster, and helped us all to connect with our table buddies (see I made it a thing), and learn more about ourselves and our labels, and with her gorgeous energy, and stunning accent, had the whole room laughing together.

As a gluten free vegan, I know, seriously not by choice people, lunch was delish!!

And then the period Princess herself, Samantha Garstin??Period Princess ?? took to the stage to talk about even more of my favourite topics, the moon, yoga, Ayurveda, and our cycles!! For someone who disconnected from her cycle for almost two decades and then only reconnected AFTER medically induced menopause, Samantha and I have connected on socials about our in sync cycles, and she utterly rocked the stage yesterday.

??Hayley Brackley , after Michelle shed a tear in the intro, told her powerful story, from a powerful position, connecting with us all as she shared her experiences of being ‘supported’ in the workplace, and how true connection had been the difference she needed to succeed in her role.

Two of my favourite peeps in the world then took to the stage as Kirsty Baggs-Morgan?? interviewed Kween of the Geeks Michelle Smash Hits style – genius!!? Ask me for the scorpion bite pic (just kidding, she would actually kill me) Also, don’t set a challenge, Ana F. will make it happen every single time.

Jonathan Wadsworth (They/Them) ?????????? then shared how they had connected to their identity, and how none of us are ever a ‘fixed point’. We can all have labels, but what’s most important is how we connect to ourselves in order to connect with others and the world around us. And, he shared the ‘toilet debate’.? Ask him to tell you.

Before I jumped on a train back home to celebrate my youngest step-sons birthday I delivered my talk, and who knew that I now also sing on stage, and everyone who has sent messages and shared your stories, thank you!

If you’re still reading, you’re AMAZING!!

Not only did every speaker connect with the audience, and encourage the audience to connect with themselves, the room was visibly about new and existing connections deepening, in a truly authentic way.

It’s easy to talk about connection, and authenticity and safe spaces, but it’s something entirely different to actually deliver.?

And Michelle was able to deliver the most incredible day, because she has done the hard deep work on herself, for herself, to allow her to connect with her true geeky, bright, bold and beautiful, authentic energy, where she will rock the rainbow shoes, and the tears, and the love and the swears, and create her own space where she feels safe. And in turn, has created somewhere where everyone can do the and be the same.

Connection isn’t a word, it’s a feeling, and I feel so freakin’ proud of my fabulous friend this morning and all that she has created – even though I know exactly what she will look AND feel like this morning, so if you’re with her, get her coffee and a ginger shot please – because not only is she Kween Geek, she’s Kween of connection.

I have no doubt there will be many more The Great Geek Together 's and I’ll be cheering them on every time.

True connection happens from the other side of your screen peeps, and the best connection of all starts with truly connecting with you!

Also, shout out to Harrison Cantel who is even more lovely in real life, and Wendy Gannon ?? who is an utter powerhouse behind the camera

And there are so many others who it was lovely to see and met yesterday - you are all amazing!!!

Kelly x