Reflecting on Neol's journey in '23

A relatively quick reflection on the journey we've embarked on together this year.

2023 wasn't just another year for Neol —it was a pivot, a leap, and quite a ride! It's been a year of evolution, growth, and important milestones that have transformed us.

Rewind twelve months, and Neol was a different creature. We were a cohort-based learning startup with the same mission of amplifying the voices of creative leaders. But something was amiss. It turned out that cohort-based learning wasn't the way to achieve the impact we seek in how businesses and creatives collaborate.

So, we pivoted, with creative leaders as our guides, and launched our community. This meant placing the creative leaders at the center of our community so they could thrive independently, but not alone. It feels unreal when I think that those early days were only a few months ago. We began by inviting amazing individuals to join us—and, you did! That momentum turned our community into a thriving collective of ideas and inspiration. While we worked on the future of design and creative work, you reminded us both of the benefits of community-powered design, and that the most transformative work isn’t born from having better ideas, but rather asking better questions (do check out Tim Brown ’s pieces on these very subjects here and here).

We evolved to keep up with this new direction, and celebrated two major launches in May and September. We listened, learned, and used what we learned as stepping stones to map a pathway towards our ideal state: fostering interconnected groups that can connect on-demand and deliver collective value, providing sustained, scalable solutions for organizations. We saw this model as a “network of networks,” all enriched by an AI-native platform.

Along the way we’ve held many virtual and physical events including Creative Sparks—our series dedicated to discussing the future of work and business through creativity and collaboration. We’ve published bold thought pieces and made countless connections through community gatherings online and in person. Most recently, we set out to inspire global leaders who were tasked with addressing the climate crisis by first looking within themselves at COP28 UAE in Dubai.?

Neol today is an inspiring community that has grown in leaps and bounds. We’re still in early stages, but fully determined to re-imagine how creativity and businesses meet. Pilot partnerships with GE, Fellow, Alight, the Dubai Future Foundation, and many other organizations have provided us with valuable insights into how we can keep refining. We’ll continue to grow our product, helping businesses make connections with our Creative Leaders and develop solutions for their most timely challenges.?

On the other hand, the year wasn't without its challenges. Building a brand that sometimes feels ahead of our startup reality brought its own set of trials. The responsibility that comes with the name Neol is immense, especially for a team as compact as ours. But, even in the face of these challenges, we feel strong and ready to meet them head-on.

There are a set of exciting initiatives on the horizon at the beginning of the year, including a World Economic Forum session in Davos with Neol x The House of Beautiful Business partnership announcements, and exciting news on our new Talent Hub product (stay tuned!)

Starting today, we’ll end this year with a collective pause as our team, allowing ourselves a full week of rest and preparation for 2024. As we say goodbye to 2023, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been a part of our journey. Together, we’ve achieved milestones beyond imagination, and together, we’ll continue shaping the future of work.Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and a happy New Year!