Reflections from the Austin Mixing Board Live Event
I'm fresh from Austin, having attended the second live event organized by Mixing Board, a unique, collaborative community of leaders, marketers, comms experts, and strategists. This was a work event like no other—unlike the driven, high-octane energy of the recent All In Summit, Mixing Board Live created a relaxed, gentler space. Yet this much lower-key vibe managed to create impactful conversations and some perspective changes that I've carried all the way back to San Francisco with me.
Meeting My People
Heading out to work events, it's easy to get wrapped up in questions about outcomes: What's the ROI on this event? Why are we attending? What deals do we expect to come away with?
Mixing Board Live wasn't about networking for business growth in quite the same way. After all, everyone there was from the same arena, more or less. We were all marketers or growth specialists—essentially competitors. Yet we all had so much common ground.
Here in a space with my people, my peers, I found we were all very much speaking the same language. We were able to commiserate, collaborate, and ideate together, not just about marketing but about all aspects of life. I came out with a full heart, a full head, and a lot of clarity. That clarity has helped me work on critical answers to some of the unique challenges of being a marketing leader.
Sharing the Wealth
Another beneficial aspect of the Mixing Board event was the way we all shared our wealth of knowledge, experience, and insights. We broke away into eight groups, each discussing and presenting a hot topic. My group looked at marketing versus comms, and it's fair to say that everyone took something from this way of working.
It wasn't just about the work stuff, either. I started the day with Pilates at The Peach House, also arranged by the event organizers. Revving up for the day ahead with a challenging workout and a transformational Spotify playlist and sharing that space with other women who were excited about the same things as me was really inspiring. Plus, science tells us that Pilates has genuine benefits for mind-body awareness, something that can benefit all leaders.
Agency and Gratitude
One of my key takeaways from this event is from a conversation with a peer. Our conversation revolved around what people really want in their workplace roles, and the answer was agency and gratitude. Upon reflection, I realized that, while I ensure that my team members have plenty of agency, I wasn't confident that I was providing the right space to express gratitude or encourage others to do the same.
Carrying this reflection back to the office, I'm now implementing a Slack channel solely for gratitude and kudos. I want team members to know when they've done well, but also for their peers to see those positive comments. When we all show our appreciation, maybe we can create a culture of gratitude that motivates excellence, encourages innovation, and inspires initiative.
Final Word
Whether you're a small business owner, a marketing executive, or a budding entrepreneur, it can really benefit you to find a nurturing, safe space away from the hustle. Remember the importance of not working, take time to reflect, and then apply those reflections in the workplace for the good of you and your team.
If you need more marketing support to help you get the free time you deserve, book a 15-minute introductory call with Arch Collective and leverage our expertise.
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