What it was like to bring the Impactful Community together in person

Being in a room full of people who want each other to do well feels different.

That was the dominant feeling at the Impactful Community Birthday Summit. Warmth, generosity and an ease that comes from not having to perform. People showed up as they were, and spoke honestly about their work, their impact and the realities of running values led businesses.

For me, the day carried a sense of pride. Not in a polished or showy way, but in seeing something I have built with care being used and valued in the way it was intended.

Bringing the community together in person felt like a natural progression from our regular online meetings. It allowed our conversations to deepen and relationships to develop further than the bonds we'd already created on screen. It also brought a different energy into the room, the kind that comes from being physically present with people who share your values and intent.

At the same time, it mattered enormously to me that those who could not be in the room, because - after all, we are a global community - were not treated as a secondary audience.

From the outset, my intention was that the experience should feel as considered and high quality for those joining online as it did for those in the room. Not identical, but equal in care, attention and opportunity to participate.

That is harder than it sounds.

I designed the summit to be a genuinely hybrid event. But this is not something for the faint-hearted to attempt. I don't mind admitting - the sound did not always work when I needed it to. Managing contributions from people in the room alongside those joining virtually required constant adjustment and focus. It was not perfect, and I was open about that in the moment.

But, what mattered to me was that everyone could take part, contribute and feel included equally.

At the end of the day, two members who had been in the room came up to thank me for choosing to do it this way. Not because everything worked seamlessly, but because it was clear that I had prioritised inclusion. They told me that seeing me attempt something out of my comfort zone, even when it felt stretching, gave them the confidence to try things in their own businesses rather than waiting until conditions feel ideal.

The conversations throughout the day reflected the same values: they were thoughtful, grounded and generous. People talked about what was working, what felt hard and what kind of impact they actually want to create, without pressure to perform or compete.

Just before we moved into the drinks reception, another member stood up to thank me for what I have built. It was unexpected and I was totally taken by surprise, not because of the thanks itself, but because of what it represented. We've built a community tha people care about and want to spend time in.

The summit was not about making announcements or presenting finished ideas. It was about creating the conditions for good conversations and shared thinking.

And if you were not in the room, this is what I would want you to know. Spaces like this are not accidental. They are built deliberately, through care, inclusion and trust.

Once you experience that kind of room, it is hard not to want to find your way back into it.

Find out all about us here https://go.racheldunfordconsulting.co.uk/impactful-community-membership