The 20th Skoll World Forum is just around the corner. After three years of connecting online, we will return to Oxford for opportunities to learn, share, and cultivate new and existing connections. At the Skoll Foundation, we’ve been thinking about how to make the most of our time (back) together. Here are a few ways we’re approaching this year’s milestone Forum:
Be intentional.
What are your goals and intentions for this year’s Forum? Who are you looking to connect with? What are you hoping to learn? Set yourself up for success by reviewing Forum resources like our delegate directory, the SWF program with a schedule of sessions and meet ups, and the Marmalade Festival’s calendar of Ecosystem Events hosted by local organizations and members of the global Skoll network.
Build your schedule and reach out to a few delegates you’d like to meet. Being intentional upfront will help you build a week where you can be fully present with the people who join and engage and are the true power and spirit behind this gathering platform.
Lead with relationship.
We’ve been conditioned to show up at events and pitch or push ideas when we meet new people. And yet, we all simply want to connect. Challenge yourself to set aside conventional ways of networking to embrace human-centered connections.
Try introducing yourself first, not your job title or formal affiliations. Explore new networking questions: What drives you? Why do you focus where you do? What is difficult about your work and not typically named? Lead with relationships; transactions like partnerships, funding, and collaborations will naturally follow (many years of Forum data back this up).
Embrace serendipity.
The number one reason leaders invest in Skoll World Forum participation is connection. The 2023 Forum will bring together 1,400 (largest to date!) senior leaders across civil society, government, media, funding, and other institutions who work across a wide range of issue areas and geographies and share a collective commitment to fostering a more just and sustainable future.
Connect with other delegates ahead of the Forum using this directory and the Hopin mobile app, then embrace serendipity and leave room for the unexpected. You never know who you might meet strolling through Oxford, enjoying a cup of tea, or between sessions.
Move with care.
Many of us have not travelled or been with a large group for several years. Life amid a global pandemic has impacted our mental and physical health in many ways. You aren’t alone in feeling social anxiety, FOMO (though we prefer joy – or JOMO), and even overwhelm from the amazing options of programming, plenaries, dinners, Ecosystem Events, and more.
Take time to weave in wellbeing throughout the week, whether personally or with morning meditations, time outdoors, or an Evensong service listed on the program.
Stretch your curiosity.
The Forum can be a place to find answers to the questions you didn’t even know you had. What’s an area you are curious about that is beyond your everyday expertise? Who is doing work you’re excited or curious about? How do you relate to other contexts, geographies, or issues?
Powerful connections often come when least expected, and from loose ties and adjacent issue areas. Use your time during Forum week to explore new areas and engage with resonant questions and curiosities.
How are you thinking about approaching this year’s Forum? Share your thoughts and experiences using the hashtag #SkollWF before, during, and after the Forum. Follow @SkollFoundation on Twitter and Facebook, and tag us so we can re-share your posts.
