The Grand World

👨🏻🍳 “We both want the same meal, but we're cooking from different recipes..." The best leaders know they need to coach their teams to solve problems themselves – but how do you accomplish that in practice? At the From Day One May virtual conference on Employee Retention, Coaching and Advancement, our CEO & Co-Founder Anita Hossain Choudhry shared two tactical strategies. Watch below as she uses these tools in a live coaching demo, and try them with your own team!

We're thrilled to announce our growing partnership with 776 Foundation, supporting their incredible Climate Fellows program! At their recent Annual Summit in Austin, we had the privilege of facilitating coaching exercises for 40 brilliant young leaders dedicated to saving our planet. This experience reaffirmed our belief in the transformative power of community and coaching, especially in moments of uncertainty. As we embark on supporting the third cohort of climate fellows, we're excited to nurture their leadership skills and emotional resilience, providing them with the tools they need to turn audacious ideas into reality. Together with 776 Foundation, we're committed to empowering the next generation of climate innovators and fostering a brighter, more sustainable future for all 🌎💖.

🌟Join us for A Grand Time with Megan Hellerer🌟 We're thrilled to welcome Megan Hellerer for an inspiring conversation on her journey from traditional success to true fulfillment. After graduating top of her class at Stanford and spending 8 years as a Google executive, Megan realized that checking all the boxes wasn’t the answer to happiness. She took a bold step—quitting her "great-on-paper" job without a plan. Out of her quest for meaning, she wrote Directional Living, a transformative approach that’s helped hundreds of Underfulfilled Overachievers redefine success and live with intention, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whom she coached. Join us for a community conversation with Megan on 10/1. We’ll be purchasing her book for the first 25 attendees who RSVP. Drop us a comment if you'd like to join and we'll follow up with an invite! ✨

Becoming the grandest version of yourself ⭐ Shout out to The Grand World for showing ACFC players how impactful they can be on and off the pitch!

In a world that’s been rapidly changing since the pandemic—marked by global conflicts, the rise of AI, and political turmoil—the future feels more uncertain than ever. Yet, we’re filled with optimism. Moments of transition, like the one we’re living in, present us with a rare opportunity to drive real, lasting change by addressing the big, audacious challenges we face today. Last week's Equity Summit was a testament to this belief. Angel City Football Club brought together Olympians, business leaders, entertainers, and activists, all united by a shared commitment to advancing equity in sports, business, and beyond. As ACFC’s leadership partners, The Grand World was there to help cultivate openness, vulnerability, and a collective vision for the future. Our fearless leaders, Anita Hossain Choudhry and Rei Wang, led an ice-breaker exercise (the Life Story Reframe, which some of you know!), a Conversation Circle on using DISC to find authentic leadership styles, and a panel discussion on empowering the next generation of leaders. The fact that The Grand’s frameworks resonated with a global audience from 14 countries reinforced our belief that our work is more relevant now than ever. 🗺️🌐 We’re building a platform to grow and support the change-making leaders who will shape our future—our unwritten, uncertain future. Last week underscored the power of community in turning that uncertainty into magic. When we come together with intention and purpose, the future isn't so daunting at all; it’s ours. 🌟🥇 Thank you to the amazing ACFC founders Julie Uhrman, Kara Nortman, and Natalie Portman for your unwavering commitment to purpose. And a special shoutout to Alexis Ohanian Sr. for being a strong ally on this journey! To find out how The Grand can assist in your change-making mission, head to: https://lnkd.in/gAUbut_9

Last week at the Paris Olympics was incredible and an experience I’ll never forget! Rei Wang and I had the unique opportunity to partner with Angel City Football Club for their second annual Equity Summit. It was inspiring to be in the same room as Olympians, business leaders, entertainers, and activists all coming together for one purpose: to drive equity forward in sports, business, and beyond. The energy in the room was palpable as we shared our stories, engaged in dynamic panel discussions, and had intimate conversations exploring actionable ways to create a more equitable world. We had the honor of kicking off with an intention and connection exercise which set the tone for the summit and allowed everyone to share more openly and vulnerably. We also led a conversation circle on your authentic leadership style and a panel discussion on empowering the next generation of female leaders. A few highlights for me were: -When ACFC captain Ali Riley shared her powerful story and said she felt more comfortable going deep after our exercise. -When Kara Nortman and I did the Life Story Reframe exercise together and became more resolute in our purpose and who we are after sharing stories we don’t usually think to share. -When Bianca Gates learned so much about herself and her leadership style during our conversation circle she wanted to stay for round two. -When Rachael Neumann reminded us that all decisions are reversible (except for face tattoos and children 😊). -When Olympians Shawn Johnson and Missy Franklin shared how they wanted to build a better future for their girls. -When Malala Yousafzai and Khalida Popal (and women from the Afghan National football team) talked about how football is not just a game, but a feeling of freedom. -Finally, when I looked around and saw the sense of inspiration, kinship, and belonging that was created in this beautiful space. These moments of deep connection and courageous conversations reminded me of the power of community and the magic that happens when we come together with intention and purpose. It also reminded me of the impact of our work across roles, industries, and even geographies. Our mission at The Grand is to build a world where no one has to walk alone and everyone can rise to their full potential. This Summit was a testament to that and I could already see sparks of that future vision becoming a reality. Thank you to the amazing ACFC founders Julie Uhrman, Kara Nortman, and Natalie Portman for your commitment to change, purpose, and equity. And thank you to everyone who showed up the way you did. Let's keep creating spaces that foster self-discovery, connection, and growth, and ultimately build a more equitable world together. ✨

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Just returned from an incredible trip to the Paris Olympics, where Anita Hossain Choudhry and I had the honor of co-hosting Equity Summit with Angel City Football Club 🌟🥇 The energy was electric as we brought together visionaries from sports, entertainment, and business to tackle gender equity head-on. From intimate talking circles to dynamic panel discussions, we explored real solutions for equity and inclusivity in sports and beyond. One of the most powerful moments was leading our Life Story Reframe exercise. Watching participants open up, share vulnerabilities, and connect on a deeper level was truly transformative. It reminded me how crucial it is to create safe spaces for authenticity in leadership and life. The Conversation Circle on authentic leadership styles using DISC was equally impactful, sparking insights on how we can adapt our approaches to bring out the best in our teams. What truly amazed me was seeing The Grand World's exercises and frameworks resonate with a global audience representing 14 countries worldwide. It was a powerful reminder that our mission transcends borders and cultures. 🗺️🌐 Huge thanks to the amazing ACFC founders Kara Nortman, Julie Uhrman, and Natalie Portman for their unwavering commitment to change. Shoutout to ACFC captain Ali Riley for her leadership in modeling vulnerability. And special thanks to Alexis Ohanian Sr. for being a strong ally and supporting me and Anita on our Grand journey. This summit embodied everything we strive for at The Grand. Our mission is to build a world where everyone can rise to their full potential and no one feels alone. The vulnerability, connection, and growth I witnessed at the Equity Summit reinforced my belief that this future is within reach. By creating supportive spaces for honesty and self-discovery, we're not just talking about change – we're making it happen, one conversation at a time. Together, we guide each other to overcome challenges and embrace our grandest selves. As I reflect, I'm reminded of Brené Brown's words: "Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change," I felt their truth as I stood amidst changemakers at the summit from Malala Yousafzai to Khalida Popal. Change starts with us—in moments of connection, courage to be vulnerable, and commitment to uplift each other. Equity isn't just about policy changes – it's about creating a movement where every individual feels empowered to contribute their unique strengths. At The Grand, we nurture these connections and foster growth that leads to lasting change. Let's carry this Olympic spirit of unity forward, together, we can create a world where equity isn't just a goal, but a reality we live every day.✨

Women breaking barriers? You don't say! We love hearing from those pioneering their ways through the tech and VC worlds. Anita Hossain Choudhry did a great job leading this convo through the importance of finding supportive networks (you know we agree!) and re-framing challenges. So much more to say about our amazing #AngelCityEquitySummit experience... next week!

Swipe for our tips! This exercise set the tone for yesterday's sessions at #AngelCityEquitySummit.