February 8, 2019 – As I reflect on one of most inspirational, creative and fun weeks I have had in my career, I want to thank all of my colleagues at KYNE for joining me in Ireland this week for our 4th annual offsite meeting. Nearly every single team member from every corner of the company from Kampala to LA to New York to London came together at our wonderful location of Castle Durrow in Co. Laois this year to learn new skills, set our objectives for the coming year and above all to connect with one another. Our theme this year of #evolve2solve focused on unlocking our own personal creativity to better problem solve and inspire and create programming that creates lasting impact in health.

As part of this year’s program and as extension of our KYNE Gives program, we partnered with two Irish-based charities to workshop solutions for the real-life challenges that each organisaion is facing. I was so moved, and frankly embarrassed by my ignorance as an Irishman, when learning more about the plight and discrimination faced by the Irish Traveller community and in particular the shockingly high rate of suicide among its young people. We also heard from Sightsavers Ireland on their work to end preventable blindness in Africa and Asia and the challenges facing fundraising efforts for such important work. As we split into groups to put our new creative approaches to the test and deliver new ideas for each organisation, I saw nothing but free-thinking, compassion, and above all a resonance and an emotional connectivity to each group that brought about some wonderful ideas. Most importantly, the groups felt listened too, respected and included in our process, and our plan is to partner with them to help make these ideas a reality.

This week was also infused with mindfulness, meditation, healthy food, a few pints of Guinness and lots of Irish dancing and singing. The bond I feel with my colleagues from all over the world is so special — we are cut from the same cloth as people and are connected by our joint passion and motivation to do the work we do. I am so full, so grateful and so humbled by this experience. Thank you to all of my wonderful colleagues. Ireland misses you already.