Looking to meet new professional contacts but want to skip the small talk? Interested in getting help in facing work challenges head on? Ready to learn the best way to have positive and supportive professional relationships to become a better leader?

Welcome to the power of peer coaching.

Peer coaching is awesome! It's a mutually supportive, powerful form of learning and development where peers work together to reflect, share ideas, teach one another, or solve problems in the workplace through deep inquiry, accountability, direct feedback, and encouragement.

Peer coaching also helps build emotional intelligence, which is indispensable when stepping into leadership positions. The best leaders take the time to learn and practice skills like active listening, empathy, open communication and effective feedback, which can all be learned through practicing successful peer coaching relationships.

Join StartOut for a 1-hour peer coaching event where attendees will:

Learn basic peer coaching strategies like active listening, asking open questions and giving/getting effective feedback Get matched with 3 new people and meet 1:1 together for 15 minute breakout sessions Get to know each other by sharing your story with conversation prompts, practice your new peer coaching strategies, and create meaningful connections Have the opportunity to stay in touch and continue supporting your new contacts throughout the year

About the host:

Hi! I'm Tracy (they/she), a StartOut programming board member. I design strategic programs for client companies who focus on community. In the past I've built experiences for Airbnb, Girl Scouts, Ketel One, the Alliance for Downtown New York, the Brooklyn Museum and more.

I'm also an independent creator, building events and programs like Lady Boss (curated talks and speed mentoring for womxn and non-binary people), Radical Sabbatical (a creative retreat to take a break and make some progress) and Queer Future (a community for LGBTQIA+ folx to talk about work).

I've also participated in many group coaching, peer-led or cohort-based learning experiences over the years, so I know a lot about collaboration, active listening, asking honest questions, and giving/receiving feedback.

StartOut, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest national organization to support LGBTQ entrepreneurs with 17,000 members nationwide. Its mission is to increase the number, diversity, and impact of LGBTQ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community. StartOut helps aspiring LGBTQ entrepreneurs start new companies; supports current entrepreneurs as they grow and expand their existing businesses; and engages successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors, on its online portal and through targeted events nationwide.

How often do you take the time to invest in yourself, especially if you're consistently labeled as "underrepresented"?

StartOut welcomes BIPOC, LGBTQ+ founders and allies to connect in a space designed to uplift diverse identities.

This networking and professional development event is to represent the underrepresented entrepreneurs out there; particularly those that are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, people of color and our allies/supporters. Breakout rooms with discussion moderators will lead safe-space conversations for how to keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive, challenges people of color experience while fundraising, leading/building an authentically diverse team, and how to activate your allyship to diverse founders.