Ascend 2026
As we stepped into January, worried and weary, for a world that feels heavier and more divided by the day, I contemplated a 2026 “Word of the Year” that I hoped might capture our collective sentiment and hope for the year ahead.
My choice of “Ascend” intentionally reflects a hope for the next phase of our Bird & Bear journey, while also capturing an even bolder hope I have for how our work will ignite and inspire even more impact, bravery, love, light and leadership in this wilderness.
We affirmed and secured our commitment to this mission with the first of our new leadership impact events, entitled “Ascend: Ignite & Inspire.” Our space was filled with those pursuing new heights for themselves personally, and collectively, through relationship, work, community, caretaking, parenting, consciousness, business, sport, advocacy, wellbeing and everyday braving.
During the event I hosted 4 fireside conversations with individuals who I have personally seen shining their bright light through their leadership, service and brave efforts to ignite impact, each in their own unique way.
Before I invited each up, I FIRST made sure that everyone in attendance knew that I could have invited each and every one of them to be featured in the discussion. If you were there I would have told you the same.
The Bird & Bear has become a growing community of those committed to the pursuit of courage, empathy, authenticity, lifting others and modeling the type of character and impact that we want to see more of, and be a part of in this world.
We are living in a time where leadership is being modeled by actions, behaviors and beliefs that can frighten us to a point of hopelessness. A choice to ascend through this fear is modeling bravery and courage in a way that we are confident ignites and inspires others do the same.
We are The Bird & Bear Collective, a brave & courageous community of light makers and leaders who are ascending above in the pursuit of all we hold most dear. We are so fired up to be on this journey with you.
We will host our next Ascend event on March 6th in recognition and alignment with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, We hope you can join us.
