Bridging Divides for Sustainable Future: My Journey at the 8th IAF India Annual Conference
The 8th IAF India Annual Conference, held on November 29-30, 2024, in Bengaluru, was an unforgettable experience that brought together facilitators, leaders, and change makers under the inspiring theme of Sustainable Futures: Leadership and Collaboration
With attendees from across India and countries like Malaysia, Dubai, Uganda, and Ethiopia, the event created a vibrant platform for learning, sharing, and connection. The conference buzzed with engaging discussions, thought-provoking sessions, and countless opportunities to connect.
I had the privilege of facilitating a session titled Think Global, Act Local: Building Purpose-Driven Businesses Using the 3B Model. Our session was scheduled on the day Day-2. A purpose-driven business operates with clarity, knowing why it exists beyond profit. Its purpose is coherent with all its 3 main pillars of business strategy, brand strategy and leadership behavior strategy.
This session explored the 3B framework—Business, Brand, and Behavior—as a roadmap for creating sustainable, purpose-driven organizations .
The discussions were rich, and participants were deeply engaged, contributing their own perspectives and exploring ways to implement this model in their contexts.
The dialogue was lively, and seeing participants envision how they could implement these ideas was incredibly fulfilling.
1. Business pillar focuses on purpose, ensuring organizations are clear on why they exist beyond profit, aligning global aspirations with local impact. It aligns its goals with global imperatives like sustainability while addressing local needs, ensuring relevance and meaningful impact in the communities it serves.
2. Brand emphasizes authenticity and trust, communicating values that resonate with stakeholders. Brand represents the external identity. It’s how a business communicates its values and purpose to the world. A strong, purpose-driven brand creates trust and inspires action. It must be authentic, consistent, and reflective of the organization’s commitment to sustainability and collaboration.
3. Behavior brings it all to life, ensuring that actions align with purpose and foster accountability, collaboration, and trust.
While facilitating this session was a highlight, the conference offered much more. With 4 parallel tracks and 5 sessions running in each track, I was excited to attend three other sessions that added immense value to my learning.
The first session I attended on Day 1, was on Factors for High-Performance Teams, which delved into the key elements that make teams thrive. A recurring theme was the critical importance of psychological safety—the ability for team members to feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment or retaliation.
This same theme emerged in the last session I attended on Day 2, Culture Transformation Tools, which emphasized how inclusive cultures can only flourish when organizations prioritize psychological safety as a foundation for transformation and growth.
The second session I attended on Day 1, Three Steps to Sustainability: Sown, Groan, and Hone, was particularly intriguing. The facilitator introduced a practical framework for achieving sustainability by:
1. Sowing seeds of change by introducing new ideas or practices.
2. Navigating the Groan Zone, the difficult middle phase where conflicts, resistance, and tough conversations arise.
3. Honing strategies to refine, embed, and sustain the change over time.
What stood out most for me in this session was the emphasis on the Groan Zone—a phase where facilitators play a crucial role in handling conflicts and tough conversations. The ability to navigate these moments with sensitivity and skill is essential for enabling group decision-making and ensuring long-term success.
Beyond the sessions, what made the conference truly special was the people. . It was heartwarming to meet old friends and colleagues and just as exciting to forge new relationships with passionate facilitators and leaders.
I reconnected with old friends, met inspiring new ones, and engaged in conversations that ranged from the professional to the deeply personal. The diversity of attendees—from different industries, cultures, and countries—added incredible depth to the experience. One of the most memorable moments was a casual discussion with facilitator from Uganda about our shared challenges in fostering psychological safety within teams.
Despite coming from vastly different contexts, we found that our goals and struggles were strikingly similar, reaffirming the universal power of facilitation to bridge divides and inspire collaboration. From interactive plenary sessions and open-space discussions to lighthearted moments at the photo booth, every aspect of the event was infused with warmth, care, and a shared sense of purpose.
As the conference drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on the profound impact of these two days. I returned home not only with new ideas and insights but also with a heart full of gratitude and inspiration. The experience reaffirmed my belief that facilitation is more than a profession—it’s a calling to bridge divides, inspire action, and empower people to make a difference.
The 8th IAF India Annual Conference was not just a professional gathering but a heartfelt celebration of purpose and community. It reinforced my belief in the power of facilitation to drive meaningful change.
Whether it’s through fostering psychological safety, navigating the groan zone, or building purpose-driven businesses using the 3B Model, I am more committed than ever to contributing to a brighter, more sustainable world—bridging divides.
