Keynote Speaking

Cultivating the Art of Community in an Isolated Age

In an age filled with fewer personal connections and less time spent together, loneliness has grown into an epidemic that we are all painfully recognize, yet few know how to act powerfully for something different. 

Charles Vogl brings much needed relevance to the topic of creating a culture of connection and belonging. So much so that his first book, The Art of Community, became the cornerstone for how Google builds connections across the globe. His unique work reflects a calling to help leadership address the pain in this pivotal time, the most lonely era in organizational history. Leaders and their respective brands looking to tap into their true communities need to know that it is a journey and Charles can serve as their wise and time tested guide. Drawing on three thousand years of spiritual traditions, he teaches audiences the knowledge and principles to build deep community and resilient relationships that serve to foster innovation and integrity within organizations and around the world.

Charles is committed to guiding leaders as they navigate this new and rapidly changing world. He is passionate about sharing wisdom that speaks to creating a culture of connection and belonging, storytelling for leadership, and inspiring authentic connection quickly. For those facing the challenges of remote work and virtual communities, he offers time tested practices for cultivating community online and building digital connections. 

A bestselling and award winning author of three books, Charles holds an M.Div. from Yale, where he studied spiritual traditions, ethics, and business as a Jesse Ball duPont Foundation scholar. He is dedicated to helping cultivate human connection and belonging when we need it most.

“This was an excellent interactive experience where I had the opportunity to connect with my peers and gain the foundation for developing valuable new skills I had not previously considered.”

— Dayna Wagner, Employer Reputation and ID&E Workforce Insights Specialist, Dow

 

“Charles shared principles that are life changing in helping people connect with others to enrich their lives in a time when many people are isolated and lonely. I want to integrate some of these ideas in our chapel community so that people have a 3AM friend.”

— Martha Strong, Director Of Religious Education at Ministry to the Armed Forces

 

“Get ready to be open, vulnerable, honest and embracing! During this session, you will be able to connect and share in a space that feels very safe and refreshing to just be yourself. Even if you're an introvert you will feel at ease to be open in the small groups and you may be amazed at how close we can become to one another just through shared experiences.”

Alethia Bert, E.W. Scripps

 

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The details

Building Resilient Communities

Drawing from the realm of time tested spiritual traditions, I share wisdom and principles about creating a culture of connection & belonging, storytelling for leaders, and inspiring authentic connection quickly.  

The keynote takes 60-90 minutes in which participants experience the principles knitting them together into a stronger connection. I customize events for the participants to explore with one another how community distinctions and principles play a role in their own lives and how they can create stronger belonging for themselves and their community. In my experience, when these workshops take place in person, participants are better able to experience the powerful connection that grows among themselves and are often deeply moved. For those navigating the challenges of remote work and virtual communities, I also offer principles and practices for cultivating community online and building digital connections.

Topics build upon each other, and if your program allows added time, I can include more topics for the audience to understand deeper nuances in each distinction. See the signature topics below.

 

Keynote Topic 1

Recognize Community

Distinguishing Community with Intention
Participants will learn to:

  • Distinguish community from group, list, crowd, and team

  • Recognize that a team can grow mutual concern beyond tasks

Boundary
Participants will learn to: 

  • Recognize shared Values & Purpose within a community

  • Recognize who’s on the inside and invest


Keynote Topic 2

Start Community Powerfully

Invitation
Participants will develop an understanding that:

  • Members want to see someone cares

  • Invitations work even when rejected

Connecting to Mission & Purpose
Participants will practice: 

  • Articulating the big purpose and shift the emotional relationship to a team and project.

  • Inviting members to express enthusiasm for the bigger purpose


Keynote Topic 3

Embolden Participants Inside

Intimate Experiences (Campfires)
Participants will:

  • Recognize the importance of intimate experience to create trust

  • Learn how to create intimate experiences

Acknowledgement & Recognition
Participants will: 

  • Ensure members feel seen and recognized.

  • Recognize when acknowledgment is missing


Keynote Topic 4

Make it Safe Enough

Vulnerability & Available Support
Participants will learn to:

  • Recognize the importance of sharing how we changed.

  • Recognize how to create a space for connection by sharing where we struggle

Avataring & Authentic Understanding
Participants will: 

  • Learn to distinguish authentically recognizing someone apart from superficial presentation.

  • Contextualize every conversation and expectation


Keynote Topic 5

Make Resilient Friendships

3 AM friends
Participants will experience:

  • Recognizing who we want to call us when they need help

  • Recognizing who we can call

Rituals & Tokens
Participants will: 

  • Recognize where we can acknowledge someone has changed

  • Make together time special