The power of intentional conversations should not be underestimated. Being intentional doesn’t mean everything has to be planned down to the last detail. It can simply mean committing to being fully present and open for an allotted amount of time. A series of unconnected yet intertwined conversations–including a Valentine’s Day coffee with a stranger–led to my participation in this WB-40 podcast episode about Community with Matt Ballantine and Lisa Riemers.
My invitation into this tapestry of conversations began with a LinkedIn post by my friend, Antoinette Daniel (founder of Just Helpers Cleaning Agency). In February, she posted about a great #100Coffees networking day she’d had. In February, she posted about a great #100Coffees networking day she’d had. An idea she was encouraged to try by Catherine Stagg-Macey, who got the idea from Matt, the architect behind the #100Coffees Project and one of the founders of the WB-40 Podcast.
Antoinette and I first met in 2010 when I was on a short course, before my move overseas. We connected over shared culture, places we grew up and more. When I left for Asia later that year, she gave me a thoughtful gift that I took with me and I still have today.
As can easily happen, we fell out of touch. Connecting on LinkedIn was the catalyst for us to reconnect in person. Last October, we met up for a drink and a catch-up when she was in London for business. It was a blessing to have that time, and other blessings have come from it since.
Do you know the power of your own story?
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about WB-40 since setting it up with Chris Weston back in 2016 has been the opportunity to bring stories and voices to the tech community that they otherwise simply wouldn’t hear.
The conversation with Janice is one of those. Someone who I doubt would be seen relevant to the work of most CIOs and CTOs, and yet has hugely important stories for them from which they can learn.
Matt Ballantine
Hearing some responses to the podcast has been heartwarming and encouraging. In terms of my circle, the people who listened were from almost every sphere and chapter of my life to date. Some were hearing about parts of my story for the first time and commented that they hadn’t known the breadth of things I had done or been involved in.
As the person sharing parts of my story, it was a timely reminder and a reaffirmation of some of what I have done with my life. Having been (before my new job) rejected by Marks & Spencer’s recruitment algorithms for a customer assistant interview (true story), this was more needed than I realised.
It also prompted a 5 am conversation with one of my adik in Indonesia, Nona (Marice Mauboy)- it had been quite a while since we’d caught up. We talked about how it reminded us of the work we were involved in and how far we, and more specifically she, had come.
Whose story are you a part of?
In 2013, Nona introduced herself to me after hearing me speak about some of the community work I and some colleagues were involved in. She said it was exactly the type of thing she wanted to do in Kupang (an island in East Nusa Tenggara and her homeland), and she wanted to become a volunteer. She didn’t mind what the role was; she just wanted to learn as much as she could and take it back with her.
Shortly after this, the Indonesian NGO I was seconded to, Yayasan Pendar Pagi (YPP), were looking for an intern. I contacted Nona, and we met for coffee, during which she shared more of her story and vision with me. At the time, Nona was in Jakarta studying to be an early years educator and planned to return home to Kupang and put what she’d learnt to use. I was impressed with her clarity and focus and moved by her passion.
There are many stories of those who went to the ‘big city’ to study, to return home with that knowledge, but then chose to stay. I had no doubt, however, that Nona would do what she said, and she did.
In April 2020, Nona contributed to my Five Questions. This is how she introduced herself:
My name is Marice Mauboy, I come from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (aka Lesser Sunda Islands). I am the founder and Senior Advisor of Yayasan Nurani Kasih Maryuma in Kupang, which focuses on education, currently with projects in two villages, Rote and Kupang.
Some years later, this is how she would introduce herself.
I am the founder of Yayasan Nurani Kasih Maryuma in Kupang, which provides free access to Early Years education (e.g. kindergarten) for village children. Currently, I have opened 4 kindergartens, and in the future, I hope to build junior and senior high schools on Rote Island. I also have a dream to open a library for the wider community in Kupang and to continue my vision of opening kindergartens in other villages and remote areas that do not yet have access to education.
Closing Thoughts
A community is something in which the members of it vest something of their own identity
A definition of community – shared by Matt Ballantine
- Where or with whom are you vesting something of your identity?
- Where and with whom are you building community?