Dr Vicky’s Byron Fellowship 2018 Report

The 2018 program took place in Asheville, North Carolina from 29 July through 3 August. The program only accepts 20 participants year, and brings together entrepreneurs from around the world who are both making a difference in their communities and are attuned to the challenges we share globally.

Last week I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Byron Fellowship. I expected to leave a better leader, with a greater understanding of transitional leadership skills and a host of other ‘business’ related skills. Instead I left a better person.

The week began with a little chit chat about the local black bears that lived around the campus and a ‘what to do if you happen to stumble across the mumma bear and her two cubs’ (RUN I thought!! The answer was no, make LOTS of noise – go figure!).

This was followed by a host of activities to get to know each other that were experiential and even musical – a great way to get to meet the other 19 fellows and our fabulous mentors.

The rest of the week was spent reflecting on our core values and aligning these with our business visions and our want for a better world.

It was so exciting to check in again with my business vision and revisit where it all began and why. It was refreshing to realign and know our core business – to empower parents to take music back into their homes – was still central to the business.

With all the changes we have made to our little business over the past two years, the week afforded me a special time to reflect on whether these all aligned to bring music into people’s lives; to improve family well-being, parent mental health and child development – (yes – they did!)

Our vision to be ‘developing every day’ through music sits at the core of everything we do – and always will.

So I survived the North Carolina bear infested woods and enjoyed many walks in the gentle rain (through the woods but with a careful eye for bear tracks!)

I even got to attend fantastic music concerts most night at the annual Swannanoa Gathering which just so happened to be hosted on the same campus as us! I even went to a contra dance and it was so much fun.

Now I am back in beautiful Brisbane, refreshed and inspired, and ready to welcome more families into our beautiful community so we can share the magic that is making music with more and more families.