Reflecting on our time together, what stands out most to me is the significance of a fully remote staff being able to gather in person for the first time in four years, alongside the board members meeting one another face-to-face for the first time. That alone feels like a meaningful milestone in the recent history of the organization.
Within that, I experienced three strong threads: clarity, connection, and healing.
On the clarity side, there was a real focus on aligning around direction and structure. Each department, and the organization as a whole, began clarifying its 10-year target, 3-year picture, and 1-year plan. From there, teams moved toward identifying quarterly priorities and creating the kinds of conversations and agreements needed to support accountability. What stood out to me was not just the content of these plans, but the shared effort to build clearer mechanisms for communication, coordination, and issue assessment moving forward.
The connection piece felt equally important. Being together in person allowed for a level of collaboration, nuance, and relational depth that is very different from a remote environment. People were also able to get to know each other more directly across roles and departments, which I think strengthened the relational fabric of the organization.
The third thread, from my perspective, was healing. It felt especially meaningful given the complexity of SEI’s history. There was space that was intentionally created for things to be acknowledged, felt, and metabolized in a way that supports moving forward. It also felt foundational and mutually supportive of the work. The balance between structured facilitation and moments of lightness and enjoyment helped create an environment where that kind of healing could naturally unfold.
Looking ahead, I see this experience contributing to a renewed sense of forward momentum. There was a clear feeling of people beginning to face in the same direction with a sense of collective responsibility for the organization.
For me, a key takeaway is the emergence of global stewardship across both staff and board. There is a commitment to strengthening connection and creating accountability.
David Young
SEI Co-Executive Director