Around the Campfire
At the beginning of September, thanks to the White & Case LLP Back to School event, I had the privilege of hearing Jitske Kramer live, whose work explores culture, leadership, change, and liminality, those uncomfortable times when the old way no longer works, but the new way has not yet emerged.
Many of her ideas resonated with me, but one stayed with me in particular: the importance of “campfire conversations.”
For thousands of years, people have gathered around fires to share stories, experiences, questions, and laughter, and also to disagree and make sense of the world together. The campfire was not simply a place to exchange information. It was a place to build relationships and create meaning through conversation.
Today, we are constantly connected, exchanging messages, information, and opinions. Yet how often do we really take the time to be interested in another person’s world, to listen without preparing our response, and to let the conversation take us somewhere unexpected?
Reflecting on my professional and personal relationships, I realized I’ve sometimes focused more on maintaining connections than nurturing relationships.
So, this fall, I want to create more opportunities for campfire conversations, over coffee, dinner, during a walk, or simply sitting together without an agenda.
I want to make more time to reconnect, ask meaningful questions, listen, share stories, and remain open to where the conversation might lead.
My question for this fall is simple: who would like to join me around the campfire?