How Will You Shape Sidebar’s Culture?
More Than Words: Living Our Community Values
Hi, everyone!
I spent this past week at the Transform Conference, surrounded by People leaders who care deeply about building world-class teams and shaping workplaces where people can really thrive. As we shared stories and laughs over dinner, I got to thinking about culture—whether it’s the culture of a company or the culture of a community, like Sidebar.
Culture is not about what we say we value. It’s not about what we say we do. It’s about what we actually do. That’s true for the companies we work for, and it’s true for the communities we build.
We’ve talked a lot about our Core Values these past couple of months. While it’s important to remember those values, if we’re not consciously putting them into practice, then they’ll forever remain words on a page. We can preach what we’re about all day, but it’s meaningless if we aren’t also putting our money where our mouth is.
At Sidebar, our culture is shaped by the amazing ways we show up for ourselves and each other—through generosity, shared learning, a dedication to growth, and a commitment to lifting each other up. And the beautiful thing about culture is that it’s something we can all actively help create. If there’s something you want to see in this community, you can be the one to make it happen!
I had coffee last week with Sidebar Member Vik Agarwal who has done just this: a Product leader at Meta, he sets time aside on his calendar every week for open one-on-one conversations with anyone who wants to connect. He didn’t wait for someone to approach him; he simply stepped up, made himself available, and started showing up for others. That’s the kind of culture we’re building here: one where leaders don’t just talk about supporting each other, but actively make it happen.
So today, I encourage you to reflect on the culture you want to see here at Sidebar and ask yourself, “How can I contribute?” Not enough seats at your local Sidebar Supper Club event? Host one of your own! Do you know two people who could benefit from knowing each other? Introduce them! Arrange that meetup. Make that connection. Show that support, no matter what it looks like. Our actions shape the Sidebar experience—not just for ourselves, but for the entire community.
Sidebar is what we make it, so let’s make it something incredible!
Cheers,
Ha Nguyen
Chief Evangelist & Head of Community
The values that unite us. The actions that define us. This is what makes Sidebar extraordinary!
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