Most of us can remember a time when we were in front of a group of friends or strangers (or both) and prompted by a teacher or facilitator to engage in a “trust fall”. Sometimes these memories date back to our formative years as children, teens, or even as adults. At the core of MergeLane’s Leadership Camp rests a similar ideology to the trust fall: trust in yourself, trust in your team, and have the courage to dig into your intimate fears that may keep you from uncovering your own lifelong patterns and emotional underpinnings that impact your leadership style. Here, we explain why every Boulder woman should attend MergeLane’s Leadership Camp this summer:
What is MergeLane?
At its most basic, MergeLane is a venture capital firm and accelerator that strives to discover, mentor, and invest in exceptional women and the innovative, entrepreneurial companies these women help lead.
Since MergeLane’s inception in 2015, the company has discovered, funded, and accelerated the growth of 37 companies. These 37 companies all have at least one woman in a leadership position, a necessity to be considered for inclusion in MergeLane’s successful portfolio. To date, MergeLane has helped these companies raise $23.8 million, create 469 jobs, and 46 leadership roles for women.
MergeLane is seeing their efforts pay dividends already in their short 24-month tenure; they are proving that investing in startups that have at least one female leader on board is uniquely necessary for the success of companies’ often dominated by an all-male C-Suite.
What is Leadership Camp?
In addition to MergeLane’s Venture Fund, the company also holds an emotionally intensive and mentally stimulating three-day leadership camp for male and female leaders in startups, industry, and nonprofits to “accelerate participant’s growth as innovative leaders.”
Open to men as well as women, the Camp is a concerted effort “designed to accelerate participants’ growth as aware and empowered leaders and teams.” Some concepts stressed during the three-day experience include the idea of Conscious Leadership. To combat the feeling many leaders have in common, such as the need to suppress emotions they believe are not “allowed in the workplace”, especially if that leader is female and has to be acutely aware of how her emotions may be perceived by her coworkers and subordinates.
MergeLane advocates for its proprietary process they call “Conscious Leadership”. This process is a way to recognize that increasing access to and the understanding of emotional motivations and unconscious commitments are keys to unlocking a leader’s full potential. This is a core-concept for both the Leadership Camp, as well as MergeLane’s own internal strategy for success.
Why is this coed camp especially fitting for women?
MergeLane’s leadership team is comprised of Sue Heilbronner, Elizabeth Kraus, Hannah Davis, and Leah Pearlman. Through their shared experiences of being women in leadership positions, they offer unique perspectives and insights from their time as founders, investors, and mentors. Leadership Camp is co-facilitated by Leah Pearlman and Sue Heilbronner who will share their firsthand knowledge and help guide “an intense learning experience and self-reflection that can help you discover patterns…that affect your life personally and professionally”, one Leadership Camp Alumnae commented.
When and where is Camp?
Leadership camp is hosted at various venues in Boulder, such as yet to be announced happy hour locations, yoga studios, and MergeLane’s own headquarters. Camp kicks off Thursday, September 14 with an optional meet and greet for attendees, and officially runs for three full days from September 15 through September 17.
Boulder is known for its citizens’ entrepreneurial spirit, and this Camp encapsulates that disposition perfectly. Whether you’re a founder, part of a team of leaders, or transitioning to an entrepreneurial career, you will personally and professionally grow by leaps and bounds over this intense three-day Camp experience.
Learn more about what Leadership Camp can offer you here, and if you’re alumni, let us know your thoughts on the experience in the comments below.