Having raved about the Junto Retreat to my family and friends a few times, I'm well-practiced at this. I would explain it as a business retreat for people running small business that value profits and social good with equal weights."
— Gabrielle DeCrescenzo
Meditation or Yoga for business. A refueling of the entrepreneurial spirit.
— Graham Bailer
I've been to many conferences. So many of them are focused on imparting the maximum amount of distilled information on X in the time allotted. The Junto wasn't about information transfer - it was about making a safe place for business owners to talk to other business owners about their fears and struggles and successes. A true retreat. For good, not for profit.
— Kevin Lee
I've been to lots of conferences and a fair share of retreats. On one end are events that are simply about networking to generate new business. On the other are retreats that urge you to dig deep into your psyche to find your purpose, etc. The Junto was neither of these things (but also both).
The Junto was the perfect embodiment of the principles espoused by Benjamin Franklin himself; that civic minded individuals should meet periodically to discuss the business and social affairs that impact their community, and work together to improve things.
The event encouraged participants to see themselves not just as coders, or entrepreneurs, or marketing consultants, but as individuals that straddle many worlds, public and private. The Junto made it clear that it's very possible to run a business that's for good, and for profit, and the event brought together like-minded individuals who were keen to learn from each other.
The last two days were probably the most meaningful days to me, personally, that I've had in a very long time. For someone who is always a giver — to my clients, to my family, to my husband — it was nice to give back to me and spend time reflecting in a constructive and positive way. — Sadie Tettemer
I was told to say that it was a "Business retreat" :)
— Kyle Fiedler
I don't think I could say it better except to say that I walked away from last year's Junto Retreat feeling a deep sense of joy knowing that a group of mostly strangers walked in on Thursday and left as friends on Friday. It was a deeply moving experience to be around so many people willing to be vulnerable, to share, and to care deeply.
This year's Retreat will take place on September 25th and 26th at the Neighborhood House of Christ Church in Old City, Philadelphia. If you are struggling with finding the purpose in your work, consider joining us!