By Jeremy Dean, Founder of riders&elephants

At the heart of our first-ever Global Summit were six core emotions that guided every touchpoint and experience we designed: Inspired, Free, Generous, Surprised, Uncomfortable, and Brave. Over two and a half unforgettable days, 47 incredible Elephant Riders (our affectionate name for members of our community) from 8 countries came together in Queenstown, New Zealand, to connect, learn, and inspire one another. 

For most of us, it was our first meeting face-to-face after years of virtual connection. The diversity of experiences, perspectives, and energy across the Summit was nothing short of electric. We had those who’ve been using The ECD for over five years, like Tubi Oyston—whose daughter has literally grown up with The ECD—and those, like Rhonda Howarth, who joined our community just months before the Summit. It was a profound joy to witness this collision of ideas, experiences, and stories.

This was truly one...