International Generalists Day 🌎 - Ottawa, Canada 🇨🇦
Ever feel like your career makes perfect sense to you, but takes 10 minutes to explain to everyone else?
You might have found your people.
Join us for the annual International Generalist Day. 🥳
International Generalist Day started three years ago and has been growing strong ever since. This year, it's expected to bring generalists together in 140 cities around the world.
And I'm proud to say I've been hosting the Ottawa gathering since the very beginning.
What to Expect
Mostly, we're going to connect.
Every year, I think about whether I should create more structure for the evening.
And every year, I'm reminded that when you put a bunch of curious generalists in a room together, they really don't need much help.
They want to know what everyone else is doing.
They ask interesting questions.
They make unexpected connections.
And very quickly, the room takes on a life of its own.
So expect:
💬 Interesting conversations with people whose experiences and interests cross all kinds of boundaries
🌍 A room full of generalists at different stages of their careers and lives
🔀 Unexpected connections with people you might not otherwise meet
🧱 A little LEGO, if you feel like playing
Why LEGO?
I've recently become a certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator and have discovered how powerful it can be as a way to express ideas that aren't always easy to put into words.
And really, what could be harder to explain than a squiggly generalist career?
So this isn't a facilitated LEGO activity. There'll simply be a table, some LEGO and a few prompts to play with if the mood strikes:
👉 What does your squiggly career look like?
👉 What does being a generalist mean to you?
Build something. Explain it to someone. Or just see what comes up.
No LEGO engineering credentials required.
What is a Generalist?
Generalists bring together knowledge, skills and experiences from across different areas. They connect ideas, cross boundaries and often find themselves translating between different worlds.
If you've ever been told to pick a lane and wondered why you had to, you'll probably feel at home here.
Who Can Join?
EVERYONE 🌎
You don't need “generalist” in your title. You don't need to be a member of Generalist World. And you certainly don't need to have figured out exactly what kind of generalist you are.
If you're curious, have a career or interests that don't fit neatly into one box, or simply want to meet some interesting people — come.
About Your Ottawa Host
I'm Julie Lavergne — a generalist strategist, author, podcast host, former engineer and former HR executive, and now the Founder and CEO of 8Ball Clarity. In other words, my own career takes a little while to explain too.
I host The Generalist Advantage Podcast, did a TedX called Beyond Expertise: Why We need Generalists Now and am the author of Strategy Is Not a Plan: Navigating a World That Won't Hold Still.
I've proudly hosted Ottawa's International Generalist Day since it began three years ago.
I believe there's real value in creating places where people with broad interests and varied experiences can find each other. I'm proud to support and help grow this community here in Ottawa.
Food & Drinks
8Ball Clarity is proud to sponsor the Ottawa event and will provide some light snacks for the evening.
Drinks will be available for individual purchase.
About International Generalist Day
This meetup is run by Julie and organised by Generalist World - the community where generalists belong. You'll find everything you need to grow in your career - support, opportunity, lots of learning and great new connections.
Please note, you do not need to be a member of GW to join a meetup, everyone is welcome
International Generalist Day is organized by Generalist World — the community where generalists belong.
Questions?
Questions about International Generalist Day or Generalist World?
Contact the Generalist World team at admin@generalist.world.
Questions about the Ottawa event?
Reach out to Julie Lavergne, your local host.
Come for a drink. Play with some LEGO. Meet someone you wouldn't normally meet.
See you September 16.