​Anchored Conversations: Fireside with Aiko Self-Leadership for a Transformational Life

​Join Aiko for an evening of reflection, conversation and community.

​As the sun sets over Oak Bluffs, gather at the beautiful Black Ivy Cottage for an intimate fireside conversation with Aiko, hosted by CC Gleser.

​Inspired by her new book, Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work, this special evening invites you to slow down, exhale, and engage in an honest conversation about what it means to live a transformational life.

​Drawing from her experiences as a parent, recovering attorney, business owner, executive coach, and leadership consultant, Aiko will share personal stories, lessons learned, and the practices that have helped individuals, teams, and leaders navigate uncertainty with greater clarity, courage, and intention.

​About the Host:

​C’Ardiss “CC” Gardner Gleser is Chief Executive Officer of Magic Cabinet, a grantmaker and philanthropic partner that works alongside communities and funders to shift how resources move and how trust is built. The organization is grounded in a simple belief: communities know what they need, and philanthropy’s role is to invest in that knowledge and resource the work.

​A storyteller, strategist, and bridge builder, CC’s career reflects a deep commitment to racial justice, healing, and joy. She began in tech, moved into nonprofit work with Technology Access Foundation, and later entered philanthropy to expand her impact at a systems level.

​She previously served as the first Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Satterberg Foundation before founding Black Ivy Collective, a philanthropic consulting practice and healing space for Black artists, scholars, and social justice advocates. At Magic Cabinet, she leads with a community-centered approach that prioritizes long-term relationships over transactional grantmaking.

​CC holds a degree in African American Studies from Yale University and a Master of Education from Seattle University. She is a graduate of the Association of Black Foundation Executives Connecting Leaders Fellowship and has completed fellowships with the Compton Foundation and the National Center for Family Philanthropy, where her work has focused on relational reparations as a pathway toward systemic change.

​What to Expect:

​Together, Aiko and CC will explore questions that matter:

• ​What does it mean to become anchored in a world that never stops changing?

• ​How do we recognize the bullsht that keeps us disconnected from ourselves and one another?

• ​How do our values shape the lives we build and the relationships we cultivate?

• ​What does accountability look like when it becomes an act of self-leadership rather than self-judgment?

​Throughout the evening, guests will be invited into the conversation through thoughtful reflection, questions, and shared dialogue. Whether you're seeking clarity in your personal life, navigating a professional transition, leading others, raising a family, building a business, or simply longing to reconnect with what matters most, you'll leave with fresh perspective and practical insights for living more intentionally.

​Enjoy a curated selection of hors d'oeuvres, wine, and desserts as you connect with fellow guests in an atmosphere designed for meaningful conversation and authentic community. This is more than a fireside conversation. It is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect with a community of people committed to living anchored, aligned, and accountable lives.

​Bring your copy of Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsht and Transforming Our Lives and Work, and Aiko will be delighted to personally sign it following the conversation.

​We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of meaningful conversation, authentic connection, and community.

​Guests have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Aiko's book for $50.