Business Model Generation

**Workshop: Life Turns: Find Your Center with Purpose and Self-Esteem** By Claudia Arena Brussels, 14 January 2026 Register here: https://www.imaginationclub.org/brussels/life_turns.php Life Turns. It happens. And what seemed "normal" now shakes. You change country, career, spouse, you have children, children leave home, somebody dies, someone new comes into your life, and so on. Whatever might happen, we know that in the middle of the hurricane, the centre is stable. What is your centre? What is that reassuring Northern Star that will bring you home, wherever you are? Using practical exercises based on polyvagal theory and art-therapy, we will explore how to recognise when you are aligned with your center and how to go back to it. During this workshop you can expect to: \* Learn/refresh some basic concepts of polyvagal theory. \* Have fun with colours, clay and art materials. \* Identify your Northern Star. \* Experience the feeling of being at peace in whatever situation you are. When Purpose is bigger than pain, your talent and values will allow you to proceed in your life with joy and meaning. About Claudia Arena Founder and owner of EPSILOC, Claudia facilitates art therapy and self-development through group workshops, team-building activities, and individual sessions. She uses various techniques, including autobiographical writing and clay and art materials. Her strength lies in the integration of rational and emotional approaches whhich are rooted in her Life experiences. These include a PhD in Physics; a Coaching and facilitation license; Arts of Fire – Ceramics; a C1 qualification; a Focusing facilitator's license; and an Art Therapy Practitioner certificate. She wrote her autobiography in 2019, as well as a Self-Esteem guide for school teachers. The title of her last book is “Life Turns. Find your center with the Earth”, where she guides the reader to use clay as a powerful tool for self-discovery and development. **Practical Information** When Wednesday, 14 January 2026 from 18h45-21h00 **Where?** Timesmore Boulevard St Michel 47, 1040 Brussels **How much?** €15 to cover expenses including materials, drinks, snacks, etc. - payable at the door. **Event web page** https://www.imaginationclub.org/brussels/life_turns.php **Please Share** If you feel your friends, family and/or colleagues may be interested in this workshop, please share it with them. The Imagination Club relies on new participants to cover our operational costs and maintain a diverse, perceptive and intelligent audience (in other words, people like you) for our events. **Might you be interested to give a workshop at the Imagination Club?** Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned professional, you are welcome to try out your workshop ideas at the club. We have dates available for this spring and summer

*Originally scheduled for November 25, 2025 — postponed due to national strike* **REGISTRATION IS COMPULSARY [HERE](https://www.science-by-trianon.com/event-details/security-through-environmental-social-and-economic-sustainability)** **Stop pretending sustainability and security are separate conversations. They never were.** Here's the uncomfortable truth most security establishments refuse to acknowledge: Environmental degradation, social inequality, and economic instability aren't peripheral "soft issues", they're direct threat multipliers that undermine both national and international stability. While defense ministries obsess over conventional threats, the real security challenges are already here: climate-induced state failure, resource wars masquerading as territorial disputes, and social fragmentation that external powers exploit like a geopolitical cheat code. This panel brings together people who actually work at these intersections, defense strategists, environmental policy experts, economists, and social governance specialists, to do what should have been done decades ago: integrate sustainability into security doctrine, not as a nice-to-have, but as strategic necessity. ### Why this actually matters (And why now) The scramble for critical minerals essential to the green transition, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, is creating new spheres of influence and dependencies. Control over sustainable technologies and resources is becoming as strategically significant as fossil fuel dominance was in the 20th century. Yet most security frameworks still treat this as "environmental policy." Meanwhile: Rising seas are redrawing maritime boundaries and creating stateless climate refugees at unprecedented scales. Climate impacts are forcing geopolitical realignments, from small island states forming new coalitions to food exporters gaining leverage, to climate-induced state failure creating power vacuums that major powers vie to fill. The question isn't whether sustainability matters for geopolitics. It's who will shape the rules of this new geopolitical order, and whether cooperation or competition will define the transition. (Spoiler: current trends suggest the latter, which is precisely why we need different thinking.) ### What we're actually discussing **Geopolitical competition & Resource control** How control over renewable energy supply chains, Arctic resources amid ice melt, and transboundary water basins is reshaping strategic competition. Because apparently we learned nothing from oil-driven conflicts and are determined to repeat the pattern with green tech. **The new energy geopolitics** The transition away from fossil fuels is fundamentally restructuring global power relationships. Petrostates face existential challenges while nations controlling green technology and manufacturing capacity gain strategic advantage. We're watching the greatest power shift since industrialization, and most security establishments are cosplaying like it's still 1985. **Climate change as a geopolitical disruptor** Maritime boundaries, climate refugees, and state failure. This isn't theoretical, it's happening now. **Environmental security as national security** The nexus between climate change, resource scarcity, and conflict, water stress, climate-induced migration, food security disruptions, and extreme weather impacts on critical infrastructure. The stuff that actually destabilizes regions while we debate missile counts. **Social cohesion & Stability** How inequality, lack of access to services, and social fragmentation create conditions for instability, extremism, and state fragility—with particular attention to how external powers exploit social divisions for geopolitical advantage. Because nothing says "national security threat" like a population with nothing to lose. **Economic resilience & Security** The relationship between economic sustainability, supply chain vulnerabilities, and strategic autonomy, examining how economic disparities and unsustainable development models generate security risks. Turns out you can't bomb your way out of economic dependency. **Breaking Institutional Silos** Practical approaches to integrate sustainability considerations into defense planning, foreign policy, and security frameworks—and conversely, to integrate security thinking into environmental and development policy. Revolutionary concept: maybe different government departments should talk to each other. ### Who's Speaking **Hélène de Rengervé** \- Business & Human Rights Advocate\, Forced Labour expert\, currently Senior EU Corporate Accountability Advocate at Human Rights Watch\. She led the advocacy that resulted in the EU's Forced Labour Regulation and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive\. **Serge Stroobants** \- Director Europe & MENA at the Institute for Economics and Peace\. Former Belgian military officer with 25 years operational experience\, now focuses on political science\, international relations\, security and defense\, global risk analysis\, and crisis management\. **Two additional speakers TBD** \- Because we're selective about who gets to challenge the status quo on this stage\. ### The Bottom Line Nations that fail to integrate sustainability into their security doctrine will find themselves strategically disadvantaged. Those that control clean energy technologies, critical minerals, and sustainable food systems are emerging as the new power brokers. This event aims to foster cross-sectoral dialogue, develop integrated policy frameworks, and build coalitions that can translate the sustainability-security nexus from concept to operational reality. Because good intentions and conference declarations have gotten us precisely nowhere. Time to stop treating security and sustainability as competing priorities and start recognizing that in 2025, they're the same damn thing. **REGISTRATION IS COMPULSARY [HERE](https://www.science-by-trianon.com/event-details/security-through-environmental-social-and-economic-sustainability)**

Dear Folks, Ready for real conversations and genuine connections? Join us for an intimate **BFF** **Speed Dating evening** designed for people who value **quality conversations over quick judgments**. **Program Overview** **19:00 Welcome & Warm-Up** **Group Ice-Breaking Session** Duration: **25–30 minutes** * Participants are divided into **small groups of 4–6 people** * Each round lasts **5 minutes** * **5 rounds** in total * Everyone briefly introduces themselves (name + a few fun prompts) *** **19:30 One-to-One Friend Speed Dating** **BFF Speed Conversations** Duration: **45–60 minutes** * Format: **1-to-1 conversations** * Each conversation lasts **3 minutes** * **15 rounds** * Participants rotate after each round *** **20:30 Connection Recall & Matching** **Friend Match Selection (5 minutes)** * Participants take a few minutes to reflect * Each person writes down: * Their **own name** * The **names or numbers** of people they would like to connect with as friends * Notes are collected by the host After the event, **The host will match people only when the interest is mutual** and introduce them afterward. *** **20:40 Free Networking & Hang-Out Time** **Open Social Time** * Casual conversations * Reconnecting with people you liked * Drinks, laughter, and free-flow interactions *** **22:00 Event Ends** P.S. Please come 10 minutes in advance, to order your drinks. Let's make the first move together! ❤️❤️❤️ Looking forward to seeing you guys! Yifei

For those unfamiliar with LeanCoffee: it's a moderated discussion format where we talk about the topics that get voted on by the participants. This makes for varying topics. Overall, Lean Coffee provides a flexible and democratic way for groups to engage in meaningful conversation. We try to start at 19:30 with an intro round and start gathering topics you want to talk about straight after. Coming late is ok, but just know that you typically won't have a say in what gets talked about. When you come for the first time, you’ll usually find the host, Nicky, there early, with a Lean Coffee sign on the table — and often in the company of two dogs.

**⚡️ Bitcoin accepted** via [Swiss Bitcoin Pay](https://swiss-bitcoin-pay.ch/) **⚡️** No presentations (usually). No altcoins or shitcoins. No photos. Telegram: [https://t.me/BrusselsBitcoinMeetupGroup](https://t.me/BrusselsBitcoinMeetupGroup) NOSTR: [https://tinyurl.com/BRUSSELS-BITCOIN](https://tinyurl.com/BRUSSELS-BITCOIN) Every 2nd Wednesday of the month.

🌟 Hello Yogis and Future Yogis! 🌟 NEW YEAR - New You ? :-) Maybe you've always wanted to try a Men-Only Yoga class but kept putting it off to January ? :) Well... January is here now - so no more reasons for you not to join our weekly Yoga Class **exclusively for men**. Gay, Bi, Trans, ally, curious, we don't really care... if you identify as male and have friendly vibes - come and join us ! Ladies, unfortunately you'll have to skip this one - but come and join us on Sunday mornings ! :) 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️ Class takes place every **Wednesday evening - from 18:30 to 19:45 :)** After class, we can hang around for a cup of tea and a chat, or go for a drink - depending on the energy. No need to worry if you've never tried Yoga before – everyone is welcome, beginners included! 🌈 Just bring yourself in some comfy clothes and let the magic happen :-). 🌿 **Class Details:** * Classes take place [Merci Wellness - Place Dillens 1, 1060 Saint-Gilles](https://www.merci-wellness.be/plan-acces.php). Very easy to get there, either by bike or metro (Hotel des Monnaies). * ⏰ 18:30 to 19:45 (doors will open at 18:15 - **class starts at 18:30 sharp** \- not possible to join after that **as the door will be closed**). 💸 **Cost:** * First class: 10 euros 🌟 * Single class: 15 euros 🧘‍♂️ * 5-class pass: 65 euros (valid for 3 months - a great deal for regular yogis! 🎉) You can pay your class on site either in CASH or through PAYCONIC. For more info - follow us on [Instagram.com/queeryogabrussels](http://www.instagram.com/queeryogabrussels) **Come and try it !** Spend a moment in a nice atmosphere and discover the benefits of Yoga, from increased flexibility, better posture, a stronger body to a calmer mind. See you on the mat! 🧘‍♀️✨ Edson P.S. We also have a "mixed gender" class on Sunday mornings from 11:00 to 12:15 - make sure to check it out on Meetup !

Ben je het beu om moeilijke systemen en meerdere apps te gebruiken om je bedrijf te runnen? Vereenvoudig het volledige process dankzij Odoo, de all-in-one geïntegreerde software! 💯 Neem deel in **Antwerpen** op **15 januari 2026** an een uniek evenement, dat een live demonstratie en een vraag- en antwoordsessie combineert en afgesloten wordt met een relaxte netwerksessie.📍 Registreer voor ons gratis event om een ticket te bemachtigen. 📋 https://www.odoo.com/r/NBp

Let's meet to write ! Schedule : 11:00 - 11:30 am : Presentation tour. Share briefly with the group about your project and your "goal of the day". 11:30 - 13:30 : Let's write ! 13:30 : Conclusion tour. Did you achieve your goal of the day ? See you soon !

Dear friends, Welcome to the first gathering of **Reflections on a Mirror: Philosophy, Poetry, Music & Spirit**. This circle was born from a simple wish: to create a space where we can pause, reflect, and listen — to ourselves, to one another and to the deeper questions that move through our lives. The mirror in our name is not something external; it is an inner gesture. It reminds us that every thought we encounter, every poem we hear, every piece of music we listen to, and every question we ask becomes a way of seeing ourselves and the world more clearly. In this space we are not here to prove, convince, or perform. We are here to explore. To sit with ideas, to let words and sounds resonate, to share what moves us, and to listen without hurry. Philosophy, poetry, music and spirituality are not separate paths — they are different languages through which the human spirit speaks. There is no requirement to know, only to be open. No need to agree, only to be present. Each of us arrives with a unique story, a unique perspective and a unique way of listening — and all of that belongs here. May this circle be a place of thoughtful dialogue, quiet depth, gentle curiosity and human warmth. May it be a space where insight grows naturally, where silence is as welcome as speech, and where we leave a little more connected than when we arrived. There is a free event, but please make sure that you place an order at the cafe so as we will be hosted well. Thank you for being here and for helping to bring this circle into being. Warmly, Apostolos

Spend time in the company of other writers putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. Work on your current project or start something new. If you are fresh out of inspiration a member of the Wordcraft Collective will be ready with a prompt to get you going. You can use that to unlock your creative brain before moving back to your own project or run with it. Who knows where the story will take you? Arrive when you like, leave when you like, or join us for a drink in the bar downstairs afterwards. Location: Pianofabriek, Rue du Fort 35, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome. 🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 50+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) **Instagram** [https://www.instagram.com/frc_brussels](https://www.instagram.com/frc_brussels) **Global FRC**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/) LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/) Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC) Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)

_IMPORTANT: To RSVP you will also need to register as a member [here.](https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership)_ Join Sunday Vacations for a cozy Saturday brunch at **Aksum Coffee House**, one of Brussels’ most beautiful cafés, where rich Ethiopian coffee, fresh Moroccan crêpes, and vibrant international vibes meet in perfect harmony. This is more than just brunch, it’s a relaxed way to start your weekend, meet new people, and enjoy a soulful spot full of stories and flavors. ### 📍 Where? **Aksum Coffee House – Galeries Sainte Hubert (Just a few steps from Grand Place) ### 🕚 When? **Saturday at 11:30 AM** Come hungry, curious, and ready to mingle! ### 🍽️ What’s on the menu? ☕ Fresh-roasted Ethiopian coffee 🥞 Moroccan-style crêpes & artisan pastries 🥚 Tasty brunch dishes (vegetarian options too) 🧾 Everyone pays their own order at the counter. ### 👋 Who’s joining? Expect a mix of international professionals, friendly locals, and Sunday Vacations regulars. Solo? New in town? Come anyway, this is the perfect place to connect. --- 🧡 **Limited spots** – RSVP early to secure your place at the table. By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

Making new friends in a new city doesn’t need to be a struggle at all.

First attempt at this. If it's good, we'll do it again. If it sucks, we tried. (Event photo is from a recent trip to Flagstaff. Stock photos of fake people drinking coffee are the worst.) **Why I'm doing this:** You're the average of the people you spend the most time with. Running a business solo means I've been spending most of my time with myself. And AI tools, which are great for thinking through business problems, but terrible for actual human connection. I want to raise that average. Looking for people who want real conversations. Not networking, not pitches, just the kind of talk that makes you think differently about what you're building and why. If we all end up making a few friends along the way, even better. **What to expect:** Coffee. Conversation. No pitches, no elevator speeches, no going around the table introducing ourselves like it's a corporate icebreaker. Just show up and talk like a normal human. **Ground rules:** * No pitching your business * No recruiting * No MLM talk * No hustle porn **RSVP cap:** 6 people max so it doesn't turn into a crowd. **Location:** Transcend Coffee & Roastery in Grove City **Time:** Friday, January 16th at 11 AM. See you there!

**PLEASE BUY TICKETS THROUGH EVENTBRITE. RSVP THROUGH MEETUP IS NOT A TICKET PURCHASE CONFIRMATION.** Strive welcomes you to 'General Business Networking', Columbus' hottest networking event! We are set in the perfect central location in Downtown for all to join. Are you interested in business? Want to elevate your career? Meet Consultants, Analysts of all types, Bankers, Software Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and more who are active in the space or are eager to get started. **\*\*This will be a multi-vertical event\*\*** **There will be professionals with backgrounds in the arts, finance, tech, real estate, healthcare, and more. Come with an open mind, and leave with connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise!** Pack some business cards and come with an open mind! Meet your future business partners, employers, coworkers, investors, and friends. You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your network and create a brighter future. We will have a space for our event to check-in. The event will go from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (feel free to come at any point in this timeframe). Name tags will be provided. Business casual dress code. Job fair attire. **Remember, it's not who you know, it's who you meet tomorrow!** We look forward to meeting you at the event! Sincerely, Strive Networking Team *Refund requests are permitted up to 24 hours after purchase, so long as we are not within 48 hours before the event start time. Refunds will be made in full and repaid to your method of payment. Note that we are unable to reimburse PayPal fees.* *Disclaimer: By attending Strive Networking events you agree to photos/videos taken during the event being used to promote future events.*

Join us for lunch and meet our very successful group. We are each others sales team...always looking for referrals for our members. If you are looking for new clients, let us help you out! Bring your business cards and brochures to share with us. We have a speaker each week so that we can learn about their business. Because we have only one member per business, we have many of the spots filled. However, we are specifically looking for an estate attorney, a handyman/electrician, and an event planner. We have referrals for you! All visitors are welcome. Any questions contact [pmarchio@farmersagent.com](mailto:pmarchio@farmersagent.com)

At Evolve Synergy Sessions, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.com) for more information.

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

As we step into a new year, many of us are carrying lessons, practices, and questions shaped by the year behind us. The Next Chapter: Looking Back, Leaning Forward is a warm, facilitated vision circle designed to help us pause together, reflect on what truly worked, and imagine what we want to carry forward into what comes next. This is not a talk or presentation. It’s a small, participatory gathering focused on shared reflection, sense-making, and connection. **Together, we’ll explore:** * What supported you over the past year — in your work, leadership, or life * What you’re ready to leave behind * What you want next January’s version of yourself to be saying To support reflection in different ways, we’ll also have optional art materials available for anyone who would like to create a simple artifact for their year — a visual or tactile reminder of what they’re carrying forward. We’ll provide basic art supplies such as colored pencils, markers, paint pens, and small canvases. If you enjoy working with collage or other media, you’re warmly invited to bring magazines, stickers, or your favorite creative materials to use or share. Participation in the creative portion is completely optional. You don’t need a plan, goals, or polished answers. Curiosity, honesty, and listening are more than enough. The intention is for everyone to leave feeling grounded, refreshed, and inspired — with a clearer sense of what matters to them and how we can support one another as a community. Space is intentionally limited to keep the experience intimate. ⸻ **What to Expect** * A small, welcoming circle (not a large meetup) * Structured conversation so everyone has space to speak * Reflection, listening, and lived experience — not advice-giving * Optional creative reflection using simple art materials * A calm, supportive environment ⸻ **Who This Is For** Women and underrepresented folks working in or around agile, product, technology, leadership, or organizational change — especially those looking for thoughtful conversation and community beyond frameworks and buzzwords. ⸻ **Good to Know** * No preparation required * Participation is invitational; listening is always welcome * Creative activities are optional — you can simply listen and reflect * You’re welcome to bring your own collage or craft materials if you’d like * Location details will be shared with registered attendees