Innovation

**About the talk** Conversational assistants aren’t “just another feature”. They are full experiences shaped by countless design decisions that must hold up in real life: messy inputs, high expectations, edge cases, and the constant tension between speed, quality, and cost. In this talk, Gea and Alberto share what they’ve learned while designing AI-enabled assistants in different contexts (from support to retail-like journeys). Instead of focusing on hype or theory, they’ll unpack the practical choices that make the difference: how to keep conversations actionable, how to design a consistent “voice” without overdoing personality, how to define (or intentionally limit) the assistant’s identity, and how the interface and the underlying logic need to evolve together. They’ll also touch the less glamorous, but most decisive parts of the work: when AI is the right tool (and when it isn’t), why data is the elephant in the room, what “testing” means in conversational design, and how to guide users so the assistant is easy to understand and hard to misuse without overwhelming them. Expect a set of clear takeaways you can reuse with your own team, whether you’re starting from scratch or improving something already in production, shared through real design trade-offs, not spoilers. **About the speakers** [Gea Sasso](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gea-sasso/) is a Senior Service Designer at Sketchin focused on service experiences where journeys, touchpoints, and contexts come together. Her work explores how services can be shaped across channels, including the interplay between digital and physical environments. [Alberto Andreetto](https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertoandreetto/) is a Lead Interaction Designer at Sketchin specialized in interaction design and complex digital systems. He works on defining how products behave, respond, and communicate, especially when interfaces become conversational and adaptive. [Sketchin](https://www.sketchin.com/) is an advanced strategic-design studio that helps forward‑thinking organizations explore technology and face their next sustainable change. They combine business opportunities with customer expectations to design and deliver end‑to‑end experiences, often leveraging deep tech and AI to reshape products, services, and customer engagement. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **💬 The Talk is in English** **📍 \*Note\* The event is happening in a new room \*note\* The event will be held at ETH Zürich Maschinenbau ML, Room F34** *We kindly ask you to arrive 10 minutes early of the event start, so everyone can find a seat due to high attendance. Thank you!*

## Details Join us for the next edition of Distinct Innovators' networking event in Zurich, designed for innovators, entrepreneurs, and professionals to connect with purpose. ✨ Why join us? 🤝 Connect with peers of innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals 💬Engage in thought-provoking, meaningful conversations 💡 Gain fresh insights through meaningful conversations 🌐 Expand your network in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere 🚀 Be part of a curated community where innovation meets collaboration 🎟 Free to attend - limited spaces are available 📌 RSVP to secure your spot. Let’s connect with purpose - meaningful connections create lasting impact. https://luma.com/ocr7t0gp

**Pizza, Pasta & UX: Join us for the Post-Meetup Dinner!** 🍕 Want to keep the conversation going after the UX meetup? Join us for dinner right after! We have reserved a table at our favorite local Italian restaurant. They have welcomed us many times with delicious food and a cozy atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to unwind and discuss the evening's topics over some tasty pizza or pasta. **Important:** Please register here to save your seat. This reservation is exclusive to attendees of the main meetup of the same day. See you there! The LTT Team

We're planning the next Hackergarten Zurich 🥳 We're looking forward to see some familiar faces and share knowledge within the open-source community. Spread the word — everyone is welcome! Bring your project, a bug, a feature, a question... or just your time and enthusiasm 💜 As always there will be free drinks, beer and pizza, sponsored by Quatico. As usual we briefly present the open-source projects we'd like to work on, break up into groups and try to make an actual contribution. We offer free pizza, beverages and depending on weather conditions a great view on Zurich West from the rooftop terrace. Many thanks to Quatico (https://www.quatico.com) for hosting the event!

**Join the House Beginner Class at The Vibe!** Whether you’ve never danced before or just want to move your body and have a good time, discover the soulful, rhythmic style of House Dance! This beginner class teaches foundational footwork, grooves, and freestyle moves to classic house music. No experience needed—just your energy and good vibe! Your teacher Mike [(@mrbredydff](https://www.instagram.com/mrbredydff?igsh=M3ozeWRvNW5zN2pu)) will guide you through all the steps, help you feel the rhythm in your body, and hype you up from start to finish! *Don’t be fooled by the number of people on the event page — our weekly crew ranges from 10 to 20 amazing humans: first-timers, regulars, and a few silent fans who never mark “going” but always show up 😉* **Booking is mandatory!** To secure your spot, please book in advance via our website: [BOOK HERE](https://thevibedance.simplybook.it/v2/#book) *Rates?* 💃 **Single Class:** CHF 28 or check out our **Starter Pack deal with 2-class** for CHF 35 *When?* **THURSDAY** 18:30 – 19:30 \| Beginner House ### *Where?* **The Vibe Dance Studio** Hohlstrasse 488 8048 Zürich (Just 3 minutes from Altstetten Train Station and 15 min from HB) **More info:** 🌐 [thevibedance.ch](https://thevibedance.ch/) 📸 Instagram: [@mrbredydff](https://www.instagram.com/mrbredydff?igsh=M3ozeWRvNW5zN2pu) [@thevibedance.ch](https://www.instagram.com/thevibedance.ch) Got questions? DM us on Instagram or text or call: 📞 +41 78 329 71 77 **See you on the dance floor – let’s dance together!** 💥🫶💃

A single broken type can ripple through your entire stack, turning a seamless deployment into a debugging nightmare. But when your types are watertight, the magic happens: code that documents itself, databases that talk to forms, and modularity without the risk. This February, we’re stripping away the guesswork and looking at the architecture that keeps modern web apps unbreakable. Whether you’re looking to harden your infrastructure or automate your validation logic, join us for an evening of deep-dive demos and technical insights that go way beyond the documentation. **Agenda** * 17:30 – **Doors open** * 18:30 - 18:50 – **Settling in & Intro** * 18:50 - 20:30 – **Talks and pizza** * 20:30 – **Networking** **Explore the detailed agenda and speaker info: [https://zurichjs.com/events/march-2026](https://zurichjs.com/events/march-2026)** **About the organizers** * **[Bogdan Ilie](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilie-bogdan/)** is a user advocate. He's dipped his toes into Web Development, Technical Writing, Marketing, Design, and more. That makes him uniquely predisposed to identify improvement opportunities anywhere in the chain, or come up with unique solutions to problems. Nowadays, he's building websites and webapps at novu ag, using his beloved framework, Vue. * **[Faris Aziz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/farisaziz12/)** is a front-end master and Staff Software Engineer at Smallpdf, after his Engineering management job at Navro, a fintech company in the UK. Faris is a mentor, conference speaker, and workshop instructor, most recently at CityJS and other major conferences. He has contributed to open-source projects like Raycast and has mentored on platforms like Mentor Cruise. His projects include work on GCN, Eurosport, Discovery+, Fiit (a top UK fitness app), and he was the founding engineer of Navro in London. He also serves as a technical mentor at the Bletchley Institute. * **[Nadja Hesselbjerg](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadja-r%C3%B8mer-hesselbjerg-47002a12b/)** is a Zurich-based frontend developer with a flair for crafting sleek, user-friendly web experiences. With a passion for innovative UX/UI design, she transforms complex ideas into intuitive digital solutions. Her multicultural background adds a unique perspective to her work. When she's not coding, Nadja is likely exploring the latest design trends or enjoying the vibrant Swiss tech scene. **Who are the awesome sponsors and partners?** * **[Vercel](https://vercel.com/?utm_source=zurichjs&utm_medium=sponsored_meetup&utm_campaign=zurichjs_partner_2026)** is THE platform for frontend developers, providing the speed and reliability needed to create at the moment of inspiration. We love Vercel because they’ve turned the "manual labor" of deployment into a simple `git push`. By handling the heavy lifting of global infrastructure and serverless scaling, Vercel allows us to focus on what we actually enjoy: building great user experiences. Whether you’re using Next.js, Nuxt, or SvelteKit, Vercel is the gold standard for shipping fast and staying in the flow. * **[GYFF](https://www.getyourfreefast.ch/?utm_source=zurichjs&utm_medium=sponsored_meetup&utm_campaign=zurichjs_partner_2026)** is a Swiss platform that facilitates connections between IT experts and businesses, where they vet both the companies and the freelancers, so the collaboration goes smoothly. **Get involved** * Have an interesting idea? * Something missing from all meetups in this space? * Do you have feedback? * Wanna buy us a coffee? * **Got a venue idea?** We love rotating locations to showcase Zurich’s tech ecosystem. Reach out, we’re always scouting fresh spots for our upcoming events. There are multiple ways to get in touch: * **[conf.zurichjs.com](https://conf.zurichjs.com)** \- get your conference ticket and find out more\! * **[zurichjs.com](http://www.zurichjs.com/)** \- the source of truth for all things zurichjs\, including all social links to follow us and interact with us online Our goal is to create a space where everyone can bring value and feel like they are getting something out of it. We are open to sponsorships and partnerships, and we would appreciate you **sharing the event** and message us about opportunities. We are also committed to fostering a respectful and psychologically safe space where anyone can share their ideas. If this is your first time speaking, or if you need help preparing for a talk, we are happy to offer guidance and support.

**Join the Beginner Latin Fusion Dance Class at The Vibe!** Whether you’ve never danced before or just want to move your body and have a good time, this class combines salsa, bachata, Cha-Cha-Cha, samba, and Latin Commercial into fun, easy-to-follow choreographies set to feel-good music. Expect a sweaty, joyful mix of dance and cardio, all in a warm, empowering atmosphere where you can let go, feel confident, and move at your own pace. Perfect for all ages and levels — no dance experience needed, just bring your energy and your smile! Solo (no partner needed) Your teacher Alessia ([@alessiasurova](https://www.instagram.com/alessiasurova?igsh=NzRua2g5NmpjdjJx)) will guide you through all the steps, help you feel the rhythm in your body, and hype you up from start to finish! *Don’t be fooled by the number of people on the event page — our weekly crew ranges from 10 to 20 amazing humans: first-timers, regulars, and a few silent fans who never mark “going” but always show up 😉* **Booking is mandatory!** To secure your spot, please book in advance via our website: [BOOK HERE](https://thevibedance.simplybook.it/v2/#book) *Rates?* 💃 **Single Class:** CHF 28 check out our **Starter Pack deal with 2-class** for CHF 35 *When?* **THURSDAY** 20:30 – 21:30 \| Beginner Latin Fusion *Where?* **The Vibe Dance Studio** Hohlstrasse 488 8048 Zürich (Just 3 minutes from Altstetten Train Station and 15 min from HB) **More info:** 🌐 [thevibedance.ch](https://thevibedance.ch/) 📸 Instagram: [@alessiasurova](https://www.instagram.com/alessiasurova?igsh=NzRua2g5NmpjdjJx) [@thevibedance.ch](https://www.instagram.com/thevibedance.ch/?hl=en) Got questions? DM us on[ Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thevibedance.ch/?hl=en) or text or call: 📞 +41 78 329 71 77 **See you on the dance floor – let’s dance together!** 💥🫶💃

**Open to PICZ members attending the GA only (plus their families).** Dinner following the GA at Restaurant Commihalle near Central tram stop. **Antipasti (starter) buffet;** country ham, tomato-mozzarella, shrimps, avocado-mango, *calamari fritti*, grilled vegetables **Secondo (main course):** Beef entrecôte finely sliced on rocket with parmesan and cherry tomatoes, fried potatoes *or* Hand folded cappelletti stuffed with ricotta and spinach, served with tomato cream sauce (v) **Dolci (dessert) buffet:** Panna cotta, tiramisù, chocolate mousse **CHF55 per person**. Payment required in advance. Drinks not included. Please email the secretary after registering which main course each person you sign up wants. You will then receive instructions to pay the club.

**[⚠️>>Ticket needed (click here)<<](https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/eating-drinking/digital-detox-cafe-7424235659689219973.html)** **Unplug & Create: Digital Detox Café at Paint it Easy** Take a break from screens and reconnect with yourself and others at our Digital Detox event in Zürich’s most inviting creative space, Paint it Easy. We’ll kick off the evening with a relaxed atmosphere, setting the tone for a mindful and inspiring night. Join our craft group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JPIASNUJGwD23UUweSe0s3](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JPIASNUJGwD23UUweSe0s3) Choose your path for the evening (workshops are first come, first served): **Connection, Play, Learn** **Workshop:** Reducing your screen time ✨ **Want to continue your digital detox after the event?** For those who feel inspired to go deeper, you’ll have the option to join a **30-Day Unplug Challenge** A gentle, playful program with small weekly offline challenges, reflection prompts, and an accountability buddy — designed to help you reduce screen time and build healthier habits, without going extreme. Details will be shared during the event **Deep Talk with Question Cards:** Dive into meaningful conversations and connect with fellow participants on a deeper level. **Boardgames:** Just for fun or to meet new people. **Creative Activities:** * **Drawing** (included) * **Canvas Painting** (CHF 10/hour + canvas, e.g., 30x40 cm: CHF 9) * **Pottery Painting** (CHF 20–45 per piece) * **Jewellery Making with Beads** (CHF 10/hour + materials, avg. CHF 20–30) * **Linocut Printmaking** (CHF 25–35 per piece) **Location:** Paint it Easy, Zürich **Early Bird Ticket:** CHF 15 (standard CHF 18) **Includes :** Welcome drink\*, drawing material, notebook, games, workshop **Doesn't include** : optional creative activity fees (depending on your choice) \*Warm drink, homemade iced tea, or lemonade Want more events like this? Join our community! [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hmm9DZP3wzaL8cXrtAAafw](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hmm9DZP3wzaL8cXrtAAafw) No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and an open mind! Whether you're painting, reflecting, or connecting, this is your space to recharge, express, and enjoy. Please note that pictures might be taken and used, if you don't want to be on them please let the host know. Tickets are not refundable. #digitaldetox

The **Slow Food Market Zurich** brings together 100 small producers from the region and a few guests from abroad who create amazing foods and drinks following the Slow Food philosophy. You can taste wonderful creations, talk to producers, and stock up on the foods you like most. From cheeses to spices, mushrooms to meats, ginger drinks to wines, the market offers a huge variety of delicacies! Join us for a free **guided** **tour of the market** during which we visit some of the most recommended producers, learn about innovative food creations and get some insights on regional food production. The tour lasts about an hour and you can freely roam the market afterwards. **Important note: the tour itself is free, but you need to buy a [ticket](https://www.ticketino.com/de/Event/Slow-Food-Markt-Zuerich/208233) to enter the market.**

**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 35+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) **Stay updated**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/) Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/) 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/)

Join a group of builders who are actively working on their own companies. This is a low-key meetup focused on real exchange, ideas, challenges, and insights, in an intimate setting. No pitches. No sales. No networking theatre. Note: This meetup is reserved for **full-time founders**.

Hundreds of local photographers are getting their best work featured in a gallery in the heart of Zurich, and YOU choose who should win one of 5 fabulous prizes! Come and enjoy an amazing exhibition. Full details can be found on our website here: https://swissphotoclub.com/en-ch/photo-contest/zurich/26-02 Entry is free and open to all.

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

Excited to share that AWS Cloud Club's first meeting will take place on Thursday, February 26th at 5pm - 6pm! We’re collaborating with [Big Data & Analytics Association](https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-data-analytics-association/) to host [Alok Jha](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alok-jha-42abb928/), Head of Product Management for AWS Intelligent Application Protection at Amazon Web Services, for a tech talk + Q&A on his journey in leading cutting-edge innovation in industry. If you’re interested in cloud, cybersecurity, AI, or product management, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Make sure to join our Meetup and GroupMe to stay up to date for future events and collabs!

Join us and work remotely together with like-minded UX folks. This is a last minute opportunity to get out at one of our favorites, [Junto](https://thejuntohotel.com/)! Plenty of seating is available in addition to a connected coffee shop and restaurant. I will be there 10-12 for sure, maybe longer. Feel free to come and go anytime during the day, and don't forget your charger and headphones!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Spec-Driven Development with GitHub Spec-Kit: From Intent to Implementation* Spec-driven development flips the traditional workflow on its head: instead of code being the source of truth, the specification becomes the backbone of design, collaboration, and delivery. In this session, we’ll explore how GitHub Spec-Kit enables teams to treat specifications as first-class artifacts—living documents that drive architecture, implementation, and verification. You’ll learn how Spec-Kit helps teams clearly express intent using structured, version-controlled specs that live alongside code. We’ll walk through a practical workflow that starts with defining system behavior and constraints, then progressively refines those specs into testable, automatable outcomes. Along the way, we’ll show how specs can reduce ambiguity, improve cross-functional collaboration, and make design decisions explicit before a single line of production code is written. This talk will cover: --What spec-driven development is (and what it isn’t) --How GitHub Spec-Kit fits into modern developer workflows --Using specs to align product, engineering, and AI-assisted development --Real-world examples of turning specs into implementations with confidence Whether you’re building greenfield systems, integrating AI into your stack, or trying to reduce costly rework, spec-driven development offers a scalable way to move faster without sacrificing clarity. Attendees will leave with concrete patterns and a clear mental model for adopting GitHub Spec-Kit in their own projects. **YouTube Link** TBA

**On Friday Feb. 27th Meet the overall winners of Techstars Startup Weekend – Richmond Changemakers.** The Campus Closet and Drip Share team developed from the merging of a community member, a student group from Hampden-Sydney College, and a group of University of Richmond students. Learn about their approach to: * Tackling Sustainability * Customer Validation * Prototyping Design * Business Model Several of the team members will join us, and in their own words: **Emma Cooke**. “I am a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, majoring in Business Administration with a double concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, and a minor in American Studies. This upcoming summer, I will be interning with IGS Energy, a company in my hometown, as their Campus Talent Engagement Intern. My interest in entrepreneurship started at a young age, but it wasn't until I came to Richmond that I became more serious about all of the possibilities in this field. The program here at U of R has taught me about the importance of building human connection, pushing yourself to think outside of the box, and treating failures as a new opportunity. Entrepreneurship means so much to me because it allows me to embrace the creative, analytical, and professional sides of myself.” **Anna Gregory.** “I’m a sophomore from Concord, Massachusetts, majoring in Leadership Studies and double minoring in Entrepreneurship and Rhetoric & Communication. Richmond’s entrepreneurship program has given me an incredible professional and creative outlet in a supportive, encouraging environment. Entrepreneurship has become really important to me because it challenges me to think bigger, take initiative, and actually bring ideas to life.” **Emma Herrington.** "I grew up in up-state New York. My major is Business Administration with a concentration in Management / Entrepreneurship. Last summer I held an internship with a frim in the fashion industry, headquartered in New York City. Entrepreneurship is important to me because both sides of my family have been entrepreneurs. My Dad was passed down a 4th-generation family business, and my mom has had her own interior design company for almost a decade. **Caroline Kelly.** "I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I am a senior majoring in Business Administration, with concentrations in Management Consulting & Entrepreneurship, and a double major in Leadership Studies. Two summers ago, I was a Public Relations Intern at Nicole Russo Communications Inc. in Boston's North End. This past summer, I was a Summer Associate Intern at Guidepoint where I worked on the Institutional Client Service Consulting team. Upon graduation in May, I will be returning to Guidepoint as a full time Associate on the team. I currently work part-time at the Law School Career Development Center, and at EVR Research, a small investment management firm. Entrepreneurship is important to me because I enjoy identifying everyday pain points and figuring out how to turn ideas into real, practical solutions. It also gives me the opportunity to apply concepts I’ve learned in accounting, finance, and management in a more hands-on, collaborative, and real-world setting." **The Discussion.** This series of hybrid events is perfect for budding entrepreneurs, experienced executive mentors cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, early-stage investors, and students exploring innovative product design. At each session, business founders serve as guest speakers share about their career, their firm's business model, as well as the successes and challenges in the product development process. Participants learn from the speakers’ experiences, discuss valuable insights, and connect with other entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and investors. **Logistics.** A light lunch is served, as entrepreneurs connect with one another, learn from peers, and contribute to the conversation: * Friday, February 27, 2026 * 11:30am EST - Coffee & Connection * 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST - Presentation & Discussion No pre-registration is required. Join us: Robins School of Business 102 UR Drive, iLab Room 123 University of Richmond, VA 23173 **Parking.** Free parking is available in the U5 and U6 lots immediately adjacent to the Robins School. Please enter the main foyer, turn to the left and proceed to room 123 (EY Innovation Lab) on the ground floor. Please note that visitors have a two-hour parking window. Please sign in when you enter the room, providing your license plate number. **On Zoom Webinar:** https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608419334?pwd=am0F9r85xPfh7aBaxtdUDILYsvNAwJ.1

**Confidence in Bloom: How Creativity Builds Confidence** What happens when creativity becomes an intentional practice? In this month’s Confidence Lab, we’ll gather at **Petals That Inspire: The Flourish Studio** for an evening exploring the connection between creativity and confidence. How making with our hands, engaging our senses, and allowing space for expression can shift how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. Our featured speaker, **Amanda Lorenzetti**, owner of Petals That Inspire, will share how creativity has shaped her own confidence journey and why creative environments play such a powerful role in well-being, resilience, and personal growth. Drawing from her work leading an experience-driven floral studio and a community-centered workforce development program, Amanda will reflect on creativity as both a personal and collective catalyst. Amanda will also guide us through a **hands-on floral design experience**, creating a fresh arrangement in a wide mouth mason jar. No prior floral experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to engage the process. This evening is an invitation to slow down, create, and reconnect with the part of yourself that grows through care, attention, and imagination. You’ll leave with a floral arrangement to take home, and a deeper understanding of how confidence can be cultivated through creative practices. **Featured Speaker: Amanda Lorenzetti** Amanda Lorenzetti is the owner and founder of [Petals That Inspire](https://www.petalsthatinspire.com/) and The Flourish Studio, a social enterprise florist based in Columbus, Ohio. She brings more than a decade of experience in wedding and event sales, paired with hands-on expertise in floral and event design. Amanda’s connection to the floral industry began early, spending time alongside her godmother, a professional florist on the East Coast. After earning her business degree, she returned to her hometown in Connecticut to work as a floral and event designer, blending creative artistry with strong operational and client-focused skills. In 2020, Amanda returned to the floral industry with a renewed purpose, driven by a desire to build a business rooted in creativity, community impact, and sustainability. During this pivotal time, she founded Petals That Inspire—an innovative floral concept that reimagines the traditional florist model by combining event florals, workshops, and experiential offerings with a mission-centered approach to workforce development. Today, Petals That Inspire is a thriving social enterprise known for its thoughtful design, educational experiences, and commitment to empowering young adults facing barriers to entry in the workforce. Amanda is deeply passionate about building businesses that are both profitable and purpose-driven, and she leverages her strong business acumen to create a scalable & sustainable model that inspires creativity while giving back to the community. **What is Confidence Lab?** Confidence Lab is a monthly community experience for bold, thoughtful leaders building confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, navigating change, or simply striving to show up more fully—you belong here. Our work demands clarity, courage, and conviction—but the pace of daily life can erode our sense of self. Confidence Lab creates space to reflect, reconnect, and grow with others doing purpose-driven work. It’s designed for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, creatives, corporate professionals, activists, and anyone ready to lead with authenticity and impact. ***Please note:*** *All are welcome! If cost is a concern, please use promo code PUBLIC to access a free ticket—we want you to join us.*