Foresight

This is a ticketed event. Please register at [this link](https://luma.com/hpn010ze). ​Future AI systems could have action-guiding and learning systems which may plausibly resemble those of current human or animal brains. What might it take to make these systems safe? In this presentation, David Atanasov will talk about the work from people who have thought about aligning these hypothetical future systems. ​**Event Schedule** 6:00 to 6:30 - Food and introductions 6:30 to 7:30 - Presentation and Q&A 7:30 to 9:00 - Open Discussions ​​​If you can't attend in person, join our live stream starting at 6:30 pm via [this link](https://www.youtube.com/@Trajectory-Labs/live).

It’s not just a challenge — it’s your 5-week transformation journey! Each Thursday we meet for two powerful hours designed to help you reset, recharge, and reach your goals 💪 Here’s what’s included: ✨ Weigh-In & Progress Tracking — see real results every week. 🧠 Nutrition Class (6:00–7:00 PM) — learn how to build balanced habits, improve metabolism, and eat smart in real life. 💚 Personalized Wellness Coaching — each participant gets their own coach for a full wellness evaluation and personal meal plan tailored to their goals. 🔥 Fitness Session (7:00–8:00 PM) — energizing group workout to tone, stretch, and feel amazing! And the best part? 🎉 Every week when you come, you’ll enjoy a refreshing Herbal Tea with Aloe to kick-start your energy before the workout, and a post-workout protein shake to repair muscle tissue and support toning — all designed to help you get the best results. 💸 Plus, you can actually win cash prizes! Part of the entry fee goes to the prize pool — so the more people join, the bigger the winnings! This challenge is for everyone who’s ready to take control of their health, feel stronger, look better, and stay motivated with an amazing community by your side.

We're excited to bring the community together for an evening of learning and connection! Come support your fellow developers, learn something new, and meet others who are passionate about search, observability, and security. **Date and Time:** Thursday, March, 12th from 5:30-7:30 pm **Agenda:** * 5:30 pm: Doors open; say hi, grab a seat, and eat some food. * 6:00 pm: Building Agentic AI on ELK stack, by **Gleb Gadyatskiy**, Principal Engineer at PointClickCare * 6:30 pm: Q&A * 6:40 pm: "One Does Not Simply Query a Stream", by **Viktor Gamov** is a Principal Developer Advocate at Confluent * 7:10 pm: Q&A * 7:20-7:30 pm: Networking & refreshments **Talk Abstracts:** **"Building Agentic AI on ELK stack"** Story how I built AI Agent using pure ELK + LLM to automate incidents investigations 1. What is AI Agent, ELK and why I decided to build AI Agent using only ELK 2. Building simple AI Agent using pure Logstash pipelines 3. Building advance AI Agent using Ruby plugin 4. Connecting AI Agent to Elastic AI Assistant **Gleb Gadyatskiy** is a Principal Engineer at PointClickCare. He is a part of the Infrastructure Architecture team and describes his role as “the first line in attack and the last line in defense”. Gleb provides support for all teams to aggregate logs from various apps into Elasticsearch, use AI to get insights from logs and actively promotes Elastic stack in PointClickCare. Gleb enjoys outdoor traveling with his wife and two kids in a camper. **"One Does Not Simply Query a Stream"** Streaming data with Apache Kafka® has become the backbone of modern applications. While streams are ideal for continuous data flow, they lack built-in querying capabilities. Unlike databases with indexed lookups, Kafka’s append-only logs are designed for high-throughput processing—not for on-demand queries. This necessitates additional infrastructure to query streaming data effectively. Traditional approaches replicate stream data into external stores: relational databases like PostgreSQL for operational queries, object storage like S3 accessed via Flink, Spark, or Trino for analytics, and Elasticsearch for full-text search and log analytics. Each serves a purpose—but they also introduce silos, schema mismatches, freshness issues, and complex ETL pipelines that increase system fragility. In this session, we’ll explore solutions that aim to unify operational, analytical, and search workloads across real-time data. We'll demonstrate stream processing with Kafka Streams, Apache Flink®, and SQL engines; real-time analytics with Apache Pinot®; search capabilities with Elasticsearch; and modern lakehouse approaches using Apache Iceberg® with Tableflow to represent Kafka topics as queryable tables. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution, understanding the tools and trade-offs will help you design more robust and flexible architectures. **Viktor Gamov** is a Principal Developer Advocate at Confluent, founded by the original creators of Apache Kafka®. With a rich background in implementing and advocating for distributed systems and cloud-native architectures, Viktor excels in open-source technologies. He is passionate about assisting architects, developers, and operators in crafting systems that are not only low in latency and scalable but also highly available. As a Java Champion and an esteemed speaker, Viktor is known for his insightful presentations at top industry events like JavaOne, Devoxx, Kafka Summit, and QCon. His expertise spans distributed systems, real-time data streaming, JVM, and DevOps. Viktor has co-authored "Enterprise Web Development" from O'Reilly and "Apache Kafka® in Action" from Manning. Follow Viktor on X - @gamussa to stay updated with Viktor's latest thoughts on technology, his gym and food adventures, and insights into open-source and developer advocacy. **Location:** Improving Office 171 East Liberty St Unit 235 Toronto, Ontario M6K 3P6 **Directions (171 E Liberty St - Suite 235)** **By transit** Streetcars 504 and 509 both travel close to the office (less than 10 minute walk to the office from either), the lakeshore GO train is also a 5 minute walk from the office. **By car/parking** On street parking is available - there are a handful of paid parking spots directly in front of the entrance - with a large city parking lot across the street. **Entrance** The entrance to the office is beside the Bulk Barn entrance facing Hannah Street. There is an Improving logo on the door.

**Description:** Start your Thursday night with some fun and active learning! Whether you’re brand new to the game or a "Low Intermediate" player looking to solidify your fundamentals, this session is for you. This group lesson focuses on the essentials: * **Basics for Beginners:** Proper grip, basic strokes, and understanding the rules/scoring. * **Skill Building for Low Intermediates:** Improving consistency in dinking, 3rd shot drops, and court positioning. * **Social Play:** We’ll wrap up the session with some friendly games to put your new skills into practice! **[Details]** * **Where:** Swing Star * **Address:** 1-15 Connie Crescent, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada * **Level:** Beginners to Low Intermediates (Level 2.0 - 3.0) * **What to bring:** Comfortable athletic wear, court shoes, a water bottle, and your paddle (if you have one). Loaner paddles are available if needed! ### **[Registration & Payment]** To finalize your registration, please send an **e-Transfer of $35** to \*\*[playtogether.ca@gmail.com**](http://playtogether.ca@gmail.com**/) immediately after your RSVP. Your spot is only confirmed once the payment is received. * **Capacity:** Limited to 4 participants (First come, first served). ### **[Refund Policy]** A **full refund** will be issued in the following cases: 1. If the minimum number of participants (**3 people**) is not met 48 hours before the event. 2. If the court becomes unavailable for booking. 3. If the event is cancelled due to inclement weather. *Please note: No-shows or cancellations made within 48 hours of the event are non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session.* Join us for a great workout and meet new pickleball friends in the Markham community!

Important Register on the [event website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026031214) (Due to room capacity and building security, you must pre-register at the link for admission) **Description:** Welcome to the AI meetup in Toronto. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI, GenAI, LLMs and Agent, hands-on experiences on code labs, workshops, and networking with speakers and fellow developers. **Speakers/Topics:** \- Eli Aleyner \(Docker\) Stay tuned as we are updating speakers and schedules. If you have a keen interest in speaking to our community, we invite you to submit topics for consideration: [Submit Topics](https://forms.gle/JkMt91CZRtoJBSFUA) **Sponsors:** We are actively seeking sponsors to support AI developers community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food, or cash sponsorship. Sponsors will not only speak at the meetups, receive prominent recognition, but also gain exposure to our extensive membership base of 10,000+ AI developers in Toronto or 500K+ worldwide.

Hi Everyone, Join Us for a Fun & Friendly Social Night **PLEASE READ FULL DETAILS** You’re invited to our monthly social evening a relaxed, welcoming space to enjoy great conversation, connect with familiar faces, and meet new people in your community. This event is all about having fun, seeing the regulars, meeting your neighbours, and building genuine friendships. It’s a chance to step out, reduce stress, and enjoy a positive atmosphere that supports connection and well-being. **Important Reminder:** This is strictly a social gathering no networking or business promotion allowed. Please keep conversations uplifting, engaging, and friendly. The goal is simple: connection and community. *** ### NEW ADDITION: Game Night After Dinner! Starting every month, we’re adding a casual Game Night following dinner! You’re welcome to join us for dinner, stay for a relaxed game night, or enjoy both. There’s no pressure to participate feel free to play, cheer others on, or simply sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. Please note: * This is **not** a free event or a drop-in game night only. * You must purchase a meal to participate. * The dinner portion remains the core of the event. * Your meal must be paid prior to starting the games. * ***Members who do not purchase a meal will not be eligible to attend future events.*** **Game Time:** 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM Bring a deck of cards or your favourite board game. **Fun, light-hearted suggestions:** * Cribbage * Euchre * Uno * Skip-Bo * Rummikub * Scrabble * Yahtzee This is meant to be enjoyable and relaxed not competitive. No gambling permitted. Just good laughs and friendly fun. ### Event Details **What:** Social Gathering (Every 2nd Thursday of the Month) **Where:** Boston Pizza 2915 Eglinton Ave West, Mississauga, ON L5M 6J3 **Date:** Thursday, March 12, 2026 **Time:** 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Dinner) **Game Night:** 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM **Attendance:** If you are unable to attend, please update your RSVP as seating is limited. *** ### Disclaimer I, Patricia Lavigne, am not responsible for any food, beverages, bills, or gratuities. All restaurant-related services and payments are handled directly with Boston Pizza. Please ensure you finalize your bill with your server before leaving. Come out and join me — it will be wonderful to see you in person! Looking forward to a great evening together. Patricia Lavigne www.patricia-lavigne.com 416-312-6983

Important Register on the [event website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026031214) (Due to room capacity and building security, you must pre-register at the link for admission) **Description:** Welcome to the AI meetup in Toronto. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI, GenAI, LLMs and Agent, hands-on experiences on code labs, workshops, and networking with speakers and fellow developers. **Speakers/Topics:** \- Eli Aleyner \(Docker\) Stay tuned as we are updating speakers and schedules. If you have a keen interest in speaking to our community, we invite you to submit topics for consideration: [Submit Topics](https://forms.gle/JkMt91CZRtoJBSFUA) **Sponsors:** We are actively seeking sponsors to support AI developers community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food, or cash sponsorship. Sponsors will not only speak at the meetups, receive prominent recognition, but also gain exposure to our extensive membership base of 10,000+ AI developers in Toronto or 500K+ worldwide.

** Guest list at the door Nightlife Society** So you can enter for free and have free drinks at our table. 🎉 Future Fridays \| VIP Night Out 🎉 Get ready for an unforgettable night at Future Nightclub! 📍 Location: Future Nightclub 🗓 Date: every Friday, ⏰ Doors Open: 10:30 PM ✅ Free Entry: Until midnight (under our group’s name)”Nightlife Society” say the name at the door 🥂 Perks: Main booth by the DJ + free drinks ✨ What to Expect: • Meet new people who love nightlife, dancing, and music 🎶 • Free entry until 12 midnight — just say our group’s name at the door • Join us at our main booth by the DJ for free drinks and the best vibes in the club • Dance all night, enjoy the music, and party with the crew 💃🕺 📌 How to Find Us: Head to the main booth near the DJ — that’s where our group will be set up. You can also message me here if you can’t find us. 🙌 What to Bring: • Valid Government ID (19+) 🪪 • Your best energy and dance moves • A friend or two if you’d like — the more, the merrier!

**\*\* Guest list at the door Nightlife Society\*\*** So you can enter for free and have free drinks at our table. 🎉 Future Fridays \| VIP Night Out 🎉 Get ready for an unforgettable night at Future Nightclub! 📍 Location: Future Nightclub 🗓 Date: every Saturday, ⏰ Doors Open: 10:30 PM ✅ Free Entry: Until midnight (under our group’s name)”Nightlife Society” say the name at the door 🥂 Perks: Main booth by the DJ + free drinks ✨ What to Expect: • Meet new people who love nightlife, dancing, and music 🎶 • Free entry until 12 midnight — just say our group’s name at the door • Join us at our main booth by the DJ for free drinks and the best vibes in the club • Dance all night, enjoy the music, and party with the crew 💃🕺 📌 How to Find Us: Head to the main booth near the DJ — that’s where our group will be set up. You can also message me here if you can’t find us. 🙌 What to Bring: • Valid Government ID (19+) 🪪 • Your best energy and dance moves • A friend or two if you’d like — the more, the merrier!

你一个人，但需要做 5 个人的事。 *You're one person. But you're doing the work of five.* 需求文档？你写。代码架构？你定。测试？你跑。部署？还是你。 *Product spec? You write it. System architecture? You design it. Testing? You run it. Deployment? Still you.* 这不是抱怨，这是 Solo Founder、独立工程师、技术 Lead 的日常现实。 *This isn't a complaint — it's the daily reality of solo founders, independent engineers, and technical leads.* *** 哈佛商学院今年刚发布了一项研究：他们跟踪了 200 名工程师长达 9 个月，结论出人意料—— *Harvard Business Review recently published a striking finding: they tracked 200 engineers over 9 months, and the conclusion was counterintuitive —* **用了 AI 的人，工作量反而增加了。** ***People who used AI ended up with more work, not less.*** 速度更快，被分配更多任务。工具更多，注意力更碎片化。AI 放大了原有的工作节奏，而不是改变它。 *Work faster, get assigned more. More tools, more context-switching. AI amplified the existing pace of work — it didn't change it.* 这项研究说中了很多人的感受：AI 没有给我们自由，它只是让我们更忙。但这也说明——问题不在 AI，在于我们怎么用它。 *This research captured what many of us already feel: AI hasn't freed us — it just made us busier. But that also means the problem isn't AI. It's how we use it.* *** 本次分享，讲者将从自己的真实项目经验出发，拆解他如何用 **Agentic Engineering** 方法论，真正实现了一个人跑出整个工程团队产能的工作方式。 *In this talk, the speaker will draw on his own real projects to break down how he uses the **Agentic Engineering** methodology to genuinely achieve the output of a full engineering team — as one person.* 不是让 AI 帮你聊天，而是让 AI 成为你的产品经理、工程团队、工程文化和 DevOps—— *Not using AI to chat — but making AI your product manager, your engineering team, your engineering culture, and your DevOps.* 分享将以 **10 DOs & Don'ts** 为主线，每一条都有对应的真实场景。10 个 DO/DON'T，是他从中整理出来的实战清单。 *He's been there. The 10 DOs & Don'ts are the practical checklist he built from those mistakes.* *** **你将带走什么 · What You'll Take Away** 不是理论框架，是一套当晚就能用的判断标准： *Not a theoretical framework — a set of judgment principles you can apply the same night:* * 什么时候用 Claude，什么时候切 Codex，什么时候用 Raycast *When to use Claude, when to switch to Codex, when to reach for Raycast* * 为什么"提问前先优化提示词"能把输出质量翻倍 *Why optimizing your prompt before asking can double output quality* * Plan Mode 和直接对话的区别，以及在什么情况下必须用 Plan Mode *The difference between Plan Mode and direct chat — and when you must use Plan Mode* * 如何把反复有效的提示词固化为跨项目的 Skill 资产 *How to crystallize effective prompts into reusable Skills that compound across projects* * 如何搭建一套多机可同步、一行命令恢复的 1 Man Company 工程环境 *How to build a 1 Man Company engineering environment: portable, multi-machine, one-command recovery* *** **适合谁来 · Who Should Attend** 正在用 AI 写代码、但感觉还没找到节奏的工程师。独立开发者或 Solo Founder，想把个人产能天花板再往上推一层。对 Agentic AI 感兴趣，但还没有实战经验可以参照的技术人。 *Engineers who are using AI to code but haven't found their rhythm yet. Independent developers or solo founders who want to push their personal productivity ceiling higher. Technical practitioners curious about Agentic AI but without real-world reference points yet.* 不需要提前了解 Claude 或 Codex，只需要有过"AI 没帮上忙"的困惑，就值得来听一听。 *No prior knowledge of Claude or Codex required. If you've ever felt that "AI just isn't helping me the way it should" — this talk is for you.* *** Speaker： Bryan Zheng， Founder of Startup4Chinese, developed several in-house products for a crypto data analysis firm. *** **Fee: $25 per person**, with fresh tea and exquisite snacks served. ***Special thanks to Jiamu Tea House.*** https://www.instagram.com/jiamuteahouse.ca/ Started in August 2017, our mission is to **inspire**, **empower**, and **connect** entrepreneurs not only among Chinese but beyond. We want to: • inspire your passionate entrepreneurship spirit • empower your brilliant startup idea, and • connect you with your future reliable partner We value *openness*. We provide *pragmatic* topics. We want to help you *succeed*! Startup4Chinese，成立于加拿大多伦多，致力于联结华人创业者与各个族群中的聪明才智，弘扬华人创业者的创业激情，赋予华人创业者更大力量。Startup4Chinese 主张开放心态，锐意开拓进取，注重脚踏实地，让我们一起享受创新、创业的过程。 Please check out our [website](http://startup4chinese.com/) for more info, and [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5anEPSp8wwEMJFZjwsThHA) for past meetups.

## **Global Service Jam – Toronto (March 13–15)** We’re hosting the Toronto edition of the **Global Service Jam** — a 2-day, hands-on design sprint happening simultaneously in cities around the world. Participants receive a shared “secret” theme on Friday evening and work in small teams to design and prototype service ideas over the weekend. This is not a talk or panel event. It’s collaborative, experimental, and focused on learning by doing. **Format** • Friday + Saturday: Core Jam • Sunday: Optional showcase + celebratory lunch 🎟 **Registration is required via Luma** Spots are limited and tickets are managed there. 👉 **Register here:** [https://luma.com/85b13pet](https://luma.com/85b13pet) Hosted by Service Design Drinks Toronto. Supported by Highline Beta.

Join your community of fellow Intuitives and MBTI nerds for a casual evening of engaging conversation. We get together every second Sunday – with a mix of regulars and new friends. There is no fee to attend, though we ask that you support the venue by ordering something to eat or drink. **Feel free to contact event host B. via Facebook/Meetup messenger, or text/call 416-712-8635 for directions**. About the venue: The Pint Public House Nearest Subway: Union Station Map / Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G5GfXDSQXeifJ5ot5 We make an effort to find pubs that are quiet and introvert friendly, with a section to ourselves. We make no effort to muffle our extroverts, but should they get out of hand, our resident INTJ will use their death stare, to pull them back in line.

* **Discover the creative power of Soul to enrich your life.** * **Learn how to tap into your innate creative talents--God's gift to you.** (ONTARIO PROVINCIAL ECK Light & Sound Service - Hybrid event) [Eckankar Ontario Spiritual Events](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html) [Eckankar Free Books](https://www.eckankar.org/freebook/wisdom/) "Creative people who cherish the gift of life often slip into the secret chambers of the creative mind. Their solutions are well-rounded, more sensible than those of people who rely solely upon reason as their mainstay. Gratitude unseals fountains of creativity, because a grateful person is relaxed. This allows him to take stock of these circumstances with an objective mind. A creative person often gets three-dimensional answers to his problems." —Harold Klemp, *The Language of Soul*, p. 66 You are warmly invited to the Provincial ECK Light and Sound Service which you can attend **online** or **in person**. Date and time: **Sunday, March 15, 2026** **10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m** Please note: All the ECK Light and Sound Services in 2026 will be hybrid (In-person and on Zoom) with the in-person portion held at: **York University Glendon Campus, Centre of Excellence, York Hall A, Room YH A002, 2275 Bayview Ave, North York, ON M4N 3M6.** Please stay for light refreshments afterward. To attend online by Zoom and see the upcoming events: [https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario/zoom/) It will take you directly to the Ontario ECKANKAR page where you will find the Zoom link and call-in numbers. The Zoom link allows for up to 300 attendees and will be active at 10:15 a.m. **ECK Light and Sound Services** are a wonderful way for anyone to experience: * **the Sound and Light of God** * **the [HU](https://www.eckankar.org/experience/hu-the-sound-of-soul/) (a love song to God)** * **the inner guide known as the Mahanta** Come and hear about others' adventures of walking the spiritual path, on the road home to God, as well as original creative arts. You will have the opportunity to experience a simple spiritual exercise that can open your heart to live to your fullest potential. You are welcome to invite seekers, family and friends to attend. *If the region or country you live in forbids you from attending this spiritual event, please follow the laws of your home country.* These are free events; however, your donations are most gratefully received! You can leave your donation in the donation bowl on the table OR send your e-transfer donations, using online banking to: [provincialdonations8093@gmail.com](mailto:eckontdonations@gmail.com). Please stay for light refreshments afterwards. To learn more about spirituality, here are a few resources: · [Spiritual Adventure](https://www.eckankar.org/eck-soul-adventure-magazine) Magazine · *[ECK Soul Adventure](https://www.eckankar.org/ebooklets) eBooklets* · [HU ](https://www.eckankar.org/experience/hu-the-sound-of-soul/#huapp)App · [Eckankar Soul Adventure Podcast](https://www.eckankar.org/podcasts/) · [Discover Eckankar and Advanced Spiritual Living](https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wdetsToXHUuR0qMb4Q6Jbn9NsVsjeGGv9-pv3zeN5OJIPvDhF1JBeIKusW1USqWw1Zp1ZaTnQ2RhVdFiFR40cVWLJP69hwDJ6gkdu5rdjrHK5ObZ_tis6cbANWZbNVk8wg0JtH1bJjx9dHaeOUj0-Q==&c=waEPfx7zdz0PenP4PzCIxF7D6_bctEUp7HtZ4PABLxdcfU32QqrKhA==&ch=9rbFp1H_WsWh30zsiD-UiviJOyeYlHNExu3S_FmLkW30Rt5s5OD87Q==) Video *Graphics courtesy of* [Eckankar](https://www.eckankar.org/)*, The Path of Spiritual Freedom* Sponsored by Eckankar Canada in Ontario

Most AI meetups end up as just networking. **We’re different.** At **AI Tool Explorers Night \| Connect & Make New Friends**, you’ll: ✨ Walk away with a *real learning nugget* (a tool, workflow, or strategy you can use immediately) ✨ Connect with people who share your curiosity for AI, productivity, and automation ✨ Enjoy a fun, casual setting where new ideas and friendships spark naturally 👉 **Our promise:** every session delivers structure, substance, and takeaways you can use when you get home. ### 📅 Event Flow * **6:00–6:15 PM** → Arrivals & intros * **6:15–6:45 PM** → AI demo / learning nugget * **6:45–7:00 PM** → Q&A and group discussion * **7:00–8:00 PM** → Networking & contact sharing ⚡ Please hold networking until after the presentation so we can all learn together. Plenty of time at the end to connect and exchange cards! **Let's explore AI Tools that actually *work* in our day-to-day life!** *** #ChatGPT #Claude #Grok #Gemini #Perplexity #DeepSeek #NotebookLM #Cursor #GitHubCopilot #Replit #Windsurf #v0dev #Lovable #Zapier #Makecom #n8n #Descript #OpusClip #Synthesia #Runway #Sora #Kling #Veo #PikaLabs #LTXStudio #AdobeFirefly #Vidu #Hailuo #LumaDreamMachine #Wisecut #Elaiio #Capsule #Filmora #Gling #Magisto #AdobePremierePro #ElevenLabs #Suno #Udio #Soundraw #Riffusion #Mubert #BeatovenAI #AIVA #Loudly #SplashPro #Soundful #MagentaStudio #WavTool #MakeBestMusic #BandLabSongStarter #TadAI #EcrettMusic #Midjourney #DALLE3 #CanvaMagicStudio #NotionAI #Gamma #Fathom #FirefliesAI #MLX

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Resource Presentation** **Why Not Today? Build Systems That Support Your Growth** **Presented by Leslie Kane, Founder of Why Not Today?** **Wednesday March 25th \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for a powerful resource presentation designed to help entrepreneurs move from scattered effort to sustainable momentum. *** ## **About the Session** Entrepreneurs rarely struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because everything lives in their head. In this session, **Leslie Kane**, founder of **Why Not Today?**, will explore how developing intentional systems creates clarity, focus, and forward progress in business. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and working with hundreds of entrepreneurs, Leslie shares how structure reduces overwhelm, simplifies decision-making, and transforms inconsistent action into repeatable success. If you’re building a business and constantly feeling stretched thin, this conversation will challenge you to ask a powerful question: **Why not today?** *** ## **What You’ll Gain** * Insight into why systems are critical for growth * Practical perspective on turning ideas into structured action * A framework for reducing overwhelm * A mindset shift from reactive to intentional leadership This is not about adding more to your plate — it’s about building the foundation that allows your business to grow without burning you out. *** ## **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through conversation and collaboration. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us for coffee, connection, and a conversation that may completely change how you approach your business growth.

Whether you're new to Insight meditation or an advanced practitioner looking for like-minded people to sit with, you're welcome to join us at our Sunday morning drop-in group, sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Insight meditation cultivates our natural wisdom and compassion. Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind. This class includes a 30-minute lightly-guided meditation, followed by a short talk and time for questions and discussion. The size of the group usually runs somewhere between 25-40 people in-person and between 12-25 online. Chairs are provided, or you may bring a sitting cushion or bench. You may also use the blankets and bolsters offered by the yoga studio. **We offer both in-person and online attendance.** To learn more about our topics and teachers, view our videos or **get the Zoom link**, visit our [class page](https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=735&utm_source=MeetUp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=vienna-drop-in).

**DC Service Jam is back.** This March, SD:DC is hosting the DC edition of Global Service Jam 2026 week. We are part of a worldwide movement of designers, strategists, and curious minds who come together to build real service concepts from scratch. From **Saturday March 14 to Sunday March 15**, you'll work in a small team around a secret theme revealed at kick-off. No briefs, no client. Just hands-on design, rapid prototyping, and plenty of Post-its. This year we're bringing AI into the mix. Throughout the weekend we'll look at how AI tools can support service design work, as a sensemaking tool, to build artifacts faster, and to push prototypes further. **WHAT TO EXPECT** **Saturday March 14th** * **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast (theme reveal + team formation) * **10am - 6pm:** full day of research, ideation, and prototyping (meals provided) * **6:30pm (optional):** social / happy hour (nearby bar) **Sunday March 15th** * **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast * **10am - 12pm:** finalize prototyping & storytelling * **12pm - 2pm:** present your work and share what DC made with the world **WHO SHOULD COME** You don't need to be a service designer. If you're a UX or product designer, strategist, public servant, researcher, or just someone curious about how services actually work, you're welcome here. **LOGISTICS** * **Dates:** Saturday March 14th & Sunday 15th (ending at 2pm) * **Venue:** SteamPunk, McLean, VA * **Capacity:** 50 spots only (first come, first served) * **Attendee fee:** $60\* (covers meals, materials, and space) *\* If the fee is a barrier for you, we have a limited number of discounted tickets available, just reach out to Sergio Venegas directly for a code.* **WHAT TO BRING** ✔️ An open mind and a willingness to make things ✔️ Laptop and charger ✔️ Curiosity about Service Design (no experience needed) **Follow SD:DC on LinkedIn and @DCServiceJam on Instagram for updates!** \*\*\* Many thanks to our host and sponsor, **SteamPunk** *Design. Disrupt, Repeat. Steampunk is anchored by a startup culture with a customer-centered delivery approach. We put our Federal government clients in the center of everything we design, develop, and deliver to drive high quality mission impacts and user experiences at speed.*

# ✨ Real Founder Lessons for Builders & Career Pivoters (Ashburn) **Saturday, March 14 • 2–4 PM • Ashburn, VA** What if growing your work didn’t have to come with constant exhaustion? This entrepreneur-focused session is a behind-the-scenes conversation about how to build, pivot, and scale **without burning yourself out** — and without chasing work that drains your energy. Whether you’re launching something new, navigating a career pivot, or rebuilding after a layoff, the principles are the same: 👉 protect your energy 👉 make smarter pivots 👉 build momentum that lasts 👉 apply AI practically to support smarter decisions and workflows Over 12 years, I’ve launched **7 startups and side hustles** — alongside **21 years in corporate tech leadership**. The biggest lesson wasn’t scaling tactics… It was learning when to pivot, how to sustain momentum, and how to align what energizes you with what serves your customers — an approach that generated **revenue** in my first full-time year without burnout. A key part of that evolution has been learning how to integrate AI in grounded, practical ways — helping accelerate testing, decision-making, and workflow clarity without adding complexity. During this session, I’ll share real founder insights — including a live screen walkthrough — showing how smart pivots happen and what separates intentional growth from reactive hustle. *** ## What We’ll Explore 1. **How to recognize when to pivot — and when to stay the course** 2. **Building energy-first systems instead of burnout cycles** 3. **Founder decision-making under pressure** 4. **Designing work that supports long-term momentum** 5. **Why sustainable growth outperforms hustle culture** 6. **Using AI strategically to support pivots, experimentation, and smarter workflows** This is not a lecture or pitch — it’s a grounded founder conversation for people who want to grow smarter and build work that lasts. Expect practical thinking, humor, and takeaways you can use immediately. *** ## Event Details 💵 $20 RSVP — includes coffee + snacks 📍 Ashburn, VA (exact address shared after RSVP) 🕑 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 👥 Max 15 attendees — intentionally small for meaningful conversation Most attendees are professionals, founders, and growth-minded builders navigating reinvention, pivots, or startup ideas. *** ## About the Space — Startup Garage Style Hosted in my early-founder style startup garage — a **bright, spacious, comfortable Ashburn living room** designed for focused conversation and practical learning. These sessions are intentionally intimate — closer to a founder roundtable than a seminar. *** ## Background — Corporate to Founder Journey After **21 years in corporate tech leadership**, including senior director role, I transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship, building on years of startup and side-hustle experience. If you’re exploring a career pivot or next chapter, you’ll find this conversation highly practical. *** ## 🔗 Builder Ecosystem & Resources 🌐 Website: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) ▶ YouTube (300K+ views): [https://www.youtube.com/@midlife_mindfulness](https://www.youtube.com/@midlife_mindfulness) 💼 LinkedIn (4K+ followers): [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anju-debnath-0061524/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anju-debnath-0061524/) 🤝 Meetup Community: [https://www.meetup.com/ashburn-transition-meetup-group/](https://www.meetup.com/ashburn-transition-meetup-group/) 📚 Amazon Author Page (2 Books published, more on the way): [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anju-Debnath/author/B0FFNBVZLQ](https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anju-Debnath/author/B0FFNBVZLQ) Everything shared comes from lived founder experience — not theory. *** **Space is intentionally limited to ensure focused discussion, interactive learning, and practical takeaways you can use immediately.**

**Agenda :** * 4.45 to 5.00 PM ET: Food and Networking * 5.00 to 5.50 PM ET: "Data Science & Machine Learning with Microsoft Fabric" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our March 12th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided. You will need a government-issued ID to enter the facility.** **Title:** Data Science & Machine Learning with Microsoft Fabric **Description:** Explore Microsoft Fabric’s integrated Data Science experience across ideation, preprocessing, modeling, & deployment. Learn how to ingest and prepare data via OneLake and Lakehouse, leverage Notebooks, Data Wrangler, Spark, SynapseML, MLflow for experimentation, & operationalize predictions with batch scoring and Power BI direct integration. Also, learn to build generative AI Q&A systems using Fabric Data Agents. **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!