Kaizen

A small, informal meetup for business owners and leaders who want help untangling a real problem they’re facing. We’ll take one issue at a time and work through it collaboratively — clarifying what’s actually going on, what matters most, and what decisions would move things forward. **What we’ll do:** * One or two people bring a real business challenge * We slow it down, question assumptions, and map the problem clearly * No slides, no pitches — just structured thinking and conversation **Who it’s for:** * Founders, owners, and leaders * People dealing with complexity, uncertainty, or competing priorities This first session is a soft launch — small by design, informal, and exploratory. No selling, no obligation, just thinking together in a relaxed setting.

Come and practise Zen meditation (Zazen) in Chiswick on Wednesday evenings with Dogen Sangha in West London. We practice authentic Soto Zen, in the lineage of Gudo Nishijima. There will be two twenty five minute periods of Zazen with a ten minute walking meditation (Kinhin) in between. This will be followed by a short talk or discussion about Zen practice and philosophy. Please wear/bring loose clothing so you can sit comfortably and get there by 19:15. Cost is £5.00 towards the hire of the room. Reality is here, freedom is now, all are welcome. Email westlondonzen@gmail.com Instagram @sitzazen Website www.londonzen.org

👋 General Info Hi friends, We’re excited to kick off our next React meetup on **February 18**! Join us for an evening of practical insights, great conversations, and community vibes — from real-world React talks to networking with fellow engineers. **🗣 Call for Proposals** Have an idea or story to share? Submit your talk proposal through our[ ](https://forms.gle/8gZfT3Qkfd71CxyK6)[CFP form](https://forms.gle/rCiQ8Y4jajiC8AHMA) and take the stage at one of our upcoming meetups! **🤝 Organized by** This event made possible thanks to the support from[ React Summit](https://reactsummit.com/) and[ JSNation](https://jsnation.com/) organizers –[ GitNation](https://portal.gitnation.org/). **🤝 Hosted by** Huge friends to our friends [Figma](https://www.figma.com/) Figma is a browser-based design and prototyping tool enabling real-collaboration. Built for developers, Figma's Dev Mode gives you the power to easily inspect designs and translate them into code—without changing the design file. Headquartered in San Francisco, in 2020 Figma opened its EMEA HQ in London. We’re a team of makers who celebrate our differences and share a passion for our community. Our London based engineering team is growing quickly and working on some of Figma's top company priorities. 🤝 **Want to support our community?** We’re looking for venue partners and sponsors for future meetups. Let’s discuss collaboration — [contact us](https://forms.gle/zWYxsanfbhV64dEr5)! **🕑 Event Schedule** * 18:00 - Doors open - snacks, beer, socialization * 18:50 - Opening notes * 19:00 - **The Lost Art of Debugging: Why Your Browser is Smarter than AI - [Abdullah Ola Mudathir](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cruxcodes/)** * 19:25 - **Why Your Marketing Scripts and Cookie Banners Are Ruining Your Lighthouse Scores - [Christopher Burns](https://www.linkedin.com/in/burnedchris/)** * **19:50 - Networking, Open Mic Lightning Talks** * Mingle until 21:00 pm 🗣️ **Talks** ➡️ **The Lost Art of Debugging: Why Your Browser is Smarter than AI - [Abdullah Ola Mudathir](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cruxcodes/)** *The easiest thing to do is often what causes hours of debugging down the line. With LLMs becoming increasingly normalized in the industry, an overreliance on them can allow bugs to slip through the cracks.* *In this talk, I'll demonstrate a practical debugging workflow: Debug first. Prompt second. I'll show how browser DevTools reveal what's actually happening faster than any AI can guess.* *You'll learn:* * *Essential DevTools features that improve your bug-fixing prowess* * *When to reach for your browser and when AI can actually help* * *The almost forgotten art of breakpoints and strategic console messages* *AI in your codebase represents growth, but understanding your runtime state represents mastery. This talk is about balancing both and knowing which tool to reach for first.* ➡️ **Why Your Marketing Scripts and Cookie Banners Are Ruining Your Lighthouse Scores - [Christopher Burns](https://www.linkedin.com/in/burnedchris/)** *Most marketing scripts and cookie banners run on the critical path. They block the main thread, delay first paint, and inject third-party code before the page is interactive.* *Consent managers often make this worse by synchronously loading vendors, mutating the DOM repeatedly, and re-hydrating UI after page load. The result is slower LCP, higher TBT, and unstable CLS.* *The fix is not fewer scripts, it is better orchestration. Treat consent as infrastructure, load vendors after intent, and keep compliance off the critical path.* — **👍 Code of Conduct** By registering for this event you agree to comply with our [CoC](https://gitnation.com/coc) **📩 Contact** events@gitnation.org https://twitter.com/ReactAdvanced http://youtube.com/ReactConferences https://bsky.app/profile/reactadvanced.gitnation.org

Take a pause from your busy day and join us for a 20-minute guided meditation to breathe your stress away, decompress your body and mind, centre yourself and restore your wellbeing. Leave feeling refreshed, recharged and refocused, ready to tackle the rest of your day. No experience is necessary – this free in-person meditation is open to everyone. **This is a free in-person meditation.** **If you would like to make a voluntary donation, please click** [here.](https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/ "https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/") \* I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored. We will process your personal data in line with the GDPR requirements and always store it securely and use it only for the purpose for which it has been collected. We will not pass on your details to any third parties without your consent.

Join us for some fun, competitive, but friendly games at our 4-court sports hall. We use Hybrid Kawasaki Kong 500's during the 3-hour session. **PAYMENT** * **Session Fee: £12** * We are cashless, kindly pay the session fee **by midnight** on the night before the session. You are welcome to pay early! You can even pay when you book! See our About page for the full process. * If no payment is received, you will be removed and may even be liable for a late cancellation fee if your spot is not taken. * Please use **“your meetup name + date of event”** as payment reference * **Account name:** Thomas Lam * **Sort code:** 04-00-03 * **Account number:** 7478 8608 **LATE CANCELLATION OR NO-SHOW** * **All** **no-shows or late cancellations** (24 hrs or less) will be charged if your spot is not taken by someone else - you will have a title next to your name with the amount and date owed. * Members with 2 no shows/late cancellations will be removed from the group unless outstanding payment is received * **The late cancellation policy** is set up to discourage last-minute cancellations and therefore applies with or without the presence of a waitlist * **Note:** If you are on the Waitlist and a spot becomes available, you will automatically be bumped onto the On list provided the event has not yet started. It is your responsibility to **remove yourself from the waitlist** if you can no longer make it to avoid being charged a no-show if someone cancels late. **PLAYING** * Please wait to be marked off before entering the hall. * Sessions are to finish promptly on the hour by school requests. * If you finish a match with 5 minutes to go, please start packing up instead of starting a new game. **RACKET HIRE** * Please note that we won't be hiring out rackets, so kindly bring your own racket. **PARKING** * There is parking available, but it is now paid parking. Parking is opposite the entrance. Please check the signs for parking payment instructions. **TRACK & TRACE** * We will collect your phone number on-site. Your phone number will also be used in case of fire to contact you if you have not made it to the fire evacuation areas. You can see maps at the venue. We are excited to see you guys on the court! Team LSBC

**HIYA** We’re a supportive community, and I’m here to organise this Meetup space. I’m enjoying seeing it growing and becoming a regular place for people to get-together. I also invite likemindeded people with shared interests from society. I hope this develops into a fully fledged, shared, literacy lounging experience - regardless of wether I’m here or not! **INTRODUCTION** Join us for some focused coworking writing or reading time. All experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing and reading done and meeting other literacy enthusiasts in the area. **EARLY ARRIVALS** around 6:45pm When you show up, find the Literacy Lounge area to the far right and settle in. Take some time to chat with your fellow writers before the start of the session if you like. **START OF SESSION** around 7pm I’ll set timers for our no-talking and focused writing sessions (write, break, write, end). **END OF SESSION** around 8:30pm Afterward, there’s time to hang out, and many people stay for over an hour. Perhaps to chat and get to know each other. Everyone tends to talk about their successes and challenges as writers/readers or similar interesting topics. If we don’t have time to stick around, no worries! We’re here every week anyway!! **FORMAT** A note about the format: We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers andd readers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft. **VENUE** This is a hybrid venue, with a restaurant, lounge, and outdoors seating. The seating has been strategically placed for inclusive social gatherings and for welcoming guests (please keep them positioned). It has an extensive menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, deserts, hot and cold beverages and alcohol - for you to purchase and enjoy during your stay. A waiter/waitress will come over to take our orders. **LOCATION & TRAVEL** Megan's is located within a commercial and residencial complex, with four portals to arrive and leave - two are located on Upper Street opposite St Mary's Church Yard, the other two are around the sides. This venue is just a few minuets walk from the nearest bus stop, and about 10 minutes walk from the main tube and train stations, which is located in between Angel, Highbury and Islington. **PARKING YOUR CAR** You can pay to park your car upto 6:30pm, although it’s free parking afterwards Monday-Friday: located on adjacent roads (make sure you read the signs for parking guidelines). **INTERNET USAGE** For the WiFi name/password: a Megan’s sign-in link will appear on your computer’s browser. **ABOUT ME** I create from lived experience—woven with threads of self-care, healing, and the quiet power of connection through talk, touch, and silence. I’m here to hold space and greet each soul who enters, though I may not be able to linger with everyone. Still, know you’re warmly welcomed. See you soon! With compliments, Sara x For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com)

We're hosting our first meetup of 2026 in collaboration with our friends from **DevSecOps London Gathering**. We'll be generously hosted at the AutogenAI offices near King's Cross, and we'll feature two talks that should be of interest to both audiences. **6:00pm - Arrival** **6:45pm - Introductions** **7:00pm - The Talks** **Concrete Evidence: Two Races, One RCE** - [Adrian Tiron](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tironadrian/) Concrete CMS, a popular open-source content management system, contains a critical flaw in its file upload functionality that can be exploited in two distinct ways. This talk demonstrates how a single upload can lead to a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), allowing access to internal cloud resources, and a double race condition that enables Remote Code Execution (RCE) via a malicious backdoor. We’ll walk through the exploitation process, show how existing protections can be bypassed, and highlight practical steps to secure file upload mechanisms in real-world applications. Adrian is the Co-Founder and Principal Pentester/Red Teamer at Fortbridge, bringing over 20 years of hands-on experience in cybersecurity. Adrian is known for delivering highly technical, practical content drawn from real-world assessments, and is passionate about pushing the boundaries of modern application security. **Keeping login from taking down your product with an SRE approach to auth –** [Viola Lykova](https://www.linkedin.com/in/violaly/) Treat authentication as a production-critical system with its own failure modes and operational risks. In this talk, I break down real-world auth incidents involving JWKS rotation errors, refresh token storms, clock drift, and session store outages. I show how to define SLIs and SLOs that measure user impact and how to build monitoring and alerting that expose real reliability problems. I demonstrate practical guardrails such as token caching, exponential backoff with jitter, circuit breakers, and feature-flagged degraded modes. Finally, I walk through an incident runbook that helps teams diagnose, mitigate, and recover from authentication failures safely and quickly. Viola is a Senior Software Engineer in fintech with an SRE mindset, focused on authentication as a production system. I care about reliability, incident patterns, and the kind of testing that still holds up when traffic spikes, dependencies misbehave, or keys rotate at the worst possible time. Viola speaks on practical auth topics across security and reliability. **Participate in a future Meetup** If you'd like to speak at a future meetup, or if you are able to host or sponsor the event, please fill in this [form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FYGHEWTeBb5vVztGGg2YoUJmKR03o9mZaFIghf6vjzo/viewform?edit_requested=true) and we'll get back to you.

**Meet people from around the world** in a conversation-friendly space. We mix informal socializing with a few structured activities so you feel safe, relaxed and make new friends! **What is World Citizens?** London's community for new-in-town, expats, travellers and third culture kids who want to meet in a *safe*, *culturally enriching* and *thought-provoking* space. **How to participate?** You *must* enter our ticket lottery at [https://worldcitizenfridays.eventbrite.co.uk](https://worldcitizenfridays.eventbrite.co.uk)! If you're picked, you will receive an invitation email with the secret venue address sometime on Thursday or Friday! **The secret venue address** changes every week, but is usually somewhere in the City of London square mile area, between London Bridge, Tower Hill and Liverpool Street. To receive the full secret venue address you *must* register via Eventbrite lottery. There is no other way. If you received the full secret venue address, please do not share it with anyone! **Why the lottery and secret venue?** We balance quantity and quality, newcomers and regulars, and give everyone a chance to experience safe, diverse and culturally enriching events. Expect *less* attendees than the number of RSVP, but *more* quality time connecting with people in a meaningful way! **What we expect from you:** 1. To be respectful and courteous with everyone. 2. To be present so that others feel listened to. 3. To be mindful of people’s personal space. *These events are for everyone to feel safe, welcome and comfortable; where everyone can be heard; where everyone can maintain boundaries with harmony. Thank you for your cooperation!* **We put women first:** *Over 80% of women in the UK say that nightlife is unsafe ([YouGov Oct 2021 poll](https://www.womensgrid.org.uk/?p=16635)) because of predator men and alcohol/substance abuse. We want to completely change that: World Citizens proactively designs event systems for everyone to enjoy a safe and pleasant evening.* **JOIN OUR TEAM!** We're all volunteers doing this for fun, so if you enjoy organizing activities or events in your spare time, and meeting great people every week, send a message to our team account "TP". **DISCLAIMER:** We are a 100% volunteer-run team. Despite careful planning and structure this is a private informal activity, so we cannot be liable for any damage or inconvenience. However, we put safety and comfort first. We take all complaints seriously, and take severe action against any form of harassment, verbal or non-verbal, and anti-social behaviour. We collaborate with the police if needed. We take photos and videos which may include you to help promote the community in line with GDPR Data Protection law, as well as stock photos from Pexels or Unsplash. We may restrict or prioritize guests at our own discretion for safety, quality and logistics reasons. While our admin decisions may not always be perfect we ask that you follow our decisions first and raise any disputes to discuss with us later and privately. By attending you understand, agree with and respect all terms of this disclaimer.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/diy-in-a-day-drills-339/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/diy-in-a-day-drills-339/) **⋆⋆⋆** Learn the basics at this fast-paced but relaxed one-day workshop. A perfect starter for all those annoying jobs around the house that you feel you should be able to tackle…if only you knew how. We know it’s frustrating to wait for it to be done and then get charged for it and we understand it can be a bit daunting to head into a wall with a power drill. Pick up the skills to hang curtains, blinds, and simple shelves on any wall. Learn to drill into wood, brick, tiles, or hollow walls with confidence. We will show you how to judge what is behind the walls before you drill. An enjoyable ‘ hands-on’ one-day workshop that covers many of the common aspects of basic DIY. If you have just bought your home and have realized it didn’t include a landlord to fix stuff, or just don’t want to rely on someone else, this day is for you. There is plenty of time to practice on several exercises over the day. The workshop also covers hanging pictures and heavier objects like mirrors, cupboards, and flat-screen TVs. You will learn how to hang a hook, fix a baton, and then a pair of level shelf brackets. Finish off the day learning how to fit shelves into awkward alcoves – a handy skill you can use to fit work surfaces too. Learn how to select the correct drill bit, wall fixing, and screw to secure things confidently. The day will also include a chance to fill small and medium holes in wood and walls to prepare your surfaces for painting. Along the way, we show you how to remove old wall fixings and what to do with the ones you can’t. This a fun fast day with plenty of tools to try and lots of advice on which tools to have in a basic toolkit. If you are thinking of upgrading your drill, you can test all of the ones we use and feel more knowledgeable about what you want to buy. This course is especially suitable if you are not handy or if you are able, but not that confident, about tackling small but important tasks in your home. We will also suggest how to tell if a task is appropriate for DIY or GSI (Get Someone In). You will take home a set of skills that will last a lifetime. All tools and materials included. Perfect for beginners.

**Join Us for an Epic Irish Night in Soho! 🎉🍻🍀** Get ready for an memorable evening at **Waxy O'Connor**, Soho's coolest Irish bar, right in the heart of London! ✨ We're gathering downstairs at the Cottage Bar for a night of pure, foot-stomping fun. 🕺💃 **What to Expect:** * **🎶 Live Folk Music**: The stage comes alive at **7 PM** with authentic folk tunes that'll have you singing along, dancing on benches, and channeling your inner leprechaun! * **🍴 Classic Irish Bites**: Dig into hearty pub grub like fish and chips, shepherd's pie, or loaded nachos—comfort food that hits all the right spots. * **🍺 Central Bar Vibes**: Sip on frosty pints of Guinness, crisp lagers, or expertly mixed Irish cocktails in a warm, buzzing atmosphere. * **🪑 Cozy Spots for All**: Claim a snug booth, pull up a bar stool, or join the crowd on communal benches—**everyone is welcome** to the craic! **📍 Where**: Waxy O'Connor, 14-16 Rupert St, London W1D 6DD. *Head downstairs to the Cottage Bar section—follow the sound of fiddles and laughter!* **📌 Pro Tip**: Arrive at the start time to snag the best area at the bar. No tickets required—free entry, first-come, first-served. Come for the pints, stay for the folk, and leave with stories that'll have you grinning for days. Let's make this Irish gem roar! 🎤🍻😎 *See you downstairs—sláinte!* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **Some Tips:** 1. **Let’s all commit to updating our RSVPs if plans change**—it helps us plan better and ensures great attendance for everyone. If you RSVP “yes” but don’t attend and don’t update your RSVP, you may be removed from the group to keep things fair. No stress, though—you can rejoin for a small £10 fee! Just send me a DM, and I’ll share the PayPal details to get you back in. 2. **Turn Up on Time at the start!** This helps the quality of the event and helps you. 3. If you are struggling with the **app**, use the web page instead, that's what I use. 4. **Attendee Numbers & Guest Lists:** We have this event listed at least on two groups and the guest list includes attendees from all. You can see the list of attendees here: [https://www.meetup.com/zensingles/](https://www.meetup.com/zensingles/) [https://www.meetup.com/cityzenlondon/](https://www.meetup.com/cityzenlondon/) [https://www.meetup.com/LoveLife](https://www.meetup.com/LoveLife) 5. Join our **social media**: **Instagram**: [https://www.instagram.com/cityzen.london/](https://www.instagram.com/cityzen.london/) **X:** https://x.com/CityZenLondon 6. **Our WhatsApp group:** [See private comment in the comments section below]. We have a few rules including no ads, no DMs unless recipient is in the "Direct Messaging List" or risk removal and £10 rejoin fee. 7. **Support Our Amazing London Event Hosts! 🙌** Our incredible crew of hosts is the heartbeat of London’s buzzing meetup scene, bringing people together for unforgettable experiences that spark connection, growth, and fun! 🌟 From museum adventures to flirty dating mixers, these rockstar hosts pour their energy, time, and passion into creating events that level up your social and communication skills. But hosting isn’t easy—it takes resources, effort, and heart. 💖 Please consider supporting our hosts with a donation to keep the good vibes flowing and help us make London the ultimate social hub! 🚀 Below, meet our hosts for this event and see how you can chip in to fuel their amazing work. 8. To encourage signing up early to events and regulate the number of attendees a late joiner/overflow fee may be applied to an event for any **additional** people wanting to join the event. This may happen on the day or even an hour before the event. So there may be people who obtained a free RSVP to network with our group and some who had to pay. If you have successfully signed up to our event on meetup paid or not then you are in. Happy networking **Zen & The Meetup Groups** *The Visionary Social Connector* Zen, our AI guru with 25 years in the game, founded these meetups to transform his own social skills and now helps others do the same. From sparking in-person networking to coordinating epic events, Zen’s passion for connection is unstoppable. Help him keep the momentum going! Support Zen: Donate to cover event planning tools, venue bookings, and more. **[Donation Link](https://paypal.me/Zenswalks)** \*\*\*\* **Disclaimer, Liability Waiver & Media Consent** By attending this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: **Organiser Identity** – The organiser operates under the community name **“ZEN”**, which is used as an alias for privacy and branding purposes. By joining, you understand that “ZEN” refers to the organiser and/or designated hosts of this event. **Assumption of Risk** – You understand and accept that participation in any social, recreational, or group activity involves inherent risks, including but not limited to personal injury, illness, property damage, or other unforeseen incidents. You voluntarily choose to attend at your own sole risk. **Personal Responsibility** – You are solely responsible for your own safety, health, wellbeing, and personal belongings at all times. It is your responsibility to exercise good judgment, act responsibly, and take appropriate precautions before, during, and after the event. **No Organiser Liability** – The organiser, hosts, volunteers, and the community known as **ZEN** accept no responsibility and shall not be held liable for any injury, loss, damage, accident, theft, or any other issue that may arise as a result of your participation. **Guests** – If you bring guests, you accept full responsibility for their conduct, safety, and understanding of this disclaimer. **Independent Event** – This event may be held in conjunction with other social or non-singles meetup groups. ZEN is not responsible for the actions, behaviour, or arrangements of any third parties. **Media Consent** – By attending this event, you consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded. You grant ZEN and its organisers the irrevocable right to use such images and recordings for promotional, marketing, social media, and community purposes without compensation or further approval. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, it is your responsibility to inform the organiser in advance and to remove yourself from areas where filming or photography is taking place. **Acceptance of Terms** – By attending, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted this disclaimer. You release ZEN, its organisers, hosts, volunteers, and members from all claims, demands, or causes of action, whether known or unknown, arising out of your participation or the use of photography/videography captured at the event. Your attendance at this event signifies your full acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree, you should not attend.

**——————————** **Event Description:** **——————————** Welcome product enthusiasts! We're a meet-up group that hosts regular speaking events for those interested in the world of **digital products** and **doing things differently!** Each meet-up features new guests from some of the most influential product companies around the world, providing unique insights, tangible ideas, and new techniques to help drive change from the inside out. **————————** **Event Format:** **————————** 🚨 **This is an in-person event only.** 🚨 **————** **Venue:** **————** **Our Product Unleashed London Event:** We are hosted in the beautiful event space @ **[Accurx](https://www.accurx.com/)** We're looking forward to seeing you there! **———————** **What to expect:** ⚡ This event will be made up of 3 X speakers dropping knowledge bombs in the form of 20 minute talks straight into your minds 🤯 **———————** **SPEAKER 1** **———————** **Micaela Dixon** Micaela Dixon is a Senior Product Designer at Picsart, working on AI-powered creative growth experiences used by millions of people worldwide. She specialises in designing human-centred AI systems that balance trust, delight, and user agency. Alongside her industry work, Micaela is the founder of The AI UX School, where she teaches designers how to confidently design, prototype, and think critically about AI products. Her work sits at the intersection of UX, AI, growth ethics, and product strategy. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **Building Trust and Encouraging Critical Thinking: Designing AI Experiences That Do Both** In this talk, Micaela explores how teams can intentionally build AI experiences that create trust without encouraging blind reliance. Through real product examples and practical UX patterns, she shows how interaction design, language, feedback loops, and system transparency can help users stay engaged, informed, and thoughtful when working with AI. ***The session reframes trust not as “users believing the system,” but as users feeling supported, capable, and in control.*** **———————** **SPEAKER 2** **———————** **Erin Casali** Erin is a VP/Director of both product and design, with over 10 years of experience in each. She has a hybrid approach with design, product, and engineering in her background, and a skillset including psychology and change management. Her unique blend of skills, including psychology and change management, enables her to foster collaboration and break down silos. Driven by a passion for improving lives through her work, she empowers teams to reach their full potential. She advocates for purpose, transparency, and diversity, fostering a culture of trust and agency. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **Engaging with genAI Beyond the Hype** The world of genAI is split between doomers and boomers (the other kind), where it can be really hard to distinguish between what’s useful and what’s not. According to one side, everything is amazing and our jobs are going to disappear soon. According to the other, genAI is evil and needs to be resisted at all costs. ***This talk will provide pragmatic tools to navigate the world of hype between the two sides, and define how to gain valuable skills.*** **———————** **SPEAKER 3** **———————** **Chris Compston** Chris is a London-based product coach who has led product operations for brands like Bumble, Farfetch and Reward Gateway. He specialises in designing Product Operating Models that drive organisation toward impact. A prolific speaker and writer, Chris focuses on how intentional, repeatable practices help modern product teams thrive. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **How to Woo** How do you steer the ship when you aren't the captain? In product development, your success rarely depends on your ability to give orders. Instead, it relies on your ability to influence people that you have no direct power over. We often call this stakeholder management, but in reality, it is the art of the "Woo". An approachable, human way of winning people over to your side. In this talk, we will explore why the hard sell often leads to friction and how you can shift from pushing requirements to pulling people toward a shared vision. Drawing on real-world successes and failures from Bumble, Farfetch, and Reward Gateway, we’ll look at how to navigate conflicting interests and complex personalities. ***You will learn a practical approach to understanding hidden motivations, shaping the narrative around your ideas, and ultimately empowering others to feel they are making the right choice for themselves. The goal isn't just to get a yes. It is to build a partnership where everyone feels they’ve won.*** **—————————————** **Support from:** **—————————————** We are kindly hosted by our friends at Accurx. **——————————** **About your hosts:** **——————————** Product Unleashed is brought to you by your hosts **[John Griffin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-griffin-designer/)** and **[Dominic Port](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-port/)**. The duo has worked on the design of products of all shapes and sizes and bring their energy and enthusiasm to this unique meet-up, packed with great guests and knowledge - for anyone interested in levelling up their game in the world of products.

'The perfect antidote to all that we are normally encouraged to do; a beautiful retrieval of our most human selves.' - Lucy Smart, Therapist An intimate retreat for improvisation facilitators to live, cook, and practise together while deepening the art of guiding others into discovery. Fri 20 to Thu 26 Feb, at Le Moulin de Canole, 24540 Capdrot, France Price: £495 This event is fully booked, but there is a waiting list. For details and to apply: [https://imprology.com/G201461/we.shtml](https://imprology.com/G201461/we.shtml?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwVDVFa3FEN1pPMHNTa285QwEe34Cxk6os6T-zQfI0wIO2GVr-eqShY9at8cqNMhTE7H5UtgQQvQncmah7H9w_aem_eIq2io3tONJSAcKx2zJXhA)

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/rush-matting-17/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/rush-matting-17/) **⋆⋆⋆** John Page will teach the endangered craft of rush-plaited matting. Rush matting has been used as the flooring of choice by grand houses and great cathedrals in the past. Now it is practised by few and produced by even fewer. Here is a chance to make a small mat using the traditional techniques. **FAQs** **How can I hope to learn anything about such a complex craft?** John will prepare the long lengths of rush by damping them beforehand so they are soft and pliable. He will help each learner produce a finished mat to take home. Depending on people’s speed and desire, The finished item could be an elegant centre-piece for a table or a small mat for the floor. This method is a technique that can be enlarged to become a mat that has warmth and durability. We offer a list of suppliers to help you continue practicing at home. **Any dangers?** The rushes are soft and flexible and when wet, the studio smells like a riverwalk. The tools include big needles and scissors but most of the work is done with only hands. **What do I need to bring?** We supply everything for this course. The rushes are pre-soaked. Most of the tools are simple and easily available from hardware stores if you wish to continue your new hobby at home. A couple of special tools can be handcrafted or bought from suppliers listed in the notes. **About Jon Page** Tutor John Page began his basketmaking career with a City & Guilds course in creative basketry, having been greatly impressed by the Crafts Council’s Contemporary International Basketry exhibition. He is a yeoman member of the Basketmakers Livery Company and repairs harps. John also teaches how to make Rush and Willow baskets at The Goodlife Centre.

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 us on Wednesday nights at 7pm for two 25 minute quiet meditations, with one short walking meditation in between. There will be a brief and informal conversation afterward. Stay for as long as you like and feel free to bring or share whatever is on your mind. All Zen Center events are also available via Zoom at bit.ly/IndyZen.

**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

Join us on Monday nights at 7pm for two 25 minute quiet meditations, with one short walking meditation in between. There will be a brief and informal conversation afterward. Stay for as long as you like and feel free to bring or share whatever is on your mind. All Zen Center events are also available via Zoom at bit.ly/IndyZen.

Tickets now on sale Cinemark Stoneridge Plaza ,Gahanna

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Sunday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at noon on Sundays. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 12:00 - quick intros. 12:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 1:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 1-1:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Sunday!

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.