The initial spark of inspiration and skill-building during our intensive "Amplify Women's Voices" seminar week in Serifos was just the beginning. To truly empower our cohort of incredible women to bring their podcast visions to life, a structured and supportive follow-up process was essential. That's where our series of five online follow-up meetings, came into play. These sessions were meticulously planned to maintain momentum, provide ongoing expert guidance, foster accountability, and build a strong, collaborative community as our participants moved from learning to creating.

Here’s a look at what we did and why each meeting was a crucial step in their journey:

Meeting 1 (October 28th, 2024): Setting the Stage & Re-Energizing Our Voices

• What we did: We kicked off with a check-in, revisited the overall scope of the "Amplify Women's Voices" project, and highlighted the unique core competencies of our three partner organizations. A key focus was introducing the concept of accountability milestones through Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), using visuals from our shared Google Drive to make the process clear. The session was beautifully rounded off with an inspiring session led by voice coach Nina Kaloutsa.

• Why we met: This first meeting was about re-grounding everyone after the intensity of the seminar. It was crucial to ensure clarity on the project's trajectory, introduce a framework for personal goal setting (OKRs), and immediately re-engage participants with practical voice work to build confidence for their upcoming recording tasks.

Meeting 2 (November 11th, 2024): Solidifying Goals & Expert Consultations

• What we did: The focus of our second meeting was dedicated to diving deeper into the OKRs. Participants worked in breakout groups, facilitated by the partners, to discuss and formally write down their individual OKRs on our dedicated Mighty Networks platform (Expeertsclub). We were also thrilled to have expert trainer Dr. Lida Tsene join us, moving between the breakout groups to offer personalized advice and answer questions.

• Why we met: This session was vital for translating abstract goals into concrete, written commitments. Having participants articulate and record their OKRs fostered accountability. Lida's presence provided invaluable, tailored expert guidance at a critical stage of their content planning.

Meeting 3 (November 25th, 2024): Sharing Progress, Tackling Challenges & Refining Recordings

• What we did: Led by Ioanna, this meeting started with a Q&A session with another of our expert trainers, Darya Kamkalova. Participants then split into two dynamic breakout groups. One group focused on discussing their progress, sharing wins, and troubleshooting challenges related to their OKRs. The other group had the invaluable opportunity to get direct feedback from Darya on short (1-minute) audio recordings they had prepared and uploaded to our shared Google Drive. The groups then swapped.

• Why we met: This session was about practical application and peer support. The Q&A with Darya addressed emerging questions, while the breakout groups allowed for open discussion and problem-solving. Crucially, getting expert feedback on initial recordings helped participants overcome the hurdle of starting and refine their early podcasting efforts.

Meeting 4 (December 16th, 2024): Voicing Our Trailer & Festive Community Spirit!

• What we did: This special pre-holiday meeting, led by Melinda, was infused with festive energy! We welcomed Nina Kaloutsa back for more engaging voice exercises. A significant part of the session was dedicated to preparing for and then recording collective audio for our main "Amplify Women's Voices" project trailer, including the tagline "AMPLIFY WOMEN'S VOICES" and subtitles in four languages. We wrapped up with some joyful Christmas carol singing and a virtual party where everyone dressed up!

• Why we met: Beyond skill reinforcement with Nina, this meeting was about creating a tangible, collective output – the project trailer. This fostered a sense of shared ownership and accomplishment. The festive activities were also important for strengthening community bonds and celebrating the participants' hard work.

Meeting 5 (January 20th, 2025): Showcasing Success, Final Coaching & Looking Ahead

• What we did: In our final follow-up, Ioanna welcomed everyone, and Clôd showcased the exciting progress made, including the project channel trailers and the first two mastered podcast episodes. Participants then moved into breakout groups for peer coaching, with Lida Tsene guiding the Greek-speaking group and Darya Kamkalova supporting the English-speaking group, with a special focus on those who needed an extra push. Clôd then provided an overview of the project's next steps, the remaining timeline, and details about our upcoming event in April in Vienna.

• Why we met: This session was about celebrating achievements, providing targeted final support to ensure everyone could complete their podcast episodes, and clearly outlining the project's culmination. It provided a final boost of motivation and clarity as participants prepared to launch their work.
  
  

These five follow-up meetings were more than just check-ins; they were the backbone of sustained support and development for our "Amplify Women's Voices" cohort. They provided the structure, expertise, accountability, and community spirit necessary to transform initial training into a powerful collection of amplified voices, ready to be shared with the world. Stay tuned for their incredible podcasts!

OUR VIRTUAL HUB

To ensure continuity and provide a central virtual home for our "Amplify Women's Voices" cohort beyond the in-person seminar and scheduled online meetings, we onboarded all participants to our dedicated community platform on EXPEERTS.club.

This private space, managed by hosts Clôd Baumgartner, Melinda Varfi, and Ioanna Marcou, served as our primary digital hub. Here, participants could easily access all vital resources from both the Serifos seminar week – including LIDA TSENES's and NINA KALOUTSA'S SLIDES, Darya Kamkalovas's HAND OUT and Production Check List, and materials on RECORDING & EDITING and Publishing – as well as resources from each of our online Follow-up Sessions.

Participants were invited to join this exclusive space, use the group chat and the community feed, share their OKR and achievements, creating a seamless extension of our learning journey where they could find materials, revisit key learnings, and stay connected with the program's content and each other.