Bridging Communities: How Failure Changes You – Embracing Vulnerabilities and Transformation

What if failure isn't the end of the story, but the start of a better one? 

Join us for the autumn edition of Bridging Communities as we get honest about failure: what it costs us, what it teaches us and how it reshapes who we become. 

On LinkedIn and in our professional lives we are surrounded by highlight reels: the launches, the wins, the tidy success stories. Behind almost every meaningful change is a setback, a wrong turn, or an idea that didn't work. Failure is uncomfortable, often lonely and rarely talked about openly. Yet it's also where some of our most important growth begins, if we're willing to sit with the vulnerability it brings. 

Together, we'll explore: 

• What failure really teaches us and why we hide it 

• How vulnerability and openness can turn a setback into transformation 

• Real stories from people who've stumbled, learned, and come back stronger 

• What it feels like when things fall apart, and how you rebuild 

Whether you're leading an organisation, building something new, or navigating a personal or professional crossroads, this event is for you. Expect honest conversation, fresh perspectives, and space to reflect — plus the chance to connect with others who understand that growth and discomfort often go hand in hand. 

What to expect 

· Light refreshments (drinks and canapés) 

· Three inspiring speakers sharing their experiences of failure and transformation 

· Facilitated networking 

· A warm, welcoming event — whether you love or loathe networking, we promise you'll leave having made some new connections. 

Who's it for? 

This event is open to all sectors – we want as many different perspectives as possible in the room! Whatever your industry and background, come along – our Bridging Communities events are designed to help you step out of your siloes, connect with others and spark ideas. 

Agenda 

17:30: Arrivals and networking

18:00-19:30:  Hear from our speakers   

19:30: Networking 

20:00: Close 

Meet our Speakers;

Catia Vasconcelos

Catia is a leadership coach, facilitator and organisational culture consultant with over 20 years of experience working across the UK and Brazil. The Findhorn Foundation is where her personal development journey began in the late 90s, and since then her path has taken more twists and turns than she ever planned for, between her native Brazil, Ireland, Portugal and Scotland.

Catia helps leaders build alignment and shape the culture around them. Her work explores what happens beneath the surface of organisations - the patterns, relationships and assumptions that influence how people communicate, make decisions and respond when things don’t go to plan.

Her approach draws on practical leadership tools, Nonviolent Communication and a systemic perspective, with a focus on creating greater clarity, trust and room for new possibilities.

Catia brings a lived understanding of failure, both through her work with organisations and through her experience of starting over in different countries and building a professional life across two continents.

Laura Cockram

Laura coaches women who want to feel the joy (again!) in their work and/or who want to create a positive and empowering culture at work. She has been helping people think more clearly and build great workplace cultures for 20 years. Her professional experience spans organisational communications, development and change in the international development and higher education sectors. 

Laura trained as a coach with Animas in 2024, and then took the big leap into independent working because she loves creating and holding space for people to do their best thinking. Her leap was very much a result of embracing (not always comfortably!) vulnerability and transformation, and reconnecting with what brings her joy after feeling a deep sense of having 'failed'. She is passionate about both supporting individuals to thrive and how we can create workplace cultures that enable people to flourish.

Laura is based in Midlothian, is parenting a teenager and loves being outdoors, cycling, swimming and singing in a choir. She is a trustee for the charity Young Speakers Scotland, and a (newbie) volunteer mentor with Charity Leadership Scotland.

More speakers to come!

Our Collaborators 

• ESEN 

• Flexible Working Scotland 

• Catalysing Connections 

• Dechomai 

• Bobb-AI 

• Firstport 

• Edinburgh Can B 

• Creative Edinburgh 

• Black Professionals Scotland 

• Proud Futures 

If you would like to become a collaborator, please reach out to The Melting Pot team.