Discover how to plan and facilitate a successful blockchain conference with insights from Voltage Control’s work on the historic Cardano Constitutional Convention. Over two years and 63 workshops in 50 countries, facilitators guided the Cardano community through drafting and ratifying its groundbreaking constitution—culminating in global events in Nairobi, Buenos Aires, and online. This case study reveals strategies for building agendas, selecting facilitators, fostering networking, and creating inclusive environments for blockchain, crypto, and Web3 events. Learn practical tips for planning summits, workshops, and conferences that inspire collaboration, drive innovation, and strengthen decentralized communities in 2025 and beyond.
Facilitation
From leading student adventures to facilitating global workshops, Chris Federer’s journey shows how facilitation is often discovered through exploration, not a straight path. In this alumni story, Chris shares how design thinking, community, and practice shaped his evolution into a professional facilitator. Discover insights on leadership, collaboration, and the winding road to a career in facilitation.
In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson speaks with facilitation experts Tammy Shubat and Robin Cory, both Voltage Control certification alumni. Tammy shares her journey from leadership to facilitation, focusing on relationship-building and creating safe spaces for bold participation. Robin discusses her facilitation approach, inspired by Tammy, and emphasizes thoughtful session design to foster engagement and creativity. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in the nonprofit sector, highlighting the importance of collaboration, purposeful gatherings, and centering relationships to drive meaningful change within mission-driven organizations.
In "Holding Space, Finding Self," Voltage Control alum Tahira Bharmal shares her journey through facilitation, culture, and connection. From her early corporate days in the UAE to discovering the transformative power of holding space, Tahira reflects on mentorship, cross-cultural lessons, and how facilitation has shaped her life and work. A story of growth, purpose, and the magic of creating space for meaningful conversations.
Discover how Marco Monterzino went from luxury product designer to rural facilitator, using design thinking and facilitation to drive organizational resilience and change. From ST Dupont to Innovate UK and now Voltage Control, Marco’s journey explores purpose, collaboration, and the power of facilitation to unlock innovation across sectors.
In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson engages with Charles Hoskinson, CEO of Input I Output and Co-Founder of Cardano. They delve into themes of facilitation, collaboration, and governance, particularly focusing on Charles's work in developing a decentralized governance model for Cardano. Charles shares insights from facilitating workshops across 50 countries to draft Cardano's constitution, emphasizing the importance of communication, trust, and consensus-building. The conversation also explores the impact of historical governance models and modern organizational design on decentralized systems, offering valuable lessons for fostering innovation and collaboration in diverse groups.
Discover how facilitator Erin Warner reclaimed her voice and transformed her leadership trainings by embracing participatory methods and authentic space-making. From Italy to Austin, explore how facilitation helped her build deeper connections, lead with purpose, and spark transformation in every room.
In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson interviews Emilia Åström, facilitator at Howspace and co-creator of "Perspectives." Emilia shares her journey from competitive advertising to collaborative facilitation, inspired by her experience at Hyper Island. They discuss the transformative power of facilitation in fostering inclusive, innovative group dynamics and how structured methods like design thinking enhance leadership and learning. Emilia also highlights the impact of digital tools and AI in large-scale facilitation and emphasizes facilitation as a mindset that enriches both professional and personal growth.
Grace Losada shares her journey from leading high school retreats in Hawaii to scaling emotionally resonant experiences at Change Enthusiasm Global. Through Voltage Control’s Facilitation Certification, she discovered a framework for the work she’d been doing all along—rooted in connection, trust, and transformation. Her story is a powerful reflection on how facilitation can evolve from instinct to craft, and from small group impact to change at scale.
In this episode, Douglas Ferguson chats with Varsha Prasad of IdeaCompass about her journey in facilitation and entrepreneurship. Varsha shares lessons from her first design thinking workshop, the role of mentorship, and the importance of community. She offers insights on navigating cultural differences, fostering engagement, and inspiring creativity through structured reflection and innovation.