What is forum?

YOUR PERSONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

What would you give for a personal Board of advisors or for the ability to tap into a small group of fellow business owners who can offer you direction based on their experiences?

This invaluable access is available through Forum, a unique member-driven experience offered by EO that brings together a group of entrepreneurs for peer-to-peer learning and support.

Participants take part in monthly meetings employing special protocols to support a trusting environment in which they can safely explore business and personal growth issues.

WHAT HAPPENS AT FORUM MEETINGS?

We can share 95 percent of our lives with anyone. During Forum meetings, members discuss the other five percent – the triumphs and tragedies of life as an entrepreneur.

Moderator-trained EO members, not paid facilitators, guide the sessions, which emphasise confidentiality, personal responsibility and the sharing of lessons learned.

Members don’t give advice; they speak from prior experience, letting you draw your own conclusions on the best manner to proceed.

Asia Bridge Forums

Members keen to pursue an Asian business focus might wish to consider participating in the Asia Bridge Forums.

The Asia Bridge Forum (ABF) started in 2006 with 16 members from the South East Asian chapters (and one from Japan).

Most of these members had been involved in local Forum for many years, and sought to leverage our network and have Forum with members from other chapters in our region.

They now have 80 members in seven Forums with members from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Korea, New Delhi, Dallas and, most recently, Adelaide.

The Asia Bridge Forums meet three times a year – with one of these meetings being a mini University called ABC or Asia Bridge Campus. The venue for each meeting changes each time so that part of the experience is the location.

In the past there has been Forum in ancient Japanese temples, on private islands, in cricket fields, on yachts, and even in the temples of Angkor Wat!

Why join an Asia Bridge Forum?

  • Get perspectives from another culture

  • Seek help in expanding to another country

  • Experience a city through a local's eyes

  • Find connections in another chapter

Expense

Aside from travel to the venue and accommodation, there is a $1500 annual fee at the start of the year to cover all three meetings. 

For further details, or to apply, please email us for an application form.

 

EO Bridge Forums

What is an EO Bridge Forum?

An EO Bridge Forum is a non-chapter Forum that is part of a regional “bridge” program. Each regional Bridge program is made up of the various Bridge Forums in the region. All of the Forums in the regional Bridge meet together in one place, offering great opportunities for connecting members, cultures and businesses.

How do EO Bridge Forums work?

Bridge Forums share the features of all other EO Forums.

What’s different about Bridge Forums?

  • Bridge Forums may be larger than chapter Forums – some include as many as 16 people.

  • Bridge Forums meet three times per year at a regional Bridge program with all of the other Forums in the Bridge. These events are typically 2-3 days with time split between Forum meetings, networking and unique experiences.

Where are the EO Bridge Forums located?

Presently, EO has Bridge programs in the following regions:

  • Asia — the original Bridge program, known Asia Bridge or “ABF” 

  • China — China Bridge

  • Europe — European Bridge

  • Latin America Bridge

  • North America Bridge

How do I find and join a Bridge Forum?

EO Members can view and apply to Bridge Forums using the Bridge Forum database (coming soon). As with any Forum, there is an application and placement process. Each regional Bridge program has a contact that can assist with placement. Your local Forum Chair and regional Forum Experts are also good resources. You can also email Forum@eonetwork.org for further assistance.

Cost

There is no additional cost to join a Bridge Forum, but members must pay the registration and event fees for each Bridge event as well as their travel and accommodations. Bridge event fees vary by region and event.

Why Join an EO Bridge Forum?

There are many benefits to EO members when they join a Bridge Forum. These include:

  • Build Forum-strength relationships with members outside your local chapter

  • New and diversified perspectives for your issues through a richer, more varied mix of experiences

  • Gain direct experience and “bridge the gap” to other cultures and other points of view

  • Enjoy cross-cultural, social and networking events around the region

  • Explore business relationships, develop local contacts and intelligence in other states and countries

  • Enjoy an “insider experience” in various destinations within the region

  • Enjoy a regional Forum experience that is part of larger Bridge program. Meetings are planned by the Bridge program, so that each individual Forum isn’t burdened with meeting planning.

  • Bridge Forums meet just three times per year

    • Each meeting can be more like a retreat than a local Forum meeting

    • Retreat-like exercises are often included to reestablish and deepen bonds between members quickly

    • Learn Arounds Lunch Arounds (LALA’s) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and mixed Forums can take advantage of this unique Forum format

What are the best practices to maximize my EO Bridge Forum experience?

  • Recalibrate your expectations: Bridge can make for a powerful Forum experience, but it’s different from chapter Forum.

  • Be in the moment: Treat each Bridge Forum meeting as its own experience.

  • Own your experience: Just as you would go into a Forum retreat, Advanced Forum Series, Strategy Summit, or any other EO setting, Bridge requires your full presence and participation.

  • Connect with other Bridge members: A chapter Forum does this for you by being a monthly requirement. Keeping in touch with your fellow Bridge members in between in-person meetings can go a long way towards strengthening your Bridge Forum bonds.

  • Don’t take Forum health for granted: Follow the guidelines in the Forum Framework (LINK) and make sure that your Bridge Forum has a strong Forum constitution, trained members and moderator, a prepared agenda for each meeting, and uses all of the other tools that are available to make EO Forums successful.

Questions about the EO Bridge Forum Program?

Start with your local Forum Chair and your regional Forum Experts. If you need further information please contact: Forum@eonetwork.org