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Coffee & Conversation featuring Cara Wright

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo

Join us this month for a special Coffee & Conversation featuring keynote speaker Cara Wright, Director of Development and Community Engagement at Must! Charities and former CEO of Farm Supply Company. Cara is a fourth-generation SLO County resident and Cal Poly alum whose career spans nearly three decades leading one of the region’s most beloved farmer-owned cooperatives. She rose through the ranks at Farm Supply—from salesperson to marketing, V.P. of Communications, and ultimately CEO—before transitioning this year to her new role at Must! Charities. Cara will share lessons from her journey from a local co-op to a local non-profit, insights on leadership, and the ways business and community impact intersect. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear Cara’s perspective on leading with purpose, navigating career transitions, and fostering meaningful change. Connect with fellow business professionals, enjoy free coffee, and engage in meaningful conversations with our vibrant community.

Free

Cabernet & Conversation

THE SANDBOX Paso Robles + Zoom 1345 Park St, Paso Robles

Register This month, Coffee & Conversation gets a summer twist with a special evening edition: “Cabernet & Conversation” featuring Gretchen Roddick, Executive Vice President of Hope Family Wines and a leader in the Paso Robles wine community. Gretchen’s story is one of vision, grit, and community. Since joining Hope Family Wines in 1997, she has played a pivotal role in its transformation from a small, family-run business to a nationally recognized winery producing nearly one million cases annually. Along the way, she has helped the winery earn national awards, including Wine Enthusiast’s 2022 American Winery of the Year, and has become a champion for the Central Coast wine region. Join us to hear Gretchen’s journey from Cal Poly grad and seasonal cellar assistant to executive leadership and industry mentor. She will share behind-the-scenes insights into building a successful winery, lessons learned from decades in the business, and her thoughts on what makes Paso Robles such a special place for entrepreneurs and makers. The evening will be relaxed and interactive, with plenty of time for audience questions and informal networking over local wine. Whether you work in the wine industry, own a business, or simply want to learn from one of […]

Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience for Sustainable Success

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo

Register Burnout is more than just stress—it’s a real and rising challenge for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders juggling competing priorities. In this practical, down-to-earth workshop, executive leadership coach Kiki Wilkinson will guide you through how to spot the early warning signs of burnout, develop strategies to prevent it, and equip yourself with tools to bounce back when it hits. Drawing on her 15 years of leadership development experience—including nearly a decade shaping global teams at Airbnb—Kiki shares actionable steps and compassionate insights to help you protect your energy, sustain your passion, and reconnect with the joy of what you do. Whether you’re feeling the pressure now or just want to build better boundaries for the future, this session will help you cultivate resilience, boost clarity, and thrive both personally and professionally.