Finding My People

By Brendan Gibson, Anspired

When I first joined EO, I started in Accelerator—and I’ll be honest, I got my backside kicked.

My coach didn’t exactly follow the usual framework, but the tough love was exactly what I needed. It was raw, real, and a wake-up call. I wasn’t just joining a program—I was stepping into a place where I’d be challenged to grow. And not just in business.

Because when you’re with the right people—your people—you grow in ways you don’t expect.

That was the beginning of a journey that’s since shaped how I lead, how I think, and how I live.

Through Forum, I’ve made some of the biggest calls of my business life—merging companies, then choosing to part ways—and at every turn, I’ve had a group of peers behind me. No judgment, just deep trust and perspective. EO became the space where I could bring my biggest decisions and know I’d be met with honesty and support.

It’s also the place I’ve laughed the hardest and stepped the furthest outside my comfort zone. Like the time I almost skipped EO Ignite in Melbourne because the agenda looked light. Someone said, “Trust the process.” I did—and it ended up being one of the most powerful events I’ve ever attended. The real, raw stories. The behind-the-scenes of leadership. The kind of learning you don’t find in a book.

That’s the thing about being with your people: it’s not just business. You learn, you grow, and you feel seen.

It’s even more than that—it’s global. When I flew to the Philippines, I reached out to the local EO chapter. I expected a coffee. What I got was a warm welcome and an instant sense of belonging. That’s the EO magic. No matter where you go, you’re never alone.

These connections run deep. They spark big decisions—and spontaneous ones too. Like when Kevin Porter and I booked a yacht trip on a whim, just because one of us said, “If you go, I’ll go.” That kind of unfiltered camaraderie… it only happens when you’re truly with your people.

And now, the ripple is reaching my family. My wife, who once said EO wasn’t for her, is stepping into her first SLP forum. Watching her choose to grow alongside me—that’s a milestone I’ll never forget.

From an unexpected brand lesson early on, to mentoring others, to now watching my world grow wider because of EO—it’s been the kind of transformation that happens when you surround yourself with the right tribe.

Because when you’re with your people, you learn, you laugh, you step up—and you bring others with you.

That’s what EO has given me. And I’m forever grateful.