Organizing an international conference is no small feat—but for oikos Warsaw it also proved to be a meaningful adventure, with plenty of learnings to take away from it and new opportunities that revealed themselves on the horizon! As hosts of the International Chapter Conference (ICC) 2025, they teamed up with oikos International to bring together changemakers from across the globe to their city and shine a spotlight on Central-Eastern Europe’s sustainability conversations.
From the first planning meeting to the final oiCoffee circle, it was more than just an event—it was a powerful experience in co-creation, leadership, and impact. These international gatherings aren’t just great for chapter development—they’re the heartbeat of our global community, a stage where ideas flourish and friendships grow.
With the successful ICC behind us, the oikos Warsaw team took the time to reflect on it and share what they learned along the way…
“When we started planning the International Chapter Conference (ICC) in Warsaw, we dove straight into logistics: agendas, venues, partnerships, spreadsheets, deadlines. You name it, we were on it. But somewhere in the hustle, we skipped the most important question of all: what kind of impact do we want this conference to have? It wasn’t until much later—when the rooms were full and the conversations buzzing—that we realized the real success of ICC didn’t lie in the perfect scheduling or even in the impressive lineup of speakers. It was about people leaving the event with something that would stay with them.
And that’s the biggest lesson our oikos Warsaw chapter took away from this journey: designing for impact. Always. It’s easy to get caught up in the technicalities—after all, organizing a conference is messy, multi-layered, and constantly shifting. But as Maria (lead of ICC Warsaw 2025 and board member of oikos International) said, it’s also incredibly fun and fulfilling. She found herself loving the chaos of coordination, but more importantly, learning how to motivate, support, and co-create with others. Zosia (lead of partnerships), on the other hand, discovered how crucial long-term planning is, especially when it comes to partnerships. We now know that contacting companies isn’t just about making a pitch. It’s about inviting them to co-create. It’s not only giving them space to share their knowledge, but guiding them towards how we want our interactions to unfold. Learning from each other.
What made this experience truly meaningful was realizing how much wisdom and support lives within our own community. From spontaneous brainstorms to late-night pep talks, we leaned on each other more than we expected and walked away with friendships we didn’t even know we needed.
But maybe the most powerful insight came when we started questioning the traditional format of conferences. Why do they so often default to a one-way transfer of information? Maria challenged us all to be bolder! To design events that spark real dialogue, that shake people up a little, that matter. So now we’re asking you, dear reader: when you’re working on your own projects, do you think about their true impact? Not just whether they work, but whether they change something for someone? Because that, in the end, is what it’s all about.”
We take the opportunity to express our gratitude to the oikos Warsaw team for not only organizing an unforgettable Conference, but also for sharing your honest reflections. Your story shows how much depth, care, and community spirit lives in our network.
The story of ICC 2025 is a showcase of what’s possible when we work together across borders, which can inspire further actions within our community. From chapter development to personal growth, these moments shape us all.
To everyone dreaming up the next international gathering: let this be your sign to design for an impact that lasts.
We’re already excited to see where the oikos journey takes us next!
