Deputy chief guide Sally Kettle on Leading Together
Sally reflects on an inspiring weekend at our Leading Together event
When you hear the word ‘conference’ you might imagine endless PowerPoint slides, bland sandwiches, and perhaps the creeping urge to check your emails.
But let me tell you, Leading Together was nothing like that. This wasn’t just a gathering of county commissioners, chief commissioners, the chief guide team, lead volunteers, and Girlguiding staff. It was an adventure, and you know how I feel about adventures!
I think many of us arrived not quite knowing what to expect, but from the very first ‘hello’s, we all knew this was going to be more than your typical conference. It was a celebration of leadership, camaraderie, and that special something we all share: a passion for guiding the next generation of strong, resilient, and capable young women.
Now, let’s talk about the workshops. They were packed with insight. We talked about our strategy and what it might look like in the coming years. Leadership styles were explored, and we also discussed what it means to volunteer - but perhaps more importantly, how we talk about volunteering.
We know we’re not attracting as many volunteers as we need to make Girlguiding available to all girls, so our language matters… we need to make it clear in our words and actions that everyone is welcome – including those who might not have any previous experience of guiding! I’m feeling inspired to talk less about ‘giving up’ and more about ‘gifting’ our time to make a difference. We also shared our best practices, from handling the trickiest of situations to celebrating the smallest of wins.
But the best part? The conversations. I really hope having the chance to speak to each other, the chief guide team and CEO was reassuring and helped to break down any barriers. I found myself in conversations with many inspiring commissioners, lead volunteers and staff, sharing stories and swapping tips. You could feel the connection between everyone in the room, all brought together by our shared commitment to making guiding better for every girl and leader involved.
Heading home on the train back to north Wales, I couldn’t help but feel excited about what’s next for Girlguiding. There’s something powerful about coming together like this, reminding ourselves that we’re not alone in this leadership journey. We are part of something bigger—something that’s changing lives, one camping trip, one badge, and one leader at a time. I even spent the journey sat with a commissioner from my neighbouring county and I left her having made a promise to knit a new jumper - not quite the outcome I was expecting!
So, what did I take away from Leading Together? It’s simple, really. Leadership is about more than just setting goals and giving directions. It’s about being there for each other, leaning on the wisdom of those around you, and most importantly, leading with kindness, empathy, and a healthy dose of fun.
