Ground.
For people doing something truer than the script, and the ones starting to think about it.
An evening in Chicago, once a month.
A small group. Downtown. Early evening.
No name tags. No panel. No one working the room.
Chicago has plenty of gatherings where everyone is selling something. This is not one of them.
No agenda. That's the point.
A table, a drink, and people who are building something or thinking hard about what comes next.
Some people arrive knowing someone. Most don't, at first. That sorts itself out faster than you'd expect, partly because thought goes into who is in the room before anyone walks in.
Come alone. Most people do.
Who Ground is For
Founders. Senior leaders. Entrepreneurs.
Most of them spend their days as the person everyone else needs something from. Here they don't have to be.
The common thread is not an industry. It's a willingness to say something true out loud.
Ten to fifteen people. Small is the point, not a limit.
How it works
Ground meets monthly in downtown Chicago, usually the fourth Thursday of the month.
Next gathering: Thursday, August 27, 2026.
Register through the link below and you'll hear from me before the gathering. There is no cost to attend.
Your Host
Ground is hosted by me, Tracey Seward. I spent twenty-five years at Accenture, founded two companies, and now design experiences for leaders. In boardrooms, in cities, and on mountains.
I’ll meet you at the door, and introduce you to the person you should meet. What happens after that is yours.