This summer I took my teenagers to Greece, where I spent all four years of high school. Athens was the most powerful stop.

Walking them through my old neighborhood in Paleo Psychiko, showing them my school and favorite gathering spots, I realized something: the way we come together has not changed in thousands of years.

Growing up in Greece taught me that gathering is not an activity, it is a way of life. Meals stretch late into the night. Cafés become classrooms of debate. The city itself, from amphitheaters to public squares, was designed for connection. That spirit of hospitality, philoxenia, shaped me as much as anything I learned in school.

Later in life, I built a global events agency. Looking back, I can see how much of my approach to designing experiences was rooted in what Greece instilled in me.

I was also shaped by my family. My father, an American diplomat, showed me that culture is the medium for trust and progress. My Jamaican mother brought rhythm, warmth, and joy into our home. Together, their influence made me see gatherings as bridges between people, perspectives, and possibilities.

Standing at the Acropolis with my kids, I thought about how the Greeks built theaters, stadiums, and temples not only for worship or spectacle but to strengthen community. Their leaders understood that convening was essential to a thriving society.

That lesson still holds true. Every leader today is also a host. Whether it is a board meeting, an offsite, or a strategy session, you are shaping spaces where people come together.
And those spaces matter.

Here are three lessons Greece reminded me of:

  • Hospitality is leadership. People remember how they are welcomed and whether they feel seen.
  • Spaces shape outcomes. The settings, tone, and rituals you choose directly influence results.
  • Culture is connective tissue. Weaving humanity into strategy is not optional; it is essential.

For me, returning to Athens was more than nostalgia. It was a reminder that leadership is not only about decisions. It is about creating the conditions where trust, joy, and connection can thrive.

That is what turns a meeting into a moment. And a gathering into something lasting.

About Linder Global Events

Sitting firmly at the intersection of strategic convening and design, the Linder Global Events Team is dedicated to transforming lives through the power of strategically designed events. We create moments of inspiration, wonder, and influence that elevate each client’s brand, mission, and strategy.