Building Connections: Networking and Learning at the Work Innovation Summit Breakfast with Blacsana

Last week, Blacsana, Asana’s Black Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted an inspiring executive breakfast, bringing together an impressive group of current and potential customers for a morning of connection, goal-setting, and community building prior to the start of Asana’s Work Innovation Summit in San Francisco. Held at the Palace Hotel, the event successfully fostered a sense of belonging and shared purpose among attendees.

The event kicked off with Asana’s General Counsel and Blacsana’s Executive Sponsor, Eleanor Lacey welcoming our guests. Eleanor focused on the importance of networking and how it’s seen positively by others as a means to expand one’s community and create genuine connections. Additionally, Eleanor noted the key to networking is to build connections based on shared interests and/or goals. Genuine connections can lead to unexpected opportunities to help one another in the future.  

The atmosphere was vibrant and full of energy as executives from various industries gathered to network and gain valuable insights. The breakfast was facilitated by Joanna Miller. Joanna is an exec coach, facilitator and experience designer who leads sessions around the globe and has been featured in WSJ and HBR. She led a 30-minute session featuring three purpose-driven prompts. Each prompt aligned to a core theme of Blacsana’s mission to create a safe community for all Black employees at Asana that supports their development, celebrates their successes, and leverages their knowledge in support of Asana’s mission.

The prompts emphasized self-recognition and achievements, community inclusion, personal growth, and wisdom. After each prompt, participants shared their responses. Each question was designed to promote positive reflections and highlight the importance of community and growth.  

The breakfast saw a diverse group of leaders and innovators who were eager to connect with peers and set goals for the day prior to the start of the Work Innovation Summit. Before transitioning into the main event, Joanna asked the group to think about our goals for the remainder of the day. As the event wrapped, we were motivated to exchange information with an attendee we would like to learn more about.  

Blacsana’s intention was to host an event connected to our Work Innovation Summit in San Francisco. We wanted to create a space prior to joining the summit to network, connect and set intentions of how to maximize their time on-site. By fostering these interactions, we hoped to build a stronger, more collaborative community even before the main event began.  

We thank everyone who attended and contributed to making this event a success. Together, we are shaping the future of work management with Asana being the #1 AI work management platform and knowing that Asana is where work connects, driving productivity, and collaboration to new heights.  

Learn more about Employee Resource Groups or career opportunities at Asana.

About the Author: 

As an Administrative Business Partner, Charisse Holman collaborates with leadership to help achieve team goals, ultimately supporting our company’s mission: help humanity thrive by enabling the world’s teams to work together effortlessly.  

As Co-lead of Blacsana, Asana’s Black Employee Resource Group, Charisse designs and implements programming that serves Blacsana’s mission: to create a safe community for all Black employees at Asana that supports their development, celebrates their successes, and leverages their knowledge in support of Asana's mission.