overview
The Open Agency Network (OAN) is a unique, informal group of principals from values-driven firms working at the intersection of sustainability, social change, and the digital landscape. These leaders come together annually in inspiring locations worldwide to engage in a week-long series of masterminds focused on strategic planning, peer support, and personal growth. Since 2013, Stina Brown has been a central figure in the facilitation of these transformative retreats, providing expert guidance and fostering an environment of trust and innovation.
What is OAN?
OAN is a confidential and supportive peer group exclusively for business principals who are passionate about advancing social transformation. Its mission is to provide a secure space for members to:
- Learn how to better run their businesses.
- Develop trusted professional networks.
- Sustain themselves personally in challenging work environments.
- Strengthen their influence in movements for social change.
Participating Companies have Included:
Stina Brown’s Role and Contribution
Over the years, Stina has designed and facilitated strategic planning masterminds for 10–12 businesses at each retreat. Her role includes creating agendas that never lose momentum, fostering a safe and productive space for collaboration, and synthesizing complex discussions into actionable insights. Her ability to navigate a room full of passionate entrepreneurs has been described as invaluable by OAN members.
Highlights of Stina’s Impact
- Facilitating Trust and Authenticity: Stina creates spaces where members feel comfortable sharing vulnerabilities and tackling difficult challenges. This foundation of trust is essential for visioning, strategic planning, and problem-solving.
- Expert Agenda Design: She crafts dynamic agendas that balance structure and flexibility, ensuring the group maintains focus and energy throughout the retreat.
- Exceptional Facilitation Skills: Stina’s calm and confident presence helps guide high-energy, Type-A entrepreneurs through complex discussions. She ensures everyone’s voice is heard and keeps the group on track to achieve their goals.
- Synthesizing Complex Ideas: As a natural synthesizer, Stina distills complex conversations into clear, actionable points. This skill ensures the group’s efforts translate into meaningful outcomes.
- Energy and Positivity: Stina brings high-octane energy to every session, keeping the atmosphere positive and collaborative, even during intense discussions.
Stina’s value: Immense? Incalculable? Seriously, Stina’s amazing and makes Open Agency Network work.
— OAN Network Principal
Key Outcomes: OAN Mastermind Retreats
- Deep Collaboration: Members experience a heightened level of connection and support, enabling them to tackle challenges with renewed energy and insight.
- Actionable Strategies: Stina’s facilitation ensures discussions result in clear, actionable strategies tailored to each business.
- Personal and Professional Growth: The retreats provide a rare opportunity for members to reflect on both personal and professional goals, leaving them recharged and inspired.
- Strengthened Networks: Through her expert guidance, Stina helps cultivate a professional network rooted in trust and shared values.
oan comments
OAN Network Principal
Stina’s an amazing facilitator. She gets us centered and ready to participate and support each other. She listens well, adds valuable insights to the conversation, and captures important points well in both her written notes and illustrated boards.
OAN Network Principal
Stina sets the stage for deep trust and sharing at our annual retreat. She works with our wiley band of entrepreneurs to design an agenda that never loses momentum and she pilots us through a focused, five day process of sharing and discovery. Under her expert guidance, new ideas and deep understanding comes to the surface.
OAN Network Principal
Stina Brown is an excellent synthesizer of complex information and has a gift for distilling salient points which makes the conversation productive. She brings high octane energy into the room which is an intangible and necessary quality for a full day strategic planning session – especially one with diverse viewpoints.
OAN Network Principal
Stina is a master at guiding a group through the really deep work of exploring personal and professional challenges and vulnerabilities that stand in the way of progress. She creates a structure for the work that is inquisitive, comprehensive, safe, and fun. She makes what could be an otherwise very draining experience feel uplifting.
Conclusion
The Open Agency Network’s mastermind retreats exemplify the power of intentional facilitation and collaborative spaces. Stina Brown’s expertise has been instrumental in making these gatherings transformative, impactful, and deeply rewarding for all participants. Her contributions continue to elevate OAN as a model for peer-driven, values-based professional growth.
