case study 04

 

 

 

• constraint: belonging group structurally limited to one country
• intervention: two-layer slack architecture + phased chapter rollout model
• result: 100+ new emea members + Netherlands chapter launched

 

 

 

 

context

a global company with internal inclusion and belonging (IRG) groups. one group existed in Ireland but had no structure for EMEA-wide participation.

my role

regional communications lead (EMEA) for the group, working with the chairs.

timeframe

2-3 months for initial rollout and adoption.

the constraint

the group was designed for inclusion, but the structure made it exclusive - only Ireland had access to community, events, and joining pathways.

the coherence move

I identified that expansion required a scalable communication topology: one EMEA layer for shared belonging, plus local chapters for local depth.

result

an EMEA-wide slack channel launched, 100+ people joined from other countries, and a Netherlands chapter was established using the same template.

 

situation

the chairs wanted expansion across EMEA. but the system only existed in Ireland, which meant there was no way for people in other countries to participate or belong.

  

objective

create immediate EMEA inclusion access without creating a heavy operational burden, and build a structure that could scale into country chapters over time.

 

discovery: the constraint beneath the constraint

the real blocker was not “lack of interest” - it was lack of architecture.

when I met with the US chair for the same group, I learned their structure:

• one slack channel per chapter

• one shared channel that connected all chapters

Ireland only had a local channel. EMEA had no shared layer, so people outside Ireland had nowhere to enter.

 

the coherence move

I designed a phased architecture:

• phase 1: create a single EMEA entry layer so anyone could join immediately

• phase 2: allow country chapters to form once membership concentration existed

• phase 3: add a local slack channel per new chapter for local events and identity

 

the intervention

• enabled chapter formation as a second step rather than a prerequisite 

• created the EMEA slack channel as the primary inclusion entry point

• defined what content belongs in each channel to avoid duplication

• established a simple rule: Ireland content stays local, EMEA channel carries EMEA-suitable and shared posts

 

Implementation

step 1

met with the chairs and clarified the true goal: EMEA-wide inclusion, not just more posts.

step 2

studied the functioning US model and extracted the repeatable structure (shared layer + local chapters).

step 3

set up the EMEA slack channel and positioned it as the immediate community entry point.

step 4

created content boundaries so the Ireland team did not need to double content creation.

step 5

invited participation across EMEA and began running EMEA-suitable events and communications.

step 6

supported the emergence of a new country chapter when membership concentration formed (Netherlands), including creation of its local slack channel.

 

Results

within a couple of months:

• 100+ people joined from other EMEA countries

• EMEA had a clear inclusion entry point for belonging and events

• a Netherlands chapter launched with its own local channel

• a repeatable template existed for future countries

 

what this demonstrates

• I diagnose constraint as structure, not effort

• I build systems that create belonging without creating operational overload

• I design for scale through phased architecture and clear rules

• I create templates that others can replicate across regions

 

work with me

if your organisation is stuck in complexity - growth, priorities, structure, execution - I can help you find the root constraint and restore clear movement.