As we close another successful edition of the Accace Circle Forum, we sit down with Alžbeta Košinár, Community Development Lead at Accace Circle, to talk about this year’s main theme “Company Self-Care: Thrive Within, Shine Beyond”, and what this meaningful topic revealed about the importance of caring for our organizations, teams and ourselves.
What inspired this year’s theme, “Company Self-Care: Thrive Within, Shine Beyond”?
This year’s theme grew naturally from last year’s conversations and the ongoing feedback we received from our member companies. After focusing on people and talent in 2024, we wanted to take a step further – inward.
“Company self-care” is about looking at the foundations that make sustainable success possible. In a world where speed, complexity and client expectations are constantly growing, organizations often forget to pause and take care of themselves. Yet, only when we nurture healthy processes and boundaries internally can we truly thrive and shine outwardly, towards our clients, partners and communities.
The idea was also inspired by our Project Management Team, who emphasized how the health of our internal systems, from well-defined scopes to balanced workloads, directly impacts how effectively we serve clients.
Can you share more about how the theme was explored during the forum?
The forum took place in beautiful Milan, Italy, hosted in partnership with one of our valued Accace Circle members, LDP. Over the course of three days, participants explored the concept of self-care through a rich mix of presentations, workshops and open discussions designed to transform ideas into practical actions.
The agenda was thoughtfully structured around three interconnected themes: establishing clarity in service scope and expectations as a foundation for healthy operations, recognizing and managing client requests with balanced assertiveness, and developing emotional intelligence to navigate difficult situations with empathy and professionalism. Each presentation was followed by an interactive workshop, where participants simulated real-life challenges such as defining scope in a mock tender or practicing complex client conversations.
These sessions proved to be incredibly dynamic, revealing how differently each of us approaches similar situations and underscoring that there is no single right solution. What truly matters is the awareness, the right tools, and the empathy to respond thoughtfully and effectively in every circumstance.
Alžbeta Košinár
Community Development Lead
What were some of the biggest takeaways from this year’s event?
The main outcome was knowledge exchange. Understanding how each member approaches challenges differently, what tools work best for them and how these practices shape the client experience.
Participants agreed that clarity, mutual understanding and well-defined roles within the globally managed model make a significant difference not only in efficiency but also in team well-being.
Another strong message that emerged was the importance of perspective: recognizing that behind every process or decision are people. Whether it’s employees, partners or clients, success depends on the quality of our relationships and how we care for them.
What’s next for the Accace Circle community?
As always, the forum was not an ending but a starting point. The conversations that began in Milan will continue throughout the year, through online sessions, new initiatives and collaborative projects that help us grow together.
We left Milan feeling inspired and re-energized. This community never stops learning and evolving. Every event reminds us that when we take care of what’s inside, everything outside flows naturally.
