Introductions

Now we have eight volunteers and a basic website journey, the Burgeon Collective experiment is moving from an idea into something we can actually test.

We’ve created a few simple prototypes to simulate how the network might work in practice — how people introduce themselves, how guides and burgeoning leaders might find relevant experience and expertise, and ask for a conversation.

Our first cohort will use them, test them and tell us what they found useful, what wasn’t so useful, what was missing and what they would build on from here.

The journey we’re starting with is simple:

Create a profile → browse → explore relevant expertise → have a conversation → reflect on what happens next.

Our core question remains - how can Burgeon make experience, expertise and guidance more accessible to burgeoning leaders with a mission?

What we're testing

1. Supply
   Are there people with useful experience and expertise who are willing to give their time? What makes that involvement appealing, manageable and rewarding?

2. Finding relevant expertise
   What information helps people recognise who might have something useful to offer?

3. Browsing and choosing
   Can people find relevant people and expertise for themselves? What helps them decide who they want to speak to?

4. The conversation
   How do guides and leaders experience the conversation?

5. What happens next
   What happens as a result of the conversation or connection? What other benefits might emerge?

   And in later phases…

6. Future support
   What more would be useful to explore through future conversations, the wider community, or eventually other forms of support such as forums or groups?

7. Scale and context
   Can this work across different geographies, issue areas, beliefs, values, norms and contexts without losing relevance, trust or usefulness?

8. Sustained participation
   What makes leaders want to keep seeking support and guides want to keep contributing?

Let’s see what we learn. 🌱