Bakau Consulting Inc.

So, this is a post I never wanted to make. But I have a favour to ask. I started Bakau Consulting in 2018. I was inspired by values of social justice, equity and collective liberation. These were instilled in me by family and community. Our mission is to help our clients make meaningful change within their organizations and beyond, through education, consultation and transformation. Over the year, I'm proud of the all we've build together. Asking for help is hard. But I’ve always said my approach to this work is no bullsh*t, so here’s the reality: Despite their promises, many organizations are rolling back their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion work. As a result, many small businesses (like us) and people in our industry are struggling. Even though #DEI work is just as timely as ever, we've seen firsthand the number of companies that are no longer prioritizing this work. This is seriously impacting us an many others. We have spent many days this year confused, stressed and sad. But, I'm not ready to give up yet. To make this happen, we need your help. My ask is simple: 1. Share this post to spread awareness about our story. 2. Please check out our online courses and digital offerings at https://lnkd.in/g9hgJXRV Our community has always been our backbone. Your support means everything to us as we continue to navigate this. In solidarity, Cicely Belle Blain

What does a bird from The Gambia have to do with facilitation ? Every community has a story, and at Bakau Consulting, ours is deeply connected to nature. Our name draws inspiration from the lush coastal city where Cicely Belle Blain maternal family and ancestors called home. Bakau is a city rich with botanical gardens, crocodile pools, and vibrant wildlife. When we asked our Creative Coordinator, Mariana, to envision a symbol for our facilitation learning program, Making Space, she turned to the Gambia River for inspiration. This is a place hamerkops call home and these these birds have become a symbol for how we approach community-centred facilitation. Here’s how the hamerkop’s behaviors inspire our work: 🛠 Master Builders: Hamerkops construct enormous, resilient nests — designed to withstand harsh conditions. Their efforts create homes not only for themselves but also for others in the ecosystem. 🏘 Building Beyond Ourselves: Like the hamerkop, we believe in creating spaces that benefit more than just the builder. After they’ve moved on from their nests, lizards, owls and other creatures make these nests their homes. Our facilitation practices encourage lasting impact that extends beyond the facilitator. 🙌 Social and Playful: Hamerkops are social birds. They gather in groups and perform playful dances, simply for the joy of it. We believe the best facilitators guide their groups while also leaving room for creativity, connection, and joy. 💡 Forward-Thinking: As a waterbird, there is a belief that when hamerkops gaze at their reflections in the water they are actually looking at visions of the future. Just like this, we encourage facilitators to help groups not only solve today's problems but also anticipate tomorrow's challenges and opportunities. Building towards a shared vision is paramount. The hamerkop represents more than just our ties to The Gambia — it symbolizes the kind of facilitation we strive to teach: collaborative, resilient, forward-looking, and joyful. Through Making Space, we hope to empower facilitators to build spaces that nurture connection and leave a lasting legacy. Join us today: https://lnkd.in/grww6vvq #CommunityBuilding #Facilitation #Leadership #SustainableGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

Welcome to Making Space ! We bring together facilitation with community building for a truly magical approach. Whether you're just getting started or looking to polish your existing skills, we got you covered. This program is designed for those passionate about creating inclusive, community-centered spaces. It’s designed for today’s dynamic world, offering live virtual modules that help you build safer spaces, sharpen your facilitation skills, and confidently tackle complex challenges. You can join for individuals modules, or mix and match to create a personalized learning bundle—and save while you're at it! Get started with our risk-free trial to see that we're right for you 🌟 Learn more and join us here: https://lnkd.in/grww6vvq #professionaldevelopment #facilitationskills #communitybuilding

Do you have 1 minute to spare? Cicely Belle Blain needs your help to bring their panel to SXSW 2025. “Creating to Educate: A Positive Force in the Creator Economy” is up for consideration and your vote can bring it to one of the biggest stages in the world. How to vote and show your support:  1. Go to https://lnkd.in/guHM-gVZ 2. Take 1 minute to sign in/create an account 3. Upvote the panel & leave a comment! Alongside some brilliant minds, Cicely will be discussing how education is a powerful tool to spark change for good, and how creators and businesses can tap into this opportunity. Thank you for your vote!

Would you do us a favour and vote for Bakau Consulting Inc. in the Small Business BC Awards?! Thank you for your support! https://lnkd.in/gV4FtGmV

Is anyone else shocked by these numbers? The major shift in demand we've seen is from bite-size educational moments to tailored impact projects. Here's how we see it, organizations have realized that one-off workshops, keynote speeches and statements of inclusion are not enough to spark lasting transformations. Now, the journey of a values-driven approach has become more clear. Demand for strategic planning, coaching and implementation consulting is trending. A clearer picture is emerging: The top organizations we collaborate with seamlessly integrate DEI initiatives across all departments, policies, and procedures. They lead with transparency, with leadership setting the example and embodying the changes they expect from their teams. #consultingtrends #valuesdriven

Curious about how #trends in #valuesdriven consulting has changed in recent years? Here is what we have seen. A transformation took place in 2020. And since then a lot has changed. There is a notable evolution in what people are looking for and the types of commitments people are ready to make. The sense of urgency has dulled and it's creating space for more sustainable moves.

One of the most rewarding things = cheering on our creator educators from the side lines 💙 Last week, Cicely Belle Blain spoke at the Canadian eLearning Conference, sharing about the importance of adopting an equity-minded approach to eLearning. Not only was this session important for equality and acceptance within the learning industry, but also furthers the important work that Bakau Consulting Inc. has done for dismantling systemic oppression through their community-based courses on Thinkific We're so proud of you Cicely! #PowerOfTheCreatorEducator

Lots of great connections and conversations at #StartUpFest2024. So amazing to see the investment in Black and 2SLGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and their amazing ideas!

If you're at #StartUpFest2024, come chat with me! https://lnkd.in/gGVqPBeJ