
People First Planning
We are committed to nurturing healthy relationships through peer groups and coaching to maximize employee engagement.
ForumWithin was founded on the idea that carefully constructed peer groups can benefit colleagues in the same way forums have been benefiting CEOs for decades. A forum is an intimate group of individuals who meet frequently to discuss their personal and professional lives in a structured work environment. We design forums to meet the specific needs of your organization using our years of people first relational experience. We have successfully launched thousands of people into hundreds of forums with transformative outcomes.
Discovery & Design
Executive Coaching
Every forum begins with an immersive review of your company culture, people, and goals. This process includes interviews, employee discussions and assessments, from which our team will determine the timeline, structure, and key objectives of each forum. In the case of Network forums, the organization leaders' objectives will be collected and combined to create a comprehensive path for forum design.
Corporate and Network Forums
For all peer groups there is an emphasis on forum confidentiality and risk transparency. Forums are not group therapy or gossip circles. Forum mates share difficult and amazing experiences without judgement and without unsolicited advice. Our team offers Network Forums to association members and Corporate Forums for company colleagues.
Coaching is defined as "a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires people to maximize their personal and professional potential." The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership. We offer individual coaching for executives and moderator coaching for forum leaders. Individual coaching is a highly customized program offered on a case by case basis. Our moderator coaching is offered to all moderators and tailored to their forum issues.

Aligning your organization's culture with your colleagues.
ForumWithin's founder, John Colburn, was first exposed to the principles of executive forums in 1993 when he joined the Young Presidents Organization. He quickly learned how the pillars of trust, confidentiality, and communication lead to expanded understanding and collaboration. He then implemented forum techniques in his large ESOP insurance brokerage.
After two decades, and numerous YPO forum governance roles, John developed the foundational principles of forums for employees and forums for Key executives in other companies.
It is a huge challenge to find the right benefits, messaging, meeting structure, authority, and socializing in order to create a positive company culture. ForumWithin trains peer groups using a proven, respectful protocol that delivers desired results.
Experience The Forum Difference Today.
Our team is excited to discuss how forum can help transform your company culture and increase people engagement.
John Colburn, CEO & Founder
610-745-8467
Sylvia van Meerten, Partner & Lead Associate
608-458-0313
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