Never Dive Alone: Why Bold Leaders Need Community

"Breathe, breathe, Birgit. Breathe."

Those were the first words I heard after blacking out during a freediving competition a few years ago.

For 17 seconds, I wasn't really there. My mind was somewhere else entirely, in a strange dreamlike world of dancing cartoon animals and distant voices.

Then I came back. I opened my eyes to find safety divers holding me, judges watching, and a medic already beside me. I was confused. Disoriented.

But I was safe … because I wasn't alone.

In freediving, the first and most important rule is simple:

Never dive alone.

No matter how experienced, strong, or confident you are, there may come a moment when you need someone else to bring you safely back to the surface.

Recently, I was reminded that leadership works exactly the same way.

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​The People Who Make Depth Possible

Over the past few weeks, I've found myself surrounded by communities that reminded me of this lesson.

One of them was the Rotary International Convention in Taipei.

Imagine nearly 37,000 people from around the world gathering around a shared commitment to service and positive change. It was my first opportunity to experience Rotary at this scale, and it was genuinely mind-blowing.

The opening ceremony felt a little like the Olympics. Nearly 200 flags were carried into the Taiwan Dome, one by one, representing the countries and territories where Rotary serves. Sitting among thousands of people committed to making a difference was both humbling and inspiring.

Photo caption: Taipei was a reminder to surround yourself with communities that make depth possible.

As a Rotary Peace Fellow, it was also an opportunity to connect with fellow peacebuilders and changemakers from a global network of more than 1,800 leaders.

With everything in my own career currently evolving at top speed, the convention became an unexpected moment of reflection.

Four years ago, when I completed my fellowship, the world was navigating COVID. I was employed, leading organisations, and only beginning to step into a more visible role.

Today, I run Inspired by Nature, my leadership and social impact consultancy, recently launched the BOLDER framework at the Presidential Palace in Timor-Leste, and increasingly find myself advising, coaching, and encouraging others to step forward and lead boldly.

Taipei reminded me that none of that journey would have been possible without people who invested in me first.

People opened doors. They made introductions. They encouraged me to take opportunities before I felt entirely ready. They believed in me.

And now, increasingly, I find myself in the position of doing the same for others. In many ways, Taipei felt like an opportunity to pay that forward.

I also had the opportunity to deliver two sessions on BOLDER Leadership for People and Planet: Lessons from Timor-Leste.

The talks started with a simple question:

What would happen if more people stepped forward before they felt ready?

What stayed with me most were the conversations afterwards. The questions. The encouragement. The people who saw parts of their own leadership journeys reflected in the framework.

Once again, I was reminded that none of our bold ideas are built in isolation.
They grow because communities hold them, challenge them, and help them take shape.

Photo caption: Sharing BOLDER in Taipei was a reminder that leadership lessons forged in Timor-Leste resonate far beyond our shores.


What Topu Ramutu Was Really About

Last weekend, we screened our short film from Topu Ramutu, Timor-Leste's first community-led freediving festival, at two events.
Watch it here:  

The second screening turned into something much bigger than a film night. It sparked a lively conversation among ocean lovers, conservationists, young people, and community leaders that lasted for more than 90 minutes.

Watching the footage again and witnessing the audience engagement reinforced something we had hoped from the very beginning: Topu Ramutu wasn't just about freediving. 

It was about nurturing a community of conservation-minded ocean lovers who feel most at home below the waves. It was about belonging.

Photo caption: Topu Ramutu wasn't just about diving together. It was about building a community around a shared purpose.

Nearly 40 people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds came together because they share a love for the ocean. Friendships were formed. Young Timorese freedivers stepped into leadership roles. A community began to take shape.

And isn't that true for leadership too?

The people who help us go further are often not the ones standing in the spotlight beside us.

They're the mentor who believes in us before we're ready. The friend who tells us a difficult truth. The colleague who quietly supports our ideas. The team member who carries part of the load. Or the community that reminds us we don't have to do everything alone.

One of the biggest lessons from Taipei wasn't about leadership frameworks or keynote stages. It was this:

Bold leaders rarely succeed alone.


The BOLDER Lesson

One of the six pillars of the BOLDER Framework is Leverage Collective Power.

Because bold leadership is rarely a solo act.

The myth of the self-made leader is seductive, but it isn't true.

Every meaningful thing I've done in my life has been shaped by others: teachers, mentors, coaches, friends, colleagues, communities, and people who opened doors I couldn't yet see. They are not peripheral to my journey but its foundation. They are what make depth possible.

And perhaps that's why the first rule of freediving has become one of my favourite leadership lessons:

Never dive alone.

Reflection

• Who are the people that make your bold steps possible?
• And just as importantly:
  Who feels braver because you are in their corner?

Closing
As I look back on the past few weeks, these are the lessons I keep returning to:

• You can be courageous and still need support.
• You can be capable and still need community.
• You can be a leader and still need people who help you breathe.

So wherever you are right now, don't dive alone: Build your team. Nurture your community. Ask for help. Offer support. Because the biggest mountains, deepest dives, and boldest dreams are rarely achieved alone.

And if you're reading this, thank you for being part of mine.

Until next time,
Birgit