Ep.38 Build a Thriving Community (and Business) with This
With Simon Morris
Episode Description:
In this episode, Simon Morris, speaks about his experience organising the Reading Geek and Science in Reading groups, and offers advice that can be applied to businesses.
He discusses the differences between the Reading Geek Night and Science in Reading groups, explaining how Reading Geek Night is a more informal event covering a wide range of geeky topics, while Science in Reading is a deeper, more hardcore science-oriented event featuring speakers with science backgrounds from academia or industry.
Simon details the challenges of managing both groups, including the work involved in organising speakers, utilising technology to streamline processes, and the importance of building and maintaining a pipeline of speakers.
We also discuss Simon’s experience collaborating with Reading University, highlighting the mutual benefits of these partnerships.
MeetUp page for Reading Geeks and Science in Reading: https://www.meetup.com/science-in-reading/
Science in Reading website: https://scienceinreading.wordpress.com/
Reading Geek Night website: https://rdggeeknight.wordpress.com/
Science in Reading Social Channels:
Reading Geek Night Social Channels:
Check out the upcoming events for Reading Geeks and Science in Reading on MeetUp:
Listen to the episode
Episode Time Codes
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Greeting
00:41 Introduction to Simon
00:59 What Simon likes about Reading
02:17 Introduction to Reading Geeks and Science in Reading
03:22 The difference between Reading Geeks and Science in Reading
04:32 How Simon manages two groups simultaneously
06:50 How Simon finds and organises speakers
09:18 What Simon has learned as he’s grown both groups
11:30 How Simon promotes both groups
15:10 Simon’s collaboration with Reading University
18:46 How Simon has maintained group attendance since lockdown
23:36 How Simon encourages a wide group demographic (genders and ages)
25:50 Format of Reading Geek group meetings and how Simon encourages engagement
27:52 What topics are doing well at the moment
30:46 Plans for topics going forwards
31:21 Final thoughts
Videos
Growing Your Group with Data
How Simon Manages Multiple Groups
Organising speakers for the groups
How collaborations can open doors
What Simon has learned
Key takeaways
Community Engagement and Adaptability: Simon emphasises the importance of actively engaging with the community and adapting to its needs and preferences. He highlights this through his efforts to include diverse groups in events, his willingness to try new event formats and his emphasis on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The Importance of Data-Driven Decision Making: Simon stresses the value of collecting and analysing data to inform decisions and avoid misperceptions. He recounts an experience where he checked historical attendance data to correct his assumptions about event turnout, demonstrating how data analysis can provide valuable insights and ensure that efforts are aligned with reality.
Building and Maintaining Momentum: Simon underscores the significance of building a pipeline of speakers and nurturing relationships within the community to ensure sustained engagement and growth.
Episode references
About Reading Geek Night
About Science in Reading