February marked a particularly special event for our community. The monthly theme, ‘Touch’, was chosen by the Lisbon chapter, to be used at CreativeMornings events in no fewer than 228 cities worldwide.

Our rapidly growing audience turned out in force to Casa do Impacto, located in a 17th century convent among the bustling hills of Bairro Alto. Guests mingled on the sunny terrace overlooking the cloisters, enjoying the complimentary coffee and breakfast. Some explored the rooftop and were treated to stunning panoramic views. 

Our host Irina introduced the talk and told us her personal connection with the theme: she originally came to Lisbon for a PhD on the psychological effects of physical touch. Then illustrator Emma Lopes gave us some background information on her artwork, including the beautiful logo she designed for the talk.

Next up was our main speaker, Inês Sequeira, founder and director of Casa do Impacto. This ‘casa’ is the biggest impact entrepreneurship hub in Portugal, housing over 60 startups (as well as being our stunning venue for the morning’s event). Inês described how she’d ended up in impact entrepreneurship via a career in law. Her aim was always to make a difference, but as a lawyer she was frustrated with the rigidity of the system preventing her from doing so. This was followed by a spell working more closely with the community through Lisbon’s city hall. 

She could see that entrepreneurship held potential for tackling social issues. “I believe that inequalities are the biggest problem that we have,” she told us, “so we have to give people the tools.” Inês believes that most of us want to confront these issues but don’t know where to start, so she wanted to open the door. It hasn’t been an easy path. “Being a social impact entrepreneur is a huge challenge,” Inês stated, acknowledging the impossibility of changing people’s lives in a matter of months. She and her team must play the long game to make a difference. They work to bring social issues to the centre of decisions made by corporates and public administration.

Inês ended with some ‘impact stories’ about the work done by some of the startups in the hub. One project provided mental health support for children without families during the pandemic, while another focused on prisons, enabling inmates to gain valuable skills. The talk was followed by a Q&A with guests who were clearly inspired. Those who didn’t have to rush off to
work then enjoyed a free tour of the building’s chapel.

With the dream evocation of Lisbon’s theme, Inês’ talk left us eager to face the day ahead. The event received a great deal of positive feedback from attendees, which is always affirming for our team of enthusiastic volunteers. We couldn’t do it without our inspiring community, which continues to welcome more and more amazing creatives every month. 

See you in March!

Text by  Alexis Somerville

Photography by Carla Heyworth