Six Pounds of Common Ground

A message from Caroline...

As we’ve shared recently in our blogs and through social media posts, we have a wall of images in our office that represent our teammates’ “Coins”. This display has become a great reminder for all of us of the depth of our full-time staff and our team of Expert Facilitators, and what we all value.   

In this week’s Blog, our colleague and dear friend, Dr. Caroline Walsh, gives us a glimpse into her values, and shares some of the currency beneath one of the images she chose.  

Caroline is a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, former CIA Analyst, former U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Officer, researcher, consultant, and facilitator specializing in organizational development and leadership, and author of Leadership and Morality in Ethical Ambiguity: Navigating Accountability, Self-Development, and Communication Among CIA Officers. Her diverse background in national security, organizational development, leadership, and education brings a unique perspective to developing leaders and high-performing teams.

We’re honored to have Caroline as part of our Game On Expert Facilitator team, and appreciate the experience, insight, and diverse perspective she brings into everything she does. 

- Steve Shenbaum

Chester is a walking “Coin.” 

He’s a distinguished gentleman, a handsome fellow, and an unexpected bridge to connect wherever we go. 

Weighing in at 6lbs, he has engaged more strangers than I’d ever be able to do in a lifetime. As I stand in line at the airport, he sits in his backpack, ready to board. Kids and adults alike talk to him, ask me his name, and often share their best and worst experiences with chihuahuas. From these conversations, I’ve had the pleasure of viewing pictures of his twin, his large sized opposite, and every pup and cat in between.

I got Chester during the summer of 2020, following my brother’s encouragement, “You could use a dog.” I had left my job at the Central Intelligence Agency, but had not yet started my PhD in San Diego. Apparently, from my brother’s view, a companion would be a good start to my next chapter. I agreed. Chester arrived as a puppy, two full pounds of cuteness and personality.

Little did I know that I was going from a lifestyle of blending in with the crowd to being approached by children and adults asking, “Can I pet him? Can I take his picture?” Then some shared, “my dog just passed away…I’m still grieving…” or “my Grandmother had a chihuahua mix, it was so much fun going to her house…” Chester moved people from surface conversation to the depths of childhood joys and the process of grief. 

In the first few years, I thought maybe it was only a U.S. phenomenon. However, I brought Chester on a surf trip to Ecuador and also on a vacation to Cancun (he watched from the beach in Ecuador, but he did get on a paddle board in Mexico). While we were adventuring, Chester facilitated the same level and type of engagement and stories, only now, in Spanish.  

Over the years, I didn’t have a word to describe what was happening. Initially, taking this pup with me everywhere was for my own comfort and joy, but then it became a fun way to connect and share with others. As I learned Game On Nation's lessons and language, it became clear that Chester is the physical embodiment of a "Coin." He showed me how open everyday people are to connect when given an easy, authentic opportunity. Game On Nation’s ability to give language to the power of connection helped me realize that some of the most meaningful interactions begin with something remarkably small.