Beyond the Stage: What Makes One Remarkable

At Ship26, every event brings a unique taste to our co-building space - whether it's learning about quantum computing with André Melo, the art of building a pasta startup with Simone Longo from Foldini, or a global perspective on China. But one of our recent Wednesday sessions took a different, more personal stand.

Instead of a traditional presentation, Lidia Zabala led an interactive, transformative workshop centered around the global initiative #IamRemarkable. Originally started at Google to help women and underrepresented groups speak openly about their accomplishments, #IamRemarkable has grown into a worldwide practice of breaking through self-doubt, cultural conditioning, and workplace unfairness.

For many builders and entrepreneurs, talking about personal success feels weird. As discussion quickly revealed, social expectations, family values, and fear of sounding cocky often push us toward not saying anything. We easily share our work, but then hesitate to own our contributions.

Lidia tackled this hesitation head-on with a simple truth: "It's not bragging if it's based on facts."

When we anchor our achievements in data, effort, and experiences, self-promotion shifts from bragging to being authentic. Recognizing our wins doesn't just build individual confidence; it sets an example across teams that inspires others to celebrate their own milestones and step into the light.

Putting theory into practice, Lidia handed out pen and paper and asked everyone in the room to finish one key sentence: "I am remarkable because…" It went quiet as we started writing on real paper. It felt good - I hadn't written by hand like that in a while. When it came time to share, the range of stories was really from every corner:

• Stepping up for family: One Ship member shared her win after helping a friend pull off a 300-guest monster of a multi-day wedding abroad, handling complex logistics without going nuts.
• Staying the course during the storm: Another shared how he managed to keep going through 12 mad months of challenges, continuing to move forward day by day after losing his business.
• Building for community: Turning a long-held dream of giving back into reality through the community we've built right here at Ship26.

From relentless problem-solving to being a better friend, a devoted father, or paying it forward, it was a mixed bag of human experiences. The crew proved that remarkability feels great, and sharing it in an open, safe space was just the first step toward building a stronger, more connected community.

Embracing the full story, which includes Wins, Struggles, and Failures, sparked a deeper debate around vulnerability. While celebrating achievements lifts our self-esteem, open conversations about failures and setbacks provide the greatest lessons. True remarkability isn't about having a flawless track record; it's about sharing the full journey, the valleys overcome, the grit built, and the growth along the way.

Lidia's workshop reminded us that at Ship26, we aren't just co-working. We're part of a culture where everyone feels empowered to speak up and share every part of the journey. Because at the end of the day, we are all remarkable in our own way.