Intelligent.ly launched two years ago with the goal of creating a community space where entrepreneurs could learn, collaborate and innovate. Since, more than 4,000 members of the Boston startup community have completed one of the 200 skill workshops the peer-to-peer learning center offers, whether in product management, digital marketing, business strategy or programming.
A year after Intelligent.ly's launch, the demand for a startup education was clear. Two years after, and different demands emerged.
Through her time scaling various Boston startups, including Smarterer, where she is the VP of marketing and strategy, Sarah Hodges noticed individual contributors were often promoted into management roles without the fundamental skills necessary to succeed. With that discovery, the Intelligent.ly co-founder launched the Intelligent.ly Exchange, a six-month management development program that brings together top-performing managers from area high-growth companies to collaboratively grow their management skills.
Participating companies have included Dyn, HubSpot, Brand Networks, TripAdvisor, The Grommet and WordStream. Roughly 25 to 35 managers are accepted into the program, which features a single day-long session per each month centered around a specific topic, such as "Communicate Effectively," "Align Your Team" and "Manage Change."
The Exchange has been so successful, a third cohort is launching in June. The one problem, however, is that the program is contingent on companies enrolling their teams and individuals have repeatedly expressed interest in improving their management skills.
So, to celebrate its second birthday, Intelligent.ly is launching new management development two-day workshops, for 25 individuals whose companies may not be able to enroll employees in the Exchange, but still believe that investing in their professional development is essential.
The first workshop, held on June 4, will focus on communication, while the second, offered June 11, will hone in on delegation. Each will be taught by Hodges, and available for an affordable price. VIP Presale registration rings in at $499 per class. Or, interested individuals can enroll in both courses for $799.
Between the Exchange and new management series, Intelligent.ly will be decreasing its focus on classes to shift its attention to management development and "special events that serve the broader startup community on a large scale," according to Hodges.
Intelligent.ly has recently been partnering with Data Point Capital to host Tech on Tap, a night of networking without all the usual strings attached. The goal? Bring a bunch of smart people together in a room and get them talking.
It's also a goal that's symbolic of what Intelligent.ly has been able to accomplish over the last two years. Reflecting on the experience, Aaron Lumnah, Intelligent.ly's program manager since 2012, said:
We have an incredibly supportive ecosystem in Boston — it's because of everyone's willingness to help each other out. We not only want to see success for each other, but also success for our city as a whole, and that what makes us special. Intelligent.ly was started by community members, specifically for community members. We’ve been able to grow from the support of a talented ecosystem of experts and entrepreneurs. That's what's really at the heart of Intelligent.ly. It's not so much education as it is opening the door to resources and relationships that will help our participants win in the long run.
And that's something to celebrate.
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