26/05/2026
When Connection Drives Commitment: ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐-๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Organizations perform better when people feel connected, valued, and part of a community. This is not just intuitionโit is supported by evidence. According to Gallup Workplace Research, based on a meta-analysis of 2.7 million respondents across 96 countries, organizations with highly engaged members experience 23% higher profitability, 18% higher productivity, 43% lower turnover, and 81% less absenteeism (Source: https://usehorizon.ai/resources/employee-engagement-operational-performance).
For many organizations, the message is clear: ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ. They grow through conversations, shared experiences, and genuine human interaction.
This spirit of connection was on full display during the CIO Forum (CIOF) Meet-and-Greet Fellowship held on ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐ฒ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ, at the ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ญ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐ถ ๐๐ถ๐๐. The gathering brought together government ICT leaders and professionals in a warm, relaxed setting designed to encourage interaction, strengthen relationships, and inspire greater engagement within the organization.
The activity also formed part of the commemoration of ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ (WTISD), observed globally on ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐ณ under the ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. The annual observance highlights the role of information and communications technology in promoting innovation, digital inclusion, and stronger connectivity among communities and institutions.
The program opened with welcome remarks and a presentation by ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฟ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ, who shared the organizationโs priorities and roadmap. Members were updated on key initiatives related to digital governance, ICT leadership, and public sector innovationโsetting a forward-looking tone for the gathering.
One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of members, where both new and existing participants shared their professional backgrounds, experiences, and interests. This segment not only familiarized attendees with one another but also helped establish common ground within the group.
As the fellowship transitioned into a potluck and networking session, the atmosphere became more relaxed and personal. Conversations moved beyond formalities, with participants exchanging insights on leadership experiences, workplace realities, technology initiatives, and shared challenges in government service. Connections developed organically, allowing participants to engage with one another beyond titles and institutional affiliations.
Small group discussions and committee conversations further enriched the experience, providing space for members to exchange ideas, explore potential collaborations, and identify ways to contribute more actively to CIOF initiatives and advocacies. The informal setting encouraged openness, helping build familiarity and trust among participants.
According to ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฐ, lead organizer of the event together with the Membership Committee, the fellowship was intentionally designed not merely as a networking activity but as an opportunity to cultivate deeper relationships and promote active participation. The organizing team emphasized that meaningful collaboration often begins with genuine personal connections and a shared sense of purpose.
By the end of the fellowship, the gathering reflected the very principle highlighted in Gallupโs researchโthat ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ. Through simple conversations, shared meals, and authentic interactions, the event strengthened camaraderie and renewed membersโ commitment to contribute to the CIO Forumโs mission and future direction.
