How Being Together Builds Stronger Connections Across an Industry

Running a business can be isolating, even in an industry as connected as materials handling and supply chain.

The challenges may be familiar across the sector, but most leaders still make difficult decisions behind closed doors. Opportunities to speak candidly with peers, namely the people who understand the weight of those decisions without competing with them, don’t happen as often as one might think.

MHI, the preeminent American trade association dedicated to the material handling, logistics, and supply chain sector, saw an opportunity to change that.

Inspired by members who had experienced the Forum model through YPO, the association partnered with ForumSpace to explore a simple question: What if leaders across the industry had a place where they could stop performing leadership for a moment, and simply talk to one another as peers?

The result was a pilot program that has continued to evolve, revealing as much about what leaders need as it has about what makes a peer community succeed.

Running a business can be isolating, even in an industry as connected as materials handling and supply chain.

The challenges may be familiar across the sector, but most leaders still make difficult decisions behind closed doors. Opportunities to speak candidly with peers, namely the people who understand the weight of those decisions without competing with them, don’t happen as often as one might think.

MHI, the preeminent American trade association dedicated to the material handling, logistics, and supply chain sector, saw an opportunity to change that.

Inspired by members who had experienced the Forum model through YPO, the association partnered with ForumSpace to explore a simple question: What if leaders across the industry had a place where they could stop performing leadership for a moment, and simply talk to one another as peers?

The result was a pilot program that has continued to evolve, revealing as much about what leaders need as it has about what makes a peer community succeed.

Starting with a Good Idea

The program launched in 2024 with two Forums bringing together 11 leaders from across the country. It has since grown to four groups of 28 people.

ForumSpace provided the structure behind the experience, forming the groups, trained facilitators, supporting onboarding, and providing the technology and methodology that help confidential peer groups flourish over time.

From the beginning, though, this wasn't intended to be a textbook implementation. MHI chose to introduce the programme gradually, without the traditional in-person retreat or a Forum Constitution that often helps establish trust early. It was a thoughtful decision, and one that would later offer valuable lessons.

Starting with a Good Idea

The program launched in 2024 with two Forums bringing together 11 leaders from across the country. It has since grown to four groups of 28 people.

ForumSpace provided the structure behind the experience, forming the groups, trained facilitators, supporting onboarding, and providing the technology and methodology that help confidential peer groups flourish over time.

From the beginning, though, this wasn't intended to be a textbook implementation. MHI chose to introduce the programme gradually, without the traditional in-person retreat or a Forum Constitution that often helps establish trust early. It was a thoughtful decision, and one that would later offer valuable lessons.

Trust Doesn't Happen on a Schedule

One of the realities of leadership programmes is that commitment can't be willed (or wished) into existence.

Early on, attendance was inconsistent. Even leaders who valued the conversations found it difficult to prioritise another commitment in already demanding calendars. It would have been easy to see this as a programme problem. Instead, it became a learning opportunity.

As relationships slowly developed, so did the commitment to the groups. Participants became more willing to invest in the conversations because they were beginning to experience their value firsthand. The biggest shift came when MHI introduced its first in-person retreat.

Sometimes, spending a day together changes the conversations that follow for months. Participants rated the retreat 6.5 out of 7 across every measured category, and every attendee agreed that it strengthened their commitment to their Forum. The Forum that experienced the retreat also became the programme's strongest-performing group, recording around 90% attendance alongside the highest participant value score of 4.97 out of 5.

For MHI, the retreat wasn't simply a successful event. It demonstrated what happens when relationships are given the chance to deepen beyond the monthly meeting.

Trust Doesn't Happen on a Schedule

One of the realities of leadership programmes is that commitment can't be willed (or wished) into existence.

Early on, attendance was inconsistent. Even leaders who valued the conversations found it difficult to prioritise another commitment in already demanding calendars. It would have been easy to see this as a programme problem. Instead, it became a learning opportunity.

As relationships slowly developed, so did the commitment to the groups. Participants became more willing to invest in the conversations because they were beginning to experience their value firsthand. The biggest shift came when MHI introduced its first in-person retreat.

Sometimes, spending a day together changes the conversations that follow for months. Participants rated the retreat 6.5 out of 7 across every measured category, and every attendee agreed that it strengthened their commitment to their Forum. The Forum that experienced the retreat also became the programme's strongest-performing group, recording around 90% attendance alongside the highest participant value score of 4.97 out of 5.

For MHI, the retreat wasn't simply a successful event. It demonstrated what happens when relationships are given the chance to deepen beyond the monthly meeting.

From Meetings to Meaningful Relationships

The most interesting change wasn't found in the attendance data. It was in the language participants began using.

Early feedback focused on the meetings themselves. Later feedback spoke about trust, honesty, and relationships. Leaders weren't just attending because they had committed to a programme. They were returning because the conversations had become genuinely valuable.

One participant captured that progression perfectly:

"With each meeting, the relationships get stronger, and I'm getting much more clarity on how to leverage this forum. Thanks!"

Others reflected on the environment that had developed:

"Good thing we talked about vulnerability first because my share required it. Thank you!"

"The level of honesty and transparency is what I value most. Being able to discuss my most critical issue."

Those comments point to something deeper than participant satisfaction. They suggest leaders have found a place where they can bring the issues they can’t easily discuss anywhere else.

Across the programme, participants reported greater confidence in their leadership, stronger decision-making, deeper trust with peers, improved self-awareness, and a greater willingness to seek perspective before making important decisions.

From Meetings to Meaningful Relationships

The most interesting change wasn't found in the attendance data. It was in the language participants began using.

Early feedback focused on the meetings themselves. Later feedback spoke about trust, honesty, and relationships. Leaders weren't just attending because they had committed to a programme. They were returning because the conversations had become genuinely valuable.

One participant captured that progression perfectly:

"With each meeting, the relationships get stronger, and I'm getting much more clarity on how to leverage this forum. Thanks!"

Others reflected on the environment that had developed:

"Good thing we talked about vulnerability first because my share required it. Thank you!"

"The level of honesty and transparency is what I value most. Being able to discuss my most critical issue."

Those comments point to something deeper than participant satisfaction. They suggest leaders have found a place where they can bring the issues they can’t easily discuss anywhere else.

Across the programme, participants reported greater confidence in their leadership, stronger decision-making, deeper trust with peers, improved self-awareness, and a greater willingness to seek perspective before making important decisions.

Learning Together

One of the strengths of the partnership between MHI and ForumSpace has been a willingness to keep learning.

When asked what he had learned, member Mark Arthur said,

“I have gained a valuable support network that I trust to listen to my challenges and provide sound advice based on practical experience. The forum's structure and facilitator create an environment where I feel comfortable sharing challenges and discussing opportunities for growth. I have gained many insights and ideas that have helped me develop both as a business leader and as a person.”

Rather than treating the pilot as something to simply deliver, both organisations have used each year to understand what helps peer groups thrive. Attendance patterns, group size, facilitation, and the impact of gathering in person have all shaped how the programme continues to evolve.

That's perhaps the biggest lesson from the partnership.

Leadership communities and Forums aren't built because people meet every month. They're built because, over time, people begin to trust one another enough to have the conversations that matter.

When that happens, better decisions tend to follow. Not because someone in the room has the answer, but because no one has to work through the question alone.

“The forum is a tremendous benefit of MHI membership, and I strongly recommend taking advantage of the opportunity if it is available. Having access to experienced business leaders within our industry who can support you through the challenges of leadership and changing business cycles is invaluable.” according to Mark Arthur.