GROW Code of Conduct 2024

These are the standards we hold our community to

GROW isn’t just a place to learn about the latest in business: it’s also a place to lift your head up from your everyday and think about how what’s going on in the world affects your work.

We believe there’s immense value in being exposed to new viewpoints—including ones that challenge your own way of looking at the world. GROW is a place for thought-provoking conversations, but we can’t have those conversations unless everyone feels safe and respected.

We’re committed to being a safe and inclusive space for all our delegates, regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, race, nationality, ethnicity, disability, medical conditions, religion (or lack thereof), physical appearance, politics, or ideology. Our Code of Conduct is here to provide a clear set of guidelines to everyone in the GROW community about the standards to which we hold you—and ourselves.

Be kind and respectful

Above all, we ask that all delegates, speakers, sponsors, and other guests behave respectfully. Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other delegates. Harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary jokes or comments are never tolerated at GROW, at satellite events, or on social media or other online platforms for the event.

Harassment includes (but is not limited to) comments using demeaning, derogatory, or discriminatory language, comments intended to cause offense or harm to other members of the community, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

If you’re asked—whether by a GROW organiser or another delegates—to stop your behaviour, you’re expected to do so immediately and respectfully.

Keep GROW inbound

Respecting your fellow delegates also means interacting with them in human, collaborative, and non-spammy ways. Whether you’re sponsoring or just attending, remember that no one has opted in to hear from you simply by being at GROW. It’s important not only to be kind to your fellow delegates but also to their inboxes.

Of course, we encourage you to connect with other delegates in genuine, human, and helpful ways. However, scraping emails, blasting people with unsolicited pitches, or spamming your fellow delegates is not acceptable.

Speak out and own up

We believe peer-to-peer discussions, feedback, and corrections can help build a stronger, safer, and more welcoming community.

If you see someone behaving disrespectfully, and you feel safe and comfortable doing so, you are encouraged to respectfully discourage them from such behaviour. If you do not feel safe, comfortable, or otherwise able to respond and resolve it respectfully, please bring it to the attention of GROW event staff immediately. We want to hear from you about anything that you feel is disrespectful, threatening, or just icky. We will listen and work to resolve the matter.

If you catch yourself behaving disrespectfully, or if someone else shares their discomfort with you, own up to your words and actions, and apologise accordingly. No one is perfect, and even well-intentioned people make mistakes. What matters is how you handle them and avoid repeating them in the future.

Getting help

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the event staff immediately. You can also email growevents@hubspot.com if you prefer to address an issue anonymously.

We take all concerns seriously, and we will use our discretion in determining when and how to follow up on reported incidents. Depending on the circumstances involved, we may decline to take any further action or may direct the participant to other resources for resolution.

We will be happy to help participants contact venue/event security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event.

If we determine that a GROW participant is acting inappropriately, we may take any actions that we feel are necessary to prevent continued disrespectful behaviour or harassment. This may even include expulsion from GROW without warning or refund.