From Living Room to Movement: The Story of the Ampersand Summit
One month after the 2026 Ampersand Summit at Wyldflowr Arts in Oakland, Jessica reflects on how the event evolved from an intimate living-room gathering into a multi-city community.
This episode dives into the origin of the Ampersand community – from the first guests in Season 1 meeting up in real life, to a sold-out ticketed mini-retreat, reaching Ampersands across geographies. Plus, a look at what’s next for The Ampersand Cohort in New York, the SF Bay Area, and beyond. Want to be there next time? Join us at weareampersands.com.
Key Topics Covered:
The Spark: Asking the question, "Where are the cool events for multi-hyphenate people?" and realizing that this didn’t exist. We had to create the event we wanted to attend.
Evolution of the Summit: From 12-person living room gatherings to selling out the San Francisco Community Music Center and settling into Oakland's Wyldflowr Arts.
Inside the Day: Opening with Yue Deng-Wu’s original piano composition and Jessica singing Puccini's opera aria Vissi d'arte, and the Works-in-Progress showcase featuring 20+ non-traditional career paths.
Distributed Leadership: How the Summit went from Jessica's living room to a planning team that shares the work, moving from a centralized to a distributed model of community leadership.
What’s Next: What’s ahead for The Ampersand Cohort in New York, the SF Bay Area, and hopefully soon LA and Toronto!
Thank you to the 2026 Summit planning team: Michelle Tang and Yue Deng-Wu. Hear more from Summit co-host Yue Deng-Wu in Episode 16. Musical excerpts from the Summit by Yue Deng-Wu, Jessica Wan, Naoya Kanai on cello, and Chris Lele on piano.
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About The Ampersand Manifesto:
What happens when you refuse to choose just one path?
On The Ampersand Manifesto, host Jessica Wan sits down with “the most interesting people at the dinner party” – those who have made their mark in two or more seemingly different worlds. Through candid conversations, we explore what it takes to navigate multiple callings, find the connection points between them, and redefine success on our own terms. Together, we’re co-creating The Ampersand Manifesto: principles for leading a multi-passionate life.
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About your host, Jessica Wan:
Executive Coach | Classical Singer | Former Marketing Leader & Tech Executive
Jessica helps founders and leaders make the invisible visible. With 20+ years of experience scaling brands like Apple, Smule, and the San Francisco Opera, and as an ICF PCC-certified executive coach, she provides the clarity and strategy needed to lead bravely and find fulfillment in a multi-passionate life.
Work with Jessica: Book a Free Intro Call
Join the Community: The Ampersand Cohort
Follow the Journey: @ampersandmanifesto
Connect: Jessica’s LinkedIn
Listen: Singing Excerpts
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Credits
Co-produced and hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, sound design, and original music by Carlos Schmitt
