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At CPL, our mission is grounded in principles and practices of convening. We cultivate and inspire leaders from all walks of life to be engaged, inspired, and part of essential conversations that imagine and build a world that works for all. We believe that anyone can be a change agent and set intentions that have a positive impact on those we serve.
We have the honor and pleasure of partnering with organizations and individuals from across the globe to engage and focus on what matters and empower you to innovate, to lead.
Each month we host an intentional, convened thought leadership conversation. Please join us! Read below to learn more about this month’s Essential Conversations.
Wednesday, June 11
9:00-10:30 am CT US
A conversation on the joy and importance of non-transactional human connection
Katherine Mahon
Co-Founder and CEO
Alex Szebenyl
Co-Founder and CTO
Join Acquaint’s co-founders, Katherine Mahon and Alex Szebenyi, on Wednesday, June 11 for a powerful Essential Conversation about how intentional human connection can reshape our relationships, communities, and sense of belonging.
Together, we’ll explore the story of Acquaint - a global, volunteer-powered platform designed to make the practice of human connection more accessible and rewarding for people of all backgrounds.
We’ll reflect on why connection matters now more than ever, how Acquaint fosters mutual, non-transactional relationships, and how thoughtful use of AI can support communication growth - without replacing the magic of real conversation.
Through storytelling, breakout discussions, and shared reflection, we’ll consider what it means to value connection for its own sake - and how each of us can play a part in building a more connected world.
Why Human Connection?
We believe that meaningful connection is more than just a skill - it’s a joyful, challenging, and rewarding art. Yet today, it’s often seen as a chore or necessity rather than something to be celebrated and practiced.
We’re losing the incidental spaces where connection once happened:
🎥 Movie theaters
🎳 Bowling alleys
🏛️ Town squares
Acquaint is here to offer something different: a digital space where anyone, anywhere, can connect with someone else for no reason other than to connect. It’s fun. It’s surprising. And it’s meaningful.
We believe that by choosing to connect on purpose, we grow as people and get better at being human together. Every conversation makes a difference, and we’re always looking for more volunteers to help make these moments possible. If you’re someone who values real connection, or wants to have deeper connections in your life, we’d love to have you join us.
Topics We’ll Explore
The Genesis of Acquaint
-How a pandemic pivot and a vision of global community gave rise to Acquaint
-Intergenerational roots and inspiration from early projects like HomeAgain VR
-The journey from idea to a platform supporting thousands of global conversations
-Alex and Katherine’s journey collaborating on Acquaint as a coupleWhat is a Non-Transactional Relationship?
Are friendships transactional? What happens when we connect without expecting anything in return?Society & Strangers
Who still talks to strangers? Why does it feel risky or rare?
What are we losing as spontaneous connection disappears from daily life?The Role of Humility and Vulnerability in Conversation
How do we create symmetrical experiences in dialogue, where everyone contributes and grows?The Future of Acquaint
A global community rooted in the value of human connection
Self-guided journeys and live connection, supported by gentle AI reflection
Making human connection a habit, not a chore
Who This Is For
Anyone curious about:
Deepening their connection with others
Exploring non-transactional relationships
Building community across cultures and geographies
Practicing humility, curiosity, and communication in conversation
Volunteering in a way that helps everyone grow
Acquaint is excited to join forces with the Center for Purposeful Leadership, a global community non-profit organization reimagining the nature of Leadership. Together, we’re breaking down barriers, strengthening global empathy, and celebrating listening as a powerful leadership quality.
Who is Acquaint?
More than an Organization, but A Foundation for a More Collaborative World. Acquaint believes that collaboration across cultures is vital to addressing humanity’s greatest challenges. The solution to this dynamic was simple: Make everyone a volunteer and put the focus on human connection. With people from over 100 countries, through empathy-building, one-on-one conversations, volunteering helps you connect with people, sharpen your listening, expand your perspective, and create powerful moments with people from all walks of life. Every conversation has a ripple effect.
Join us today to help combat hate and strengthen your relationships!
Human Connection Training:
Our platform offers practical, conversation-based training to help individuals and teams communicate more effectively. As users engage in structured conversations with people from different backgrounds, they unlock self-paced modules supported by AI-powered coaching and interactive exercises that guide reflection and skill-building.
These tools are especially useful for leaders looking to improve collaboration, manage diverse teams, and handle challenging conversations with confidence and clarity.
Practical Application:
We believe that true learning happens through practice and application. Acquaint empowers volunteers to take their skills beyond the virtual realm and make a tangible impact in their communities. By applying their newfound collaborative skills locally and globally, our volunteers become catalysts for change, inspiring others to follow suit.
Partnerships:
Acquaint partners with corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other types of organizations to offer meaningful engagement to their members. In addition to the intercultural dialogue and communication training elements, we can also provide workshops and impact data collection to our partners.
Acquaint is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
About Katherine and Alex
KATHERINE MAHON
Co-Founder & CEO, Acquaint
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-mahon1/
info@acquaint.org
Katherine Mahon believes that disconnection is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, and that practicing human connection is a powerful way to push back. As Co-Founder and CEO of Acquaint, she’s working to ensure that genuine connection doesn’t disappear in a world increasingly shaped by division, distraction, and transactional relationships.
Before co-founding Acquaint, Katherine built a career at the intersection of creativity and technology. She worked in 3D product design at Amazon and in architectural visualization, developing a sharp eye for detail and a passion for designing meaningful experiences. She’s also an alum of the Atlas Corps Virtual Leadership Institute, where she joined a cohort of social change leaders from both the U.S. and Russia to collaborate on cross-cultural problem solving.
Katherine and her husband, Acquaint’s CTO and Co-Founder Alex Szebenyi, welcomed their daughter in March 2025. Becoming a mom has added a deeper sense of urgency and inspiration to her work, fueling her drive to help create a more compassionate and connected world for future generations.
Katherine is determined to see Acquaint grow well beyond its founders and become a lasting force for good in the world.
ALEX SZEBENYI
Co-Founder & CTO, Acquaint
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-szebenyi/
info@acquaint.org
Alex Szebenyi is a software engineer and systems thinker who co-founded Acquaint to explore how technology can support more reflective, meaningful human connection. With a background in building large-scale systems, Alex became interested in the inner workings of social interaction - how people build trust, shift perspectives, and grow through conversation. He believes the future of technology is about designing for empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Before Acquaint officially launched in 2021, its predecessor was an intergenerational program addressing social isolation during the pandemic. But Alex and Co-founder Katherine Mahon noticed an unintended hierarchy in the model: “volunteers” were seen as the givers, while “participants” were the receivers. They responded by redesigning the system so that everyone would contribute, reframing connection as a mutual practice rather than a service.
Today, Alex leads the development of tools that help people become more intentional communicators - not by removing friction, but by making the effort itself more rewarding and accessible.
Acquaint Testimonials
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