Two founders turned their frustration with networking into a community

Amanda Chatzikonstantinou and Triana Shaw met through an international business coaching program, then discovered they lived ten minutes apart. Over dinner, they found something else in common: both had left networking gatherings with business cards but little sense of community. Within two weeks, they were hosting a gathering of their own.

Eight people attended that first gathering in August 2025. Guests asked when the next one would be. Chatzikonstantinou and Shaw kept going, hosting monthly experiences through what became The ATLAS Connective. On November 29, they anticipate welcoming up to 80 entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, creatives and professional leaders to Power of Pause at Pluto in Toronto.

“We were craving this space for ourselves,” says Chatzikonstantinou, cofounder, Engagement & Brand Activations. She and Shaw wanted to know the people behind the businesses: people who could understand the uncertainty and challenges of entrepreneurship as well as its ambitions.

The pair first connected over their work supporting youth through their existing businesses. When they approached the organization behind their coaching program about hosting a gathering together, it agreed. What began as a community initiative developed into a business as guests continued asking for more. The founders also won a Seneca HELIX pitch competition in December 2025 and plan to offer three experiences per month in 2027.

At ATLAS gatherings, conversation prompts, shared activities and intentional welcomes give guests ways to connect beyond their job titles. The founders say participants have reported forming friendships, collaborating and exchanging services, with relationships continuing beyond the initial introduction. Some have told them they were hesitant to attend because they disliked networking, then left feeling seen.

“Some of the most meaningful conversations happen when you take people out of a traditional networking environment. Power of Pause is really about giving entrepreneurs a different way to connect,” says Shaw, cofounder, Partnerships & Operations.

Power of Pause brings that approach into an afternoon of poetry, breathwork, reflection and sound. Part of ATLAS OFF THE MAP, the community’s immersive experience series, it gives entrepreneurs a shared setting to step away from their day-to-day responsibilities and spend time together without preparing a pitch.

An afternoon for the person behind the business

The founders chose a Sunday near the end of the year to make room for reflection before the holiday season. Their approach reflects their belief that personal growth and the work of building a business are closely connected.

“Entrepreneurs are constantly surrounded by messages telling us to grow faster, optimize more and keep moving. We wanted to create a room where, for a few hours, nobody is asking you to do more,” says Chatzikonstantinou.

The afternoon follows the invitation “A little less doing. A little more being.” Five ATLAS Guides will lead the programme:

Marcos Mendosa. Public speaking poet and performance artist, opening with poetry and music.

Andrew Daye. Breath and mental performance coach at The Lucid State, leading breathwork. His coaching work has reached Olympians and Fortune 500 teams.

Theresa Corazon. Heart Activator at RISE, leading HeartMath. Corazon founded the SociaLIGHT Conference and is a producer of The Miracle Morning movie.

Aleksandra Ceho. Astrologer, international instructor and founder of Astrologer Royale, exploring astrology and themes for 2027.

Erica Gittens. Toronto mindfulness guide and founder of AURA: BODY+HOME, leading the closing sound experience.

A break between sessions allows time for conversation. The first 30 registrations receive a complimentary curated wellness gift bag with products from experience partners. Confirmed giveaways include an Othership experience and a Strategic Forecast & Planning Astrology Session for 2027. Additional wellness gifts and experiences may be announced later.

Experience details

Power of Pause | Part of ATLAS OFF THE MAP
Sunday, November 29, 2026
Arrival: 1:30 PM | Experience: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Pluto, 60 Sumach Street, Ground Level, Toronto, Ontario M5A 3J7
Registration and current ticket options: https://luma.com/0doffci8

About The ATLAS Connective

The ATLAS Connective is a Toronto/GTA-based community and experience platform cofounded by Amanda Chatzikonstantinou and Triana Shaw. Its curated in-person experiences bring together entrepreneurship and business, personal development, wellness, adventure and meaningful connection, helping entrepreneurs build relationships through experiences they share TheAtlasConnective.com