Our Approach
Transformation Begins in the Heart—and in Circle
We Always Lead with Heart
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At Building Togetherness®, the center of every Circle is the heart. Whether for a Personal or Group Circle, our focus is on:
Deep Inner Growth – cultivating heart-centered presence and insight
Creating Outer Change Together – collaborating on what truly matters to our hearts
Enhancing Well-Being – Balancing body, spirit and mind through the heart
Learning to Lead – developing conscious, heart-level leadership
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Successful Circles bring together inner-focused values—such as presence, vulnerability, and reflection—with collective-focused values like mutual support, non-hierarchy, and generosity. Additional core values include:
Empathy – Understanding and feeling with others, honoring different experiences.
Inclusivity – Ensuring everyone’s voice is welcomed, regardless of background or role.
Responsibility / Accountability – Owning your actions and commitments to the Circle.
Playfulness / Creativity – Bringing curiosity, experimentation, and joy to the process.
Sustainability / Regeneration – Acting in ways that nurture people, relationships, and communities over time.
Respectful Communication – Speaking and listening from the heart with care, avoiding harm, and fostering understanding.
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We work with a diverse groupof people and collectives who are serious about change. Our Circles include:
Individuals seeking growth and transformation
Executives and entrepreneurs
Social leaders and change agents
Athletes and teams
Networks and communities
Self-governing and regenerative communities
Cause-based and purpose-driven groups
Teams experimenting with self-organization
Non-profit and government organizations
Companies — and those still emerging
Building Togetherness® Circles create safe, grounded spaces for meaningful change and connection to grow.
Our Heart Circle Guide
Derick Carter, Founder
Derick Carter brings 25 years of experience as an advisor, facilitator, consultant, and coach, working with diverse individuals, teams, and organizations across industries and life stages—guiding complex journeys, facilitating immersive workshops, teaching practical and relational skills, and supporting pivotal transitions and sustained growth initiatives.
As Founder and Chief Heart Officer of Building Togetherness®, he integrates deep professional expertise with a holistic, heart-based approach to foster meaningful change.
A longtime Open Heart Meditation guide, Derick brings presence, insight, and care to every Circle and interaction.
Born in Japan and raised in Connecticut, he lives in Maryland with his wife and three children, embracing a heart-centered life rooted in curiosity and connection.
Voices from the Circle
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I so appreciate Derick's presence, his vulnerability, his voice, his generous respectful listening, his leadership, and his spirit.
— Heather Ueckert, REI Program Manager
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You will likely not find another practitioner in the world with the combination of integrity, knowledge, experience, and care than Derick Carter.
— Lee Watts, strength and conditioning specialist, former NCAA D1 All-American and US Olympic Trials qualifier
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All that Derick has shown and taught us, and the impact he’s had will be lasting!
— Renee Smith, Founder of A Human Workplace
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Derick’s guidance helped me to augment my existing approach with the key practices and perspectives that I was missing.
— Jack Byrne, IBSS Program Manager
“One love, one heart, one destiny.”
— Bob Marley