OpenWater Group
Last Updated: April 9, 2026
OpenWater is a curated community of experienced professionals built on trust, mutual respect, and shared purpose. This Code of Conduct (“Code”) sets the behavioral standards that every participant in our community is expected to follow.
This Code applies to all Members, guests, speakers, volunteers, sponsors, partners, and anyone who participates in OpenWater in any capacity (“Participants”). It applies across every OpenWater context, including the Platform, Events (whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid), local chapter gatherings, programs, workshops, AI Bootcamps, communications among Members, and any interaction that occurs as a result of participation in OpenWater.
This Code is incorporated into the OpenWater Membership Agreement by reference. Violations of this Code may result in enforcement action up to and including termination of Membership without refund. OpenWater Group determines whether conduct violates this Code and selects the appropriate response in its sole discretion.
This Code may be updated from time to time. The current version is always available at /code-of-conduct/. Your continued participation in OpenWater after any update constitutes your acceptance of the updated Code.
Everyone in OpenWater has chosen, and was chosen, to be here. These values define who we are and how we treat each other.
Be professional. Show up on time. Follow through on commitments. Communicate clearly and appropriately.
Be honest. Represent yourself, your background, your experience, and what you offer truthfully.
Be respectful. Treat others with professionalism, courtesy, and consideration, even when you disagree.
Be kind. Everyone is navigating something. Extend grace where appropriate.
Be open. Be willing to learn from others and engage in thoughtful dialogue.
Be trustworthy. What is shared in OpenWater stays in OpenWater. Confidentiality is a requirement, not an option.
Be active. Give more than you get. Contribute meaningfully to the community.
OpenWater is a professional community. Participants are expected to communicate in a way that is respectful, appropriate, and aligned with that standard. This includes:
Communicating professionally in all channels, including the Platform, email, text, phone, and in-person interactions.
Respecting boundaries. If someone declines your outreach, accept it. Do not repeat, escalate, or work around their response.
Using appropriate channels for communication. The Platform and OpenWater events are for professional networking and community engagement, not personal or romantic pursuits.
Responding professionally to feedback and redirection. Not every interaction will be a fit, and that is okay. Defensive, persistent, or escalating behavior after a boundary has been set is not acceptable.
The Code applies at all OpenWater Events, including the Summit, local chapter gatherings, dinners, salons, workshops, AI Bootcamps, speed networking sessions, and any other OpenWater-affiliated gathering. Participants at Events are expected to:
Behave professionally and courteously toward all attendees, speakers, staff, venue personnel, and vendors.
Follow any health, safety, or logistical guidelines communicated by OpenWater Group or the Event venue.
Consume alcohol responsibly at Events where alcohol is served. Intoxication that leads to disruptive, unsafe, or unprofessional behavior is a violation of this Code.
Respect the physical space, property, and personal belongings of others and of the venue.
OpenWater Group may remove any Participant from an Event whose behavior violates this Code, creates a safety concern, or disrupts the Event, in its sole discretion and without refund or liability.
Staff and facilitator instructions. Participants must comply promptly with reasonable instructions from OpenWater staff, moderators, hosts, facilitators, or Regional Captains relating to safety, conduct, event operations, or community standards. This applies at all Events, on the Platform, and in all virtual programs. Arguing with or refusing to follow staff instructions in the moment is a violation of this Code.
The Platform and any digital tools or channels provided by OpenWater are professional resources. Participants are expected to:
Use the Platform for its intended purpose: professional networking, community engagement, and program participation.
Post content that is accurate, relevant, and appropriate for a professional audience.
Respect the terms of any shared tools, resources, or AI platforms made available through OpenWater programs. Do not misuse, abuse, or redistribute access credentials, licenses, or materials provided for program participation.
Not use the Platform to distribute spam, chain messages, mass solicitations, or marketing materials.
AI Office Hours, AI Bootcamps, Mastermind Forums, and other virtual programs are subject to the same behavioral standards as in-person Events. Participants are expected to:
Be present and engaged during sessions. Arrive on time and participate actively.
Participants may be asked to keep cameras on during interactive sessions to support engagement and connection. Please accommodate this request when possible.
Mute when not speaking to minimize disruption.
Treat facilitators, speakers, and fellow participants with the same respect and professionalism expected at in-person events.
Not record, screenshot, or redistribute any part of a virtual session without the express permission of the facilitator and all participants.
OpenWater does not tolerate conduct that undermines the safety, trust, or professionalism of the community. The following conduct is prohibited and may result in immediate enforcement action, including termination of Membership:
Harassment, intimidation, bullying, or threatening behavior of any kind, whether in person, on the Platform, or through any other communication channel.
Discrimination or hate speech based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
Threats of violence or any conduct that creates a reasonable fear of physical harm.
Sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual advances, or sexually explicit communications.
Repeated unsolicited outreach after boundaries have been communicated.
Inappropriate or unprofessional direct messaging, texting, calling, or emailing of Members, staff, or other Participants.
Attempts to pressure Members, staff, or other Participants for confidential information, personal information, or unwanted engagement.
Stalking, surveilling, or tracking any Participant’s activities within or outside of OpenWater.
Retaliation against anyone who reports a concern, participates in an investigation, or cooperates with enforcement of this Code.
Any pattern of conduct that makes others feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or pressured to engage, even if individual incidents might seem minor in isolation.
Attending Events or accessing the Platform while impaired to the point of being disruptive or unsafe.
Misrepresenting your identity, professional background, credentials, or affiliation with any organization.
Providing false or misleading information to OpenWater Group, including during the application or curation process.
Circumventing any restriction, suspension, removal, or instruction imposed by OpenWater Group, including by using alternate accounts, side channels, third parties, or any other workaround to access the Platform, contact a Member, attend an Event, or participate in the community after being restricted from doing so.
Trust is the foundation of OpenWater. Members share sensitive professional information in Mastermind Forums, networking sessions, Give & Get conversations, and other programs. Protecting that information is not optional.
Confidentiality expectations:
What is shared in OpenWater stays in OpenWater. Do not disclose, repeat, or share any non-public information you learn through the Platform, Events, or programs, unless the person who shared it gives you explicit permission.
This includes business strategies, career situations, financial details, proprietary ideas, job search information, personal challenges, and any other information shared in a confidential or private setting.
Do not take screenshots, recordings, or notes of confidential discussions for the purpose of sharing them outside of OpenWater.
If you are unsure whether something is confidential, treat it as confidential.
Intellectual property expectations:
Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or share any OpenWater content, materials, programming, curriculum, or resources outside of the community without prior written permission from OpenWater Group.
Do not use OpenWater’s name, logo, trademarks, or brand elements in any manner without prior written approval from OpenWater Group. This includes using OpenWater’s brand on your website, social media, marketing materials, or any public-facing content.
Do not represent or imply that OpenWater Group endorses you, your business, your products, or your services unless you have received explicit written authorization to do so.
Your confidentiality and intellectual property obligations are also set forth in Sections 8 and 12 of the Membership Agreement, which provide additional detail and legal terms. This Code reinforces those obligations as community standards. Breach of confidentiality or intellectual property obligations may result in immediate termination and legal action.
Business relationships that grow organically from genuine connection are a feature of this community, not a problem. What OpenWater does not tolerate is treating the community as a sales channel. The distinction: build a relationship first, let business follow naturally.
What is encouraged:
Building genuine professional relationships through Events, programs, and Platform conversations, and allowing business to develop naturally from those relationships.
Sharing your expertise, experience, and perspective in the natural course of community conversations and programs.
Responding to a direct request from another Member for information about your work, services, or products.
Participating in Give & Get sessions and other structured programs designed for mutual professional support, including offering and accepting business opportunities that emerge from those sessions.
Mentioning what you do professionally when it is relevant and proportionate to the conversation.
Doing business with fellow Members when the relationship developed through genuine community engagement.
Sharing third-party events, articles, resources, or opportunities that would be genuinely valuable to the community. Use good judgment about relevance and frequency.
What is not permitted:
Cold-pitching products, services, or business opportunities to Members you have not built a relationship with, whether through the Platform, at Events, or through any other channel.
Sending mass or bulk messages promoting a product, service, event, or opportunity.
Using OpenWater member information (including names, email addresses, phone numbers, LinkedIn profiles, or any other contact information) to build marketing lists, sales pipelines, or prospect databases.
Scraping, systematically collecting, exporting, copying, or harvesting member data from the Platform, member directory, or any other OpenWater resource, whether manually or through automated means.
Treating Events, the Platform, or community channels primarily as a venue for lead generation or customer acquisition rather than genuine professional engagement.
Repeatedly promoting your own products, services, or business interests in community conversations or on the Platform in a way that feels disproportionate or commercial.
When in doubt, ask yourself: am I contributing to this community, or am I selling to it? If a Member or staff member tells you something feels like solicitation, accept the feedback and adjust. Continuing after feedback is a violation of this Code.
We encourage Members to share their OpenWater experience publicly. When Members post about meaningful connections, new ventures, career milestones, or great events, it reflects the value of the community and helps others discover it. Sharing your OpenWater story on LinkedIn, social media, or other public platforms is welcome and appreciated.
What we encourage:
Sharing that you are a Member of OpenWater and speaking about your experience in the community.
Posting about Events you attended, connections you made, or professional milestones that resulted from your participation in OpenWater.
Sharing photos from Events with the consent of the individuals depicted. When in doubt, ask before posting a photo that prominently features another Member.
Tagging OpenWater or using community hashtags when sharing positive experiences.
What is not permitted:
Disclosing the substance of private or confidential discussions from Mastermind Forums, Give & Get sessions, or other confidential programming. You can share that you participated in a great session. You cannot share what another Member said, asked, or disclosed during that session.
Posting recordings, screenshots, or detailed notes from private or confidential sessions on social media, blogs, podcasts, or any public forum.
Making false, misleading, or disparaging public statements about OpenWater Group, the community, its staff, or its Members.
Misrepresenting your role, status, or level of involvement in OpenWater. You are a Member, not a representative, agent, partner, or spokesperson of OpenWater Group unless explicitly designated as such in writing.
If your Membership is terminated or you leave the community, you must stop representing yourself as a current OpenWater Member and remove any references to active Membership from your profiles, marketing materials, and public-facing content within 30 days.
OpenWater Group may request the removal of any public content that violates this Code, misrepresents the community, or uses OpenWater’s brand without authorization. Failure to comply with a removal request is a violation of this Code.
If you experience or observe conduct that may violate this Code, report it promptly to community@openwater.group. Provide as much detail as possible, including what happened, who was involved, and any supporting evidence. Reports may be made anonymously, though providing your identity allows us to follow up. All reports will be reviewed seriously and handled with appropriate discretion.
Cooperation. If OpenWater Group investigates a potential violation, all Participants involved are expected to cooperate fully and in good faith, including responding to inquiries and providing relevant information within a reasonable timeframe. Refusal to cooperate is itself a violation of this Code.
No retaliation. Retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith or participates in an investigation is a serious violation and an independent basis for enforcement action, up to and including termination of Membership.
OpenWater Group determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, whether conduct violates this Code and what action is appropriate. There is no obligation to follow a progressive sequence, and OpenWater Group may take any action it deems appropriate based on the severity, pattern, or context of the conduct.
Enforcement actions may include, without limitation:
A verbal or written warning, or a required apology or corrective action.
Temporary suspension of Platform access or participation in programs.
Removal from specific Events, programs, chapters, or communication channels.
Restrictions on contacting specific Members or Participants.
Termination of Membership and all access to the Platform, Events, and community, without refund.
Reporting to law enforcement or other authorities where warranted or required.
Membership in OpenWater is a privilege, not a right. Conduct inconsistent with community standards may result in removal even if it does not rise to the level of unlawful behavior. OpenWater Group is not legally required to explain its decisions but will endeavor to provide affected Members with a general explanation of the basis for enforcement action, consistent with privacy, safety, and legal considerations. Enforcement decisions are final. Nothing in this Code limits OpenWater Group’s rights under the Membership Agreement.
By accepting the OpenWater Membership Agreement, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to comply with this Code of Conduct. You understand that violations may result in enforcement action, including termination of your Membership without refund. You agree to review this Code periodically, as it may be updated from time to time, and that your continued participation in OpenWater constitutes acceptance of the current version.
Questions about this Code of Conduct? Contact us at community@openwater.group.