Over the past 12 years, The Firefly Group has expanded and we’re proud to work with executive and senior leaders from many disciplines and sectors - but what is the story of our name? The business began life as "Firefly Coaching", but it soon became apparent that coaching wouldn’t be the whole picture. In 2012, The Firefly Group was born, with a broader remit. But I still hadn't seen a real Firefly!
Firefly Founder and CEO Kirsty Star Maynor shares the story of how Firefly came to be…
People often ask me what the reason is for the business being called Firefly. In 2009 I completed my formal Co-Active coach training and certification, which in itself built on decades of learning and change experience. I started Firefly before I even finished my certification, with an amazing team of coaches and leadership development specialists ready to make a difference. In my quest to find the perfect name, I was struck by a passage from “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert (2006), which I was reading at the time:
“She is a firefly, this Linda. In Venice in the Middle Ages there was once a profession for a man called a codega - a fellow you hired to walk in front of you at night with a lit lantern, showing you the way, scaring off thieves and demons, bringing you confidence and protection through the dark streets. This is Linda - my temporary, special-order, travel-sized Venetian codega.”
I had it! My new business would be called Codega. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered there were already other businesses with that name in the same space. So, I went back to the text and realised that in fact, Firefly was a much better name. At this point in my life, I had never actually seen a firefly. I just knew the name was right.
The business began life as ‘Firefly Coaching’, because that was where I wanted to focus my attention. However, it soon became apparent that coaching wouldn’t be the whole picture.
In 2012, The Firefly Group was born, with a broader remit incorporating leadership development, executive coaching, management training and development programmes for individuals and groups. In other words, all of the unique and bespoke services which we’re now proud to offer to our clients. But I still hadn’t seen a single firefly…
In January 2013, I took part in the CTI (Coaches Training Institute) Co-Active leader programme in North Carolina. For many reasons, I felt that I was being drawn there at this particular time in my life. What I didn’t know at the time was that one of those reasons was because it would bring me face-to-face with fireflies - in the wild - for the first time in my life. One magical night, I found myself in the base of a valley, completely surrounded by fireflies: thousands upon thousands of them, lighting up the whole space, flickering and sparkling. As I stood in perfect silence, in awe of this incredible sight, it struck me that one firefly on its own is not enough to create such an incredible impact. One firefly on its own is magical, but hundreds and thousands of fireflies are transformational. We need to grow, stretch, and expand our impact in order to reach out in a truly transformational way.
Over the past 12 years, The Firefly Group has expanded considerably, and we’re proud to work with executive and senior leaders from a variety of disciplines and sectors, helping them deepen their impact and tackle a wide range of challenges. We bring the light, the spark and the magic that helps others to grow, stretch and transform through co-creation and responsible, sustainable partnership.
Firefly. Igniting better futures. Today.