Together Culture Connections: Meet Roberta and Pauline

Together Culture is growing a community of outrageously curious, open-minded and creative members who care for each other and want to build a more inclusive and ecological Cambridge. Our Connections programme aims to facilitate communication between all members to offer and gain support and connection based on shared interests, experiences, and values. 

Today, we’re introducing you to Roberta and Pauline, who met at Together Culture and have been working collaboratively. Lucia Roberta Russo is a psychologist, and Pauline Leung is a coach.

Why did you become a member of Together Culture?

Pauline: I attended an early Digital Orientation last year, and was attracted by the whole concept - particularly the creation of Together Culture through co-design with Cambridge people. I was also looking for a community and a co-working space where I could meet more people.

Roberta: I was looking for a place in Cambridge where I could gather with other people who share my values and interests. I love the values of Together Culture - things like community, creativity, well-being and sustainability. I find Together Culture inspiring because of that. 

I also realised this place is changing me - it’s rare to find a space where you can be mindful and realise what is important to you, since everyday life is so busy. 

Tell us a bit about what you do!

Pauline: As a learning and development professional and coach, I am passionate about partnering with East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) women. I provide a nonjudgmental environment that empowers them to embrace their heritage while confidently creating positive life changes. My practical approach is grounded in positive intelligence, mindfulness, and habit-building principles. 

As a co-founder of ESEA Cambridge, I’m excited to connect network of individuals from different ethnicities and nationalities through frequent activities that promote mutual benefits, business and a sense of belonging in Cambridge.

Roberta: I’m a psychologist, so my aim is to try to improve people's lives and their well-being. I have previously worked in a hospital in Italy, and now I work in private practice in Cambridge. I offer support to individuals dealing with emotional and relational issues, helping them nurture healthier relationships. I also help people find their purpose in life through their inner values. In that way, they can truly improve their well-being, rather than resort to things that we think make us happy - but in reality are just distractions that we’re conditioned to focus on by advertising, lack of awareness, social pressure, and cognitive biases.

How and why did your collaboration emerge?

Pauline: I worked as a self-employed coach for two years and I missed collaborating with others. I realised that I grew the most when working with others. In early January, I met Roberta, a psychologist working on people's well-being, and I proposed that we work together. We started exploring collaboration opportunities and decided to give EcoEmotion: Create Your Own Sustainable Habits workshop series a try. It's an amazing feeling to have another partner to brainstorm ideas and lean on. I appreciate the chance to experiment with a new workshop with another like-minded professional.

Roberta: We met at the State of Together Culture gathering at the start of 2024. We got chatting and because of our fields being so close, Pauline proposed that we meet and see if we could collaborate. So we met and talked through our ideas. I told Pauline I was studying psychology and sustainability, and how we can make improvements in our day-to-day lives, so she proposed a workshop where she could contribute with coaching habits, and I could talk about the mental well-being side of things. Together we realised that we are a powerful force for good!

Tell us a bit about what you're working on together at Together Culture.

Roberta: What has emerged from our collaboration is our EcoEmotion workshop series. Our areas of focus are sustainability, values, wellbeing, emotions and habits. The main principle is that we don’t teach participants how to behave. Instead, it’s a co-creative space where everyone shares their difficulties and failures - because it’s not easy to adapt and make lasting changes. Our consumer culture can really shape how we act, so we need to focus and be mindful, ensuring we help and support each other. 

Pauline: I love how the workshop and the Together Culture space have become tools for reflecting on our habits. For instance, some participants suggested that we display the EcoHabits that everyone created in the workshop around Together Culture Fitzroy as conversation starters. Other events are taking place within this community promoting sustainability and regeneration, such as the Repair Cafe. Some suggested that this could be a springboard for different events, such as Clothes Swaps. The workshop brings us back to our everyday lives and shows us how we can initiate conversations with like-minded individuals.

What is your creative superpower as buddies?

Pauline: I think we’re good at bringing an experimental approach to how we’ve been working together - being open to ideas, not worrying too much and learning from every experience. 

Roberta: I would add, being non-judgemental. Every person has their own history and behaves a certain way because of it. So in my own practice and in the collaboration with Pauline, it’s important to cultivate this non-judgemental environment. Compassion and self-compassion bring the freedom of being creative and being yourself. 

Tell us about your hope for Cambridge.

Roberta: I love Cambridge, it's a small city where people can gather and there are lots of meeting points. I hope that we don’t lose this as the city grows - that it continues to be a friendly place where there are spaces to gather and lots of different activities to enjoy together.  

Pauline: Cambridge is a special place for me because of its green nature and history. I hope Cambridge will continue to thrive as a hub of intellectual discovery, innovation, and social progress, while also strengthening its diverse local communities and providing opportunities for everyone to flourish.

You can join Roberta and Pauline’s EcoEmotion workshops by booking a ticket here. And if you’re interested in finding out more about the Together Culture community, join us on 22 June for Saturday Lounge - a free event celebrating our neighbourhood!