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What happens when you stop pretending to be successful and start admitting your failures? What we learned from 10 years of failures in Montreal
Natalie Riviere realized that, while success sets us apart, making a mistake brings us all together.
By:
Blanca Smith
Corporate Silence and the Language Barrier
In the entrepreneurial and business ecosystems of Montreal, there was an awkward silence. Startups, social enterprises, and corporate communities operated in separate bubbles, divided by invisible barriers and language.
Natalie Riviere saw this gap and realized that, while success sets us apart, making mistakes brings us together. As she explains: “Since failure is universal, we saw it as a bilingual and inclusive opportunity.”That was the spark that brought Fuckup Nights to the city.
10 Years of Making It Safe to Fail at Work
It’s been 10 years since that first event. The numbers reflect the city’s thirst for honesty: they’ve organized more than 80 events, sparking hundreds of conversations and attracting thousands of subscribers. But the real impact isn’t in the databases; it’s in the work culture.
"As we celebrate 10 years of organizing these community conversations, I like to think that we've made it safer to talk about and explore failure in our local workplaces," Natalie shares . Today, when a disaster strikes a local business, "People can turn to us when failure comes up in internal team conversations and know that they're not alone."
Do you want to be a leader in your community?
Organize " Fuckup Nights " events in your city
Create a space where people can connect, share their failures, and grow—whether you run a coworking space, a community space, a business, or a conference.
Build your community and generate income while you’re at it!
Leading this movement isn't just about charity. It carries a tremendous burden in the real business world.
For Natalie, organizing monthly events during the school year keeps her actively engaged and producing relevant content. The impact is tangible. For her company, which holds the license, this helped it earn its B Corporation certification.
Furthermore, from her perspective as a host, it is incredibly humbling and rewarding to witness impactful partnerships, career launches, and authentic collaborations that emerge directly from the community, as well as to represent the global dream team and the brilliant leadership at Pepe Villatoro.
When failing yourself becomes what drives you
The most memorable failures on the “ Montreal ” stage aren’t just financial losses or missed deadlines. The ones that stick with Natalie are the stories where people are vulnerable enough to talk about how their failure led them to feel like they’d let themselves down—and then use that very pain to achieve their dreams and drive their visions forward. The feedback from the speakers themselves and the deeply reflective process they go through are incredibly powerful. As Natalie says, it all comes down to one undeniable truth: vulnerability is a superpower.
An Evolution in Corporate Culture
Every event ends with people approaching Natalie to express their gratitude or share a funny reflection on how the experience moved them. She has witnessed powerful partnerships form within the community that have led to the launch of products and careers, as well as profound personal and professional growth.
His advice for anyone who wants to start a chapter in their own city is simple: identify the demand, surround yourself with an amazing team, and have fun. Because, beyond local events, “The international aspect of this community is incredibly valuable and represents a true social movement and an evolution in corporate communication culture. Long live FUN!”
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