Featured Image Credit: Left to right, Chefs Willie Wallace Jr. and Richard Zuill preparing Bermudian cuisine. Photography by Alex Masters.
LA-based leaders and creators join Bermuda’s top talent to foster cultural exchange, mentorship, and cross-border innovation.
Los Angeles has long been a hub of creativity, innovation, and global influence. In December 2025, LA’s talent crossed the Atlantic to participate in Two Weeks of Magic, Bermuda’s immersive conference pairing international and local creators, business leaders, and innovators through curated summits, awards, and community activations.
Bridging Culture and Collaboration
Two Weeks of Magic is far from a traditional conference. Centered around its signature weekend—featuring the Magic Mastermind Summit and The Magic of Bermuda™ Awards Brunch—the experience extends across immersive events fostering creativity, business innovation, wellness, and community engagement. Participants from Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, and New Jersey collaborated with Bermudian talent, turning conversation into co-creation.
LA-based attendees included Gianluca Gibbons, MBA, Bermudian entrepreneur and co-founder of Two Weeks of Magic; biotech innovator Dr. Violet Zahedi; CPA and philanthropist Ursula Garrett; mental health expert Dr. Jason Branch; and celebrity chef Willie Wallace Jr who splits his time between Los Angeles and Atlanta. Their presence underscored LA’s growing role as a global collaborator, blending industry expertise with creativity and cultural fluency while staying at Coco Reef Resort Bermuda.
Cross-Border Collaboration in Action
From culinary innovation to youth programs, LA participants worked closely with Bermudian talent. Chef Wallace partnered with Bermudian Master Chef Richard Zuill and the Bermuda Diabetes Association for the Taste The Magic activation, reimagining traditional Bermudian cuisine with a health-conscious twist. The collaboration sparked conversations around culture, health, and creativity, showing how food can serve as a medium for connection.
Bermudian entrepreneur Tulani Bulford, founder of Horseshoe Bay Live, shared his inspiration during a panel at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium: “I was inspired to start to rebirth and regenerate our tourism ministry with locals first. I travel all around the world, just like you, and I’ve never seen any country in the world with the hospitality of Bermudians.”
His words highlighted the reciprocal spirit of Two Weeks of Magic: international talent engages with Bermudian ingenuity, while local leaders draw inspiration from global perspectives.
The event also showcased next-generation collaboration. U.S.-based interns Phoebe Baluyot and Monica Demian worked alongside Bermudian intern Jamie Furtado in marketing and event production, culminating in a private presentation to Premier E. David Burt, JP, MP. During the Awards Brunch, the Premier remarked: “What we see in this room is a clear example of what happens when Bermudians are encouraged, not only to dream, but to embrace their gifts and pursue excellence with confidence.”
Voices from Los Angeles
For LA participants, the experience was transformative. Dr. Zahedi reflected: “I met international and local collaborators, learned about Bermuda’s culture and history, and experienced the island’s beauty firsthand. I’d never seen pink sand before, it was amazing to walk on.”
Ursula Garrett emphasized the human-centered impact: “Education, experiences of a lifetime, and being surrounded by some of the brightest and most talented people you’ll ever meet.”
Dr. Jason Branch added: “The magic starts with the people, that’s the heart of it. This experience gives people the opportunity to become someone they’ve never been.”
Chef Willie Wallace Jr. concluded: “Why not bring my gift that God has given me. It was no question that I would come out here and be a part of something so great.”
From Bermuda to the World
Founded by Glenn A. Blakeney and Gianluca Gibbons, Two Weeks of Magic is designed as a scalable ecosystem rather than a one-time event. Gibbons explained: “Two Weeks of Magic is cultivating an ecosystem that focuses on local creativity and culture, driving business innovation, and pioneering modern global collaboration.”
The conference returns in December 2026, expanding international engagement and global pop-up activations while keeping Bermuda at its heart. LA-based professionals and organizations now have a roadmap for joining and shaping this platform of cross-border creative collaboration.
Looking Ahead
Two Weeks of Magic demonstrates how global collaboration can flourish outside traditional metropolitan centers. By pairing Los Angeles’ innovative energy with Bermuda’s cultural richness, the event has created pathways for shared learning, business innovation, and artistic exchange.
For Los Angeles readers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and sponsors alike, Two Weeks of Magic offers the opportunity to participate in shaping an international ecosystem where ideas, culture, and commerce meet.
Join Two Weeks of Magic 2026
For more information, partnership inquiries, or to join the 2026 conference waitlist, visit www.twoweeksofmagic.com and follow @twoweeksofmagic.
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