This session will explore how personal motivation, professional growth, and individual commitment are the true engines behind successful Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs). While institutional frameworks and technical expertise are essential, it is often the personal enthusiasm of individuals — their passion, sense of purpose, and belief in solidarity — that catalyzes and sustains impactful partnerships. Drawing from real-world experiences, the session will highlight how personal journeys of water professionals — from both mentor and mentee utilities — shape the trajectory and outcomes of WOPs. These stories will illustrate how individual actors, driven by a shared vision of equitable water access, overcome institutional and contextual challenges to co-create solutions, transfer knowledge, and build lasting professional relationships. The session will also examine how WOPs serve as platforms for professional development, enabling individuals to grow in leadership, technical skills, and intercultural collaboration. By focusing on the human dimension of partnerships, this session aligns with the Congress theme “Solidarity in Action” and emphasizes that solidarity is not just a principle but a lived experience, embodied by people. The session will begin with a short input on the theme of the art of partnering, followed by a short theatrical sketch (role play) designed to highlight a specific conflict situation within a partnership. This will be followed by the creation of 4–5 discussion groups on the topic, culminating in a plenary discussion.