Leadership Development Courses and Consulting
Early invitation
In the coming months I will be offering leadership consulting in a new format.
A hybrid of one-on-one private conversations combined with coursework delivered online, emphasizing visual and written tools for self-exploration and self-expression.
Background
For the last few years I have consulted on creative inquiry and navigating systems and change at the intentionally small and independent office I built to help people and organizations find ways to change their trajectory. That covers a lot of ground, understanding challenges cross many areas of life and work.
My larger, project-based leadership and foresight consulting examines organizational systems and full-cycle change.
My training is through Royal Roads University (MA Leadership) under the advisement of Dr. Niels Agger-Gupta (PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, Fielding Graduate University), University of Houston, MIT, Accademia Italiana, and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
I’ve led comprehensive peer-mentoring programs through the International Leadership Association (ILA) with participants around the world, and delivered numerous workshops and facilitation events combining leadership and futures-thinking for decision-makers at all levels. I’m also an active Board Member of Leadership Big Bend, where I teach group sessions that foreground rural needs and aspirations.
My expertise and decades of experience draw from theory and practical, hands-on experience ranging from the Executive Office to leading young people on their first extensive outdoor adventures! You need a sense of humor to survive both: we deal with serious challenges but it’s never boring.
My services are unique in that they combine deep understanding of, and experience in, creative inquiry, innovation, practical strategic operations, humanitarian concern and social trends.
In other words, consideration for context and experimental willingness; new techniques and enduring principles; criticality and curiosity.
Personal futures
I’m excited to open this up for you!
We will look at inflection or “turning points”, influences, self-image, alternative images of self, alternative personal futures, and scenarios. Some key questions I’ll work with you on are, where do I want to go from here? And, where do others think I will go from here? These questions are made more profound if you are negotiating failure, criticism, insecurity, or are unsure of who to trust —experiences that shape us all.
For clients who benefit from values-based approaches, a separate course will draw gently from philosophy and theology. Leadership development, human creativity, and ideation often proceed as if these dimensions do not exist, without consideration given to how personally important they are to many. This workstream engages with ethical challenges and revisits personal principles.
The result for clients is a more cohesive narrative of self, broader awareness of roles we play, learning anticipatory tools, confidence in defining “how you show up”, and a clear plan of action.
Sessions
Art and photography are incorporated in a number of our sessions. Why? A self-portrait exercise, for example, reveals self-commentary.
We are conscious of our self when someone else takes our photo. When we turn the camera on ourselves, we are now in charge of when, where and how the photo is taken. There is a natural self-examination taking place. We may even choose to filter or manipulate our image. We might compare our present-moment image with a younger self we don’t think we can retrieve.
Going a step further, in the context of a personally important event such as the end of a relationship, a promotion, changing careers, a move, or a business expansion, another layer of self-exploration is built into the process: How do I relate to this event? How do I imagine I will feel about this event next week? Next month? Five years from now? How will others view my engagement with this event?
I’m also, for the first time, going to include music and poetry as a tool for exploring values, meaning, expression, how we engage with key people in our lives, cultural artifacts, and even family influences and personal alter egos. I can’t wait to listen and collaborate with you.
Next
Details on when the courses open up and the fee-schedule will be shared here. Subscribe if you’re interested in getting an email heads-up.
Spaces will be limited so we can include online calls/conferencing and confidential one-on-one dialogue.
More to come, along with testimonials from previous clients’ on their experience and success.
Please email me with questions and share with friends and colleagues you think will benefit from this program. —Kendra
