Equal parts strategist, writer, and actor-improviser, I have built my career straddling the worlds of creativity and business. Today, I use all of these tools to break open intractable topics and move people through challenging moments in ways that make them feel more understood, connected, and energized.Raised in a family of art makers and academics, I learned early on that smart thinking lives hand-in-hand with creative expression. I channeled this perspective into a career that has moved from tech marketing to an MFA in theater, where I learned to step inside the mind and experience of others, to establishing and growing three theater and improv companies in DC and New York City.It was improv that truly broke me open, teaching me how to access feelings of abandon and creative generation, short-circuiting the fear reaction in my brain and forcing my mind open to new ways of thinking.I ultimately brought these abilities to IDEO, where my writing, acting, and analytical skills came together in profound and productive ways. Over more than a decade in marketing and communications roles, I elevated the company’s presence in the New York market, revamped its content and editorial strategy, and pioneered the groundbreaking Creative Tensions methodology with Sundance Institute, National Geographic, Aspen Ideas Festival, and the New York Civil Liberties Union. Throughout this time, I crafted narratives for leaders, employees, and clients that helped people understand, connect with, and transcend historic periods of change. I’ve come to learn that all organizations need to continuously cultivate champions among their people and never take a strong culture for granted. These are the strategic strengths that lead companies to success - or drive them to stall out completely.I believe that human warmth, contemplation, laughter and connection are essential to solving any of the world’s problems today. And that is what fuels me in my life, and in my career.