Spoiler alert: Play isn’t just for kids.

Dive into our latest tools for grown-ups who want to think lighter and go further.

Creative Recess is an emerging concept that blends structured and unstructured time for creativity, play, and exploration. It is often used in workplaces, schools, and leadership development programs to encourage innovation, collaboration, and well-being. Here’s how it can apply across different settings:

In the Workplace & Leadership Development

  • Encourages employees to take intentional breaks to engage in creative activities like doodling, brainstorming, building with their hands, or exploring new ideas.
  • Can be integrated into meetings, team-building sessions, or leadership retreats to spark fresh thinking and problem-solving.
  • Helps combat burnout by balancing structured work with playful exploration.

In Education & Learning Environments

  • Used in classrooms to give students short, scheduled breaks to engage in free-thinking, art, movement, or problem-solving challenges.
  • Research suggests creative play boosts cognitive flexibility, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills.

In Personal Development & Coaching

  • Individuals can use creative recess as a daily or weekly practice for journaling, mind mapping, or artistic expression.
  • Let’s explore my Possibility Quotient (PQ) framework—helping clients shift mindsets and build habits of curiosity and creativity.

Unlike traditional training, we skip the jargon and embrace the messy, joyful work of real growth.

Consulting/Areas of Expertise

Leadership Development

  • Specializes in critical leadership studies, authentic leadership, social change, and culturally relevant leadership frameworks.
  • Extensive experience designing and facilitating workshops on leadership theory, team empowerment, and innovation.
  • Integrates Student Leadership CompetenciesTM and National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career-Readiness Competencies.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA)

  • Proven track record in integrating anti-racist practices into leadership education.
  • Expertise in creating inclusive curricula, training programs, and mentorship initiatives.

Community and Civic Engagement

  • Background in service-learning and participatory action research, fostering meaningful partnerships between academic institutions and communities.
  • Recognized for innovative approaches to addressing social challenges and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Inner Development Goals through education and leadership.

Arts-Based and Experiential Learning

  • Skilled in applying arts-based research methods and experiential learning techniques, including poetry, storytelling, and theater, to leadership and team-building programs.
  • Emphasizes high-impact (AAC&U) practices, including capstone courses and projects, collaborative assignments and projects, first-year seminars and experiences, internships, learning communities, service learning, and undergraduate research.

Programs and workshops that feel like recess (but work like therapy).

READY FOR SCHOOL

Preparing for the classroom—and beyond. For students, early-career professionals, and career pivoters:

  • College & Grad School Prep: Leadership development, application strategy, and navigating academia as a first-gen student.
  • Workshops & Curricula: Custom programs for universities (e.g., Leading with Purpose, Leadership in Diverse Societies).
  • Academic Coaching: Overcoming setbacks (like my 1.0 GPA comeback) and building resilience.

READY FOR WORK

Thriving in—or reimagining—your career. For professionals, teams, and organizations:

  • Career Transitions: Coaching for pivots, promotions, or leaving toxic workplaces (informed by my shift from academia to solopreneurship).
  • Leadership Development: Keynotes and workshops on authentic leadership, IDEA, and social change (topics I’ve taught at Iowa State, UC Irvine, and beyond).
  • Consulting: Tailored strategies for nonprofits, boards, and teams.

READY FOR LIFE

Leading from your whole self. For individuals and communities:

  • Identity & Resilience: Coaching for LGBTQ+ professionals, people in recovery, and those navigating health challenges (rooted in my journey as a gay, HIV+ man in recovery).
  • Creative Recess Retreats: Facilitating spaces for healing, storytelling, and redefining success.
  • Community Dialogue: Certified dialogue facilitation to bridge divides.

Have a program or service in mind that isn’t listed here? Schedule a complimentary discovery call!