Inspiring wise action: Practices for storytellers of all kinds

I feel so blessed to have received both an appetite for learning and a compulsion to share, and in this spirit of gratitude, I want not only to share this story, my story, with you, but also some useful ideas for how you might practice raising your hand and saying something important. I've broken my tips down in a simple way that speaks to both the scientifically and the creatively inclined.

Read More
6 ways to collaborate with so-called "competitors"

As a consultant with a passion for collaboration, I’d like to think I’m somewhat cured of the antiquated notion of competition. We are not playing a “zero sum” game as we often unconsciously believe. Individual identity doesn’t matter nearly so much as the connections we create with one another. I believe that when we ally with those who are our most unlikely allies, it can fuel our creativity in unimaginable ways. Here are some ways I have partnered with those whom I choose not to think of as competitors but rather more like “co-players.”

Read More
Putting "I" back in "team": What I learned from my transition from entrepreneurship to intrapreneurship

Since grade school we’ve been taught to fit in, to conform AND to be exceptional, to win the competition - and it has become overwhelmingly obvious that these oppositional goals aren’t working for us. So many of us are aching to “abandon ship” because organizations are too demanding and those of us who indeed launch out on our own quickly find ourselves faced with at the very least burnout and at the very worst deep loneliness. In this article, I share with you some of the ups and downs of my own journey of discovering this deeply rooted problem and developing some possible solutions.

Read More
Telling Stories with Data: Dos and Don'ts for Beginners and Experts

Nowadays, we all seem to be swimming in endless data and information. This can present exciting opportunities to understand our work and its impact more deeply. It also means that if we want to help others understand, we need to be able to share data and information in ways that truly cut through the noise. Here are some dos and don'ts to keep in mind as you create game-changing data stories.

Read More
23+ podcasts for information and inspiration

This month I feel called to share something I never have before: a curated list of some of my favorite podcasts. I find podcasts to be both the most convenient and the most fun way to explore a diversity of perspectives on any given topic. Here's some that I go to for regular doses of inspiration and guidance. As my interests are so diverse, you are bound to stumble on some serendipitous conversations and connections.

Read More
The Trick of Cooperation: Women Creating Networks of Change

We all know that old structures are changing fast. What we don’t always see is that women are playing a pivotal role in birthing the new ones being created. We also often hear about the challenges women face - and we need to hear more about the strengths we bring to them. Women who are leading change efforts in Denver call us to use our current opportunity to see ourselves - and show up in the networks we are involved in - in new, groundbreaking ways.

Read More
The paradox of online communities: How to cultivate ones that build bridges not islands

I was recently asked by a friend "Do you think that technology such as social media is causing or healing our divisions?" As with most great questions worth chewing on, there just isn't a simple answer. Technology has certainly made media more democratized, yet for all our connecting online, we are actually becoming more isolated. If we know technology can so easily separate us - from our own immediate experience, each other, and our environment - are there ways we can ensure it bridges us instead?

Read More
My 2017 Annual "Rapport"

It is time once again to glance backward, gather data and information, and reflect on the past year. To me, this is not merely an excuse to report-out facts and brag about accomplishments, rather it is an opportunity to share both the ups and downs in order to build rapport with you. Because it's always a mixed bag, right?

Read More
Graphic recording: How to get started

Data visualization professionals often focus on numbers, helping to tell the story of what, when, where, and how much. But more often than not organizations first need to better understand the why and how (this is known as qualitative data). Before there is a need to communicate key insights, there is always a need to communicate first about what insights will matter most to the people involved, and therefore what data to plan, collect, analyze, and present. Graphic recording is a method for using visuals to support communication and understanding during real-time dialogue. Hand-drawn illustrations allow teams to simultaneously collect, analyze, and report qualitative data about people and groups.

Read More