I’d like to help you (or your team) help yourself to:
Face the AI wave and leverage it
Learn new things you’ve always wanted to learn
Scratch itches in the back of your brain for years
Stand ideas up and decide to build with more information
See what the tech is capable of and what YOU are capable of
In the summer of 2026, a 16-year-old lifeguard saved a young boy from suddenly tumultuous waves just over the hill from where I live. Even as huge waves crashed into both of them, the lifeguard stuck to his training and never turned his back on the ocean. As wave upon wave of tech innovation crashes on us, with AI being the latest, I believe we are all more prepared when we face the ocean, tinker with the tools and tech, and learn not just what the tools and tech are capable of, but what we, ourselves, are capable of.
Whether you’re in the shallow end or ready for a free swim in the ocean, let’s play! I’ll bring the floaties.
– Excerpt from TINKER: What 20 Years of Tinkering Taught Me About Freedom, Fun, and What's Next
LEARNING
It's not about the tech — it's about what you imagine doing with it. This galvanizing session traces a recurring pattern across four "next big things" (up to today’s AI ubiquity) to reveal that mastering a technology is really about mastering a mindset. Attendees will leave with a repeatable approach to facing whatever disruption comes next:
Curiosity > Credentials: Learn that you can learn…just be willing to be bad at it first
Find the helpers: Locate the people who love to explain all the things…and ask them
Fun can set you free: Begin your exploration as a labor of love…and grow from there
Ask the better question: Not "can I do this?" — but "what have I always wanted to do, and can this help me?"
BUILDING
Timeless phenom Buffy the Vampire Slayer may be an unlikely source for leadership advice, but this highly entertaining session packs a punch and delivers counterintuitive lessons, especially for leaders who want to achieve escape velocity past limiting “badass” narratives. Attendees will learn powerful lessons powered by pop culture, including:
Collaborative teamwork > Superhero super-strength
It's not about you: De-personalization will save your sanity, the deal, and maybe the world
Don't look for heroes: Look for mutual mentorship
Put empathy in action because, ultimately, love will save us
SCRATCHING PRODUCTIVITY ITCHES (ONE CLICK IS BETTER THAN THREE!)
Packed with real-life examples, this clear and highly actionable session will show attendees how to identify and improve a team’s processes, communication, innovation and management practices, and more. Along the way, identify, understand, and strategize around:
The Four A’s of accelerating a more sustainable workplace culture
How to interrogate, not blindly trust, your gut
Operational strategies to integrate inclusivity into every functional area
Working with Elisa on our three-part event series to redesign it from an in-person event to a virtual one during shelter-in-place was a great experience. Having a professional moderator and organizer who knows how to get the conversation moving, does research, and has the knowledge and desire to elevate the very different, dynamic, and interconnected panels we hosted was crucial to our success. Unapologetically feminist, she brought a critical gender lens to our subject matter for each day. Elisa skillfully showcased the strengths of our speakers and left attendees inspired and impressed.
– Laura Kim, Management Analyst, Office of Women's Policy, Santa Clara County Executive Office
