“Poetry and business require vision, the ability to see beyond the surface and into the essence of things."
from my manifesto Why Poetry Is Very Much My Business (And Why It Should Be Yours Too)
During my 6+ years at Google, I’ve seen firsthand how increasingly demanding deadlines, remote work, and the stress of economic uncertainty weaken the sense of creativity, community, and safety that employees need to thrive - and stay - in any company.
Corporate workshops
I use the meaning-making power of poetry to re-inspire teams with workshops that blend storytelling, psychology, and academic research.
Finding Wellbeing through Poetry
Research shows reading poetry helps combat anxiety and stress.
In this workshop, poems help participants slow down and reset so they can actually hear themselves think.
Because poems say out loud what we feel down low, they allow your people to get more vulnerable collectively and take a key step towards genuine collaboration and trust in the workplace.
I didn’t want to leave the space! It’s 8 am here & I feel rejuvenated and can take on the day!
- Emily, software engineer
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Who is this for?
Cross-functional teams looking to better integrate different departments
New teams/start-ups looking to anchor their culture
Bigger companies that need to nurture a strong culture at scale
Format: 1-2h, 10-80 participants
Skills learned:
Self-awareness and mindfulness
The fundamentals of empathetic communication
Emotional connection and curiosity
Unlocking Content Creation through Poetry
Breaking out of a content rut, refining your brand's voice or crafting a campaign that will make your audience click all start with one thing: knowing how to get your creative juices flowing.
In this hands-on workshop we'll borrow tricks from poetry and UX to equip your team with a creative toolbox to make your content ooze with authenticity.
Whether you're in marketing, sales, UX or other content-focused jobs, you'll leave with inspiring, work-ready material.
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Who is this for?
High-output content teams on tight deadlines
Marketing, PR, Sales teams looking for new ways to connect with customers
Editorial/Publishing teams looking to refresh their voice
Format: 2h-6h, groups (10-80 ppts) or individual professionals
Skills learned:
Overcoming writer's block
Mining new ideas
Storytelling (adapted to various formats ie social media, blog posts, ad campaigns etc.)
Collective editing/revising
I feel like I've unlocked a whole world of ideas I can develop for my product comms. You taught me that emotion is the driver of creativity.
- Sasha, product manager
Clients and partners
More workshops
Finding Mindfulness through Poetry
Our brains are wired to listen to poetry. Its musicality brings us into a deep sense of focus and curiosity that quiets the monkey mind.
In this intro to mindfulness workshop, your team learns to skillfully navigate the daily demands of work.
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Who is this for?
Sales teams dealing with the stress of meeting targets
Marketing, PR & Comms team managing demanding deadlines
Product teams navigating big launches
Organizations going through disruptive restructuring
Format: 30 min to 2h, 10-80 participants
Skills learned:
Focused attention and concentration
Increased clarity and mental calmness
Reduced anxiety and negative thoughts
Finding Team Building through Poetry
Poems are places where we can get personal without taking things personally.
In this workshop, your team gets to craft poems collectively and get inspired by their differences and the power of creative collaboration.
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Who is this for?
Cross-functional teams looking to better integrate different departments
New teams/start-ups looking to cement their team
Summit/offsite organizers looking to break the ice differently
Format: 1h30-2h, 10-80 participants
Skills learned:
Creative brainstorming and ideation
Respectful and constructive feedback
Embracing collaborative decision-making
Your thoughtful guidance created a unique space where we deepened our connections within the team. This led to a very special way of sharing with others.
- Urio, team manager
700+
sign ups
98%
satisfaction rate
100%
participants feel “more connected” to their co-workers
Speaking
My talks explore the unique intersection of tech and language through a blend of personal storytelling, academic research and live poetry to speak to audiences’ left and right brain.
"It was such a pleasure working with Lauren as a featured speaker. Her professionalism was top notch: prepared, calm, and, above all, inspiring."
Kristen Bret, Group Communication at AXA
