The Improviser’s Guide to Building Strong Relationships

In this interactive session, you will have a chance to connect with your fellow alumni in a new and unique way. You will participate in engaging improv-based activities designed for rapid bonding, collaboration, building trust, and developing stronger relationships. The workshop is accessible for everyone and is not an improv performance class. The joyful shared learning experience will create energy and laughter while asking powerful questions about how we connect with each other and what may hold us back, intentionally or unintentionally. You will also come away with communication skills you can apply in personal and professional settings. Say “yes, and…” to see where this playful exploration takes you. This is part 1 of an improv-based interactive workshop series. Part 2 is a storytelling workshop (for personal and professional contexts) coming in the fall.

**Instructor Bio**

***[Debra Schifrin](http://www.linkedin.com/in/debraschifrin/)*** (HBS 2007) is a [Corporate Consultant](http://www.debraschifrin.com/) and [Lecturer in Management](https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/debra-schifrin) at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she co-created and teaches the school’s first and only improv-based MBA management course, Spontaneous Management. As a consultant, she designs and leads innovative, improv-based training sessions for businesses on leadership, communications, collaboration, and storytelling. Her clients come from across the world in multiple sectors including high tech, artificial intelligence, consulting, medical, edtech, consumer goods companies, investment banking, private equity, and top-tier universities. Clients include Bain & Company, Box, DoorDash, Yelp, Guild, Atlassian, and Leadership Now (founded by HBS alumni). Debra is an experienced improv teacher and performer. Before coming to Stanford, she spent a decade as a reporter, director, and producer for National Public Radio and Marketplace, where she reported her stories and commentaries on-air for millions of listeners nationwide.