We are experienced management professionals
who custom-make improv exercises to enhance
the skills your organization needs.

We offer leadership workshops and management training. Our improv exercises are also valuable in bringing your entire staff into more of a teamwork mindset. This differs from our leadership training in having less emphasis on decision-making and problem-solving, yet instilling confidence and flexibility.

Our sessions on practical, or applied, creativity have a way of unlocking even the most closed minds to new ways of thinking and looking at themselves, their teammates and their situation. Theoretically, the most desired skill in business, creativity is just a few minor revelations and skill-building exercises away. We usually end with a roleplay brainstorming session. However, we can also facilitate a real-problem session, if desired.

Develop the heart of the organization to be strong and effective in driving revenue goals and customer satisfaction at their peak performance. Improv skills build your teams to embrace surprise and build better relationships with your best customers and prospects.

Q&A

WHY “SERIOUS"?
People suppose that improv is for comedy -- and it is, of course.
Improv, though, also teaches skills that are valuable in many areas, especially business. Improv is ideal for leadership training, management training, collaboration, even creative problem-solving. When you are watching an improv troupe, after all, those are the very skills they use to perform. t.

WHAT SKILLS?
We craft improv exercises, roleplay and games to coach you on skills such as teamwork, decision-making, problem-solving, communication -- any skill your organization needs to improve.

WHAT MAKES YOU GUYS DIFFERENT?
Certainly, there are many great training programs out there.
We pride ourselves on employing years of management experience (as well as professional improv training). Wherever you are and whatever problems you are wrestling with, chances are we've been there.

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT IMPROV?
The improv exercises we use in our training place participants into an environment that mimics the ideal workplace environment: communicative, supportive, positive. This environment allows those participants to be confident, flexible, adaptable, focused, and team oriented.

WHY GAMES?
Games, exercises and role-play scenarios let participants relax and have fun and become less self-conscious. This way they learn.

HOW DO I KNOW IT FITS MY NEEDS?
We listen to you and, if you want, to your staff. We study your organization. We craft the workshops exactly to your needs, whether it is just manager training, a specific department, or your whole staff. Before we ever begin, we show you what skills our coaching will enhance and exactly how.

CAN YOU REALLY TEACH CREATIVITY?
Yes! And we all have fun while we are learning, too. We teach applied creativity, or practical creativity, though the lessons are very similar to artistic creativity. The skills involved in brainstorming, recognizing problems, recognizing opportunities, and coming up with ideas make all-around better team members. Just some of those skills are: flexibility, empathy, listening, collaboration and self-confidence. .

Entrepreneur articsle, “Improv and Comedy Can Infuse Companies With an Inventive Spirit,” July 2014

Slate article, “How Improv Comedy Skills Became a Must-Have for Entrepreneurs,” March 2014

Forbes article, “Why Improv Training is Great Business Training,” June 2014

Fast Company article, “It’s Not Quite Funny Or Die, But Improv Works To Fuel Powerful Innovation,” April 2012

Mike Grimshaw

Areas of Expertise
Start-up founding & mentoring, Financial strategies for small business, Branding, PR, Marketing & Sales, Engaged Learning techniques, Technology Implementation, and creative classroom tools. Angel Investor

Professional Background
Mike Grimshaw has over 35 years’ Founder, Principal, senior level sales, management and start-up experience in the highly competitive technology industry with industry leaders IBM, Cisco, Andrew, Nortel, and Unisys. He has successfully launched/sold new strategic products and won numerous awards for his contributions. Mike as an entrepreneur founded 15+ companies and was the founder and President of Pace Data and President of Israeli based RAD Network Devices. Mike has proven success in the challenge of bringing innovative start-up companies – Equinox Networks, Cascade, Shasta Networks and Ellacoya to funding, acquisition or IPO.

Nate Lee

Areas of Expertise
Leadership and management training, Business improvisation, Creative problem solving, Communication, Brainstorming, Customer engagement, Marketing strategy, Branding, Writing, Copy editing

Professional Background
A graduate of Second City’s improv school and lead in Second City’s Children’s Theatre, Nate has employed improv skills in a variety of careers and management positions. As a writer and ultimately a creative director of a global ad agency, Nate has written and produced national campaigns for P&G, McDonald’s, Mazda, Taco Bell and Mattel. He has been a partner in a small LA ad agency; senior editor of a weekly newspaper in Chicago; and a performer at Disneyland. Nate has also written several books of skits and one-act plays for pre-teens to perform, as well as the lyrics for a musical about the 1920s.