Why Strategic Imagination?
In candid moments, leaders worry they’re hitting a wall when it comes to:
Bolder strategies than previously imagined
More painless ways of steering complex change
Holistic — rather than piecemeal — solutions to DEI challenges
And other transformations…
STRATEGIC IMAGINATION uses the tools of the imaginative arts to help individuals and organizations get unstuck when they can't afford to do things as they've always done.
Fiction, theatre, comics, and other imaginative arts have the power to get us out of trapped mindsets, build empathy for colleagues and customers/stakeholders, and see bolder future visions than we thought possible.
Strategic Imagination in Action
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Research shows that reading fiction helps develop empathy. I create — and help others create — stories that facilitate difficult conversations by helping team members walk in each other's shoes.
Future Visioning
Taking a page from Fortune 500 companies who hire sci-fi writers to get ahead of the competition, I use the tools of science fiction and worldbuilding to help teams create more aspirational future plans.
Organizational Agility
In a world that won't stand still, principles of narrative storytelling and improv teach us to navigate twists and turns without losing sight of core organizational values and objectives.
Higher ed: my experience with some of the world’s most complex organizations
In any given week, you might find me leading presentations for businesses, government groups, non-profits, and organizations large and small. But I initially cut my teeth in consulting for higher education leaders: advising hundreds of college and university presidents, provosts, CFOs, and deans. I gained a special appreciation for the challenges of managing extreme complexity — whether aligning disparate stakeholders, balancing mission and margin, steering large-scale initiatives in matrixed environments, or confronting continuous public scrutiny and market disruption.
I continue to maintain a select higher ed practice, as well as draw upon relevant lessons in my work across sectors.
Leveraging the power of the arts for DEI
“Melanie Ho has brought the challenging nuances of advancing gender leadership while running a highly effective organization into focus. We can relate to, commiserate with, and learn from her characters— in a way that is more accessible and, frankly, more human, than from a traditional leadership book or corporate equity and inclusion training.”
— Chris Proulx, Global Director, Humentum
The Story Behind Strategic Imagination
Listen to the 23-minute podcast discussion below.
Representative Organizations
It’s been an honor to lead keynotes and workshops for a wide range of organizations and sectors, as represented below. For those in higher education, you can learn more about my distinct work with colleges and universities here.
