Yes, And…Lead
Navigate Uncertainty with Confidence and Agility
Uncertainty is inevitable—but how you respond to it can define your leadership success. Yes, And…Lead: Navigating Uncertainty with Confidence and Agility is a one-of-a-kind immersive course designed to help leaders thrive in unpredictable situations. Through engaging improv exercises grounded in crisis management strategy, you’ll sharpen your ability to listen, build trust, and confidently lead change. This isn’t just theory—it’s hands-on learning in a brave and supportive environment, where you’ll develop real-world skills to foster innovation and collaboration.
Don’t miss the chance to join our inaugural program and become the leader needed in this ever changing world —register today!
Why This Matters: The Leadership Edge in an Uncertain World
The workplace is unpredictable—markets shift, teams evolve, and challenges arise without warning. Strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about having the confidence to navigate uncertainty with clarity and adaptability. Yes, And… Lead isn’t just a one-time course —it’s an opportunity to build the foundational skills that set great leaders apart. By embracing improvisation, you’ll develop a mindset of flexibility, trust, and collaboration, equipping you to handle tough decisions, inspire innovation, and create an environment that thrives under the most challenging circumstances. Investing in a leadership workshop like this means investing in your ability to lead with agility, creativity, and confidence—no matter what comes next.
Course Details
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April 23 and 24, 2025
9:00 am - 9:30 am | Networking for Connection
9:30 am - 12:00 pm | Interactive Workshop Session
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 pm- 4:00 pm | Interactive Workshop Session
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Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Josie Johnson Community Room
301 S 19th Ave,
Minneapolis, MN 55455
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The course fee of $749 includes: morning refreshments, boxed lunches and materials. Full payment is due at registration to secure your seat. Please note that this price is exclusively for this inaugural course. Future course fees are subject to change based on interest and feedback.
This two-day intensive course is designed exclusively for leaders looking to strengthen their skills through improv. Participants will engage in dynamic exercises that sharpen essential skills like clear communication, active listening, and quick decision-making under pressure. You'll enhance your leadership capability through engaging lectures, group exercises, and facilitated conversations.
Guided by Tane Danger and Shawntera Hardy, this course will challenge leaders to step outside their comfort zones, strengthen team connections, and foster a culture of creativity and resilience within their organizations.
The course will be private and confidential–it will be a space where everyone can participate knowing that everyone else in the room is on a similar journey and won’t share publicly what happens in the classroom. No previous improv experience is necessary—just an open mind and a willingness to explore new approaches to leadership.
Core Competences in this Course
Emotional Intelligence
Develop greater empathy and insight, enabling leaders to read non-verbal cues and respond thoughtfully.
Building Trust and Collaboration
Cultivate a supportive environment that values input and encourages team cohesion, enhancing overall organizational morale and productivity.
Resilience and Agility
Increase resilience and comfort with ambiguity, equipping leaders to stay composed and productive in fast-paced scenarios.
Emergent Strategy
The ability to drive an organization forward by sometimes building off of the unplanned.
Adaptive Thinking
Enhance the ability to pivot quickly, handle unexpected situations, and make strategic decisions in real time.
Active Listening
Strengthen the skill of truly listening to team members, fostering a deeper understanding and connection with colleagues
Creative Problem-Solving
Learn to approach challenges from fresh angles, generating innovative solutions through collaborative exercises.
Clear and Engaging Communication
Improve clarity, presence, and expressiveness in communication, making messages resonate and inspire action.
Meet the Team
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CEO, Amethyst Advisory Group
Shawntera M. Hardy is a seasoned multi-sector leader with an over 20-year history of driving operational excellence at high-profile organizations through periods of uncertainty and transformation.
A champion for inclusive economies, Shawntera has led many complex projects and, along the way, built four impactful companies. Through her global consultancy, Amethyst Advisory Group (AAG), she provides strategic counsel and capacity to organizations looking to thrive in disruption. AAG offers services in the areas of crisis management, government relations, and economic development.
As co-founder and Board Advisor at Plural —Shawntera co-led the development of a global venture-backed ($15 million in raised capital) legislative intelligence company focused on leveraging AI to automate access to state and federal legislative tracking. As co-founder of Fearless Commerce, she co-led the development of high-growth resources that strengthen the capacity and connections of businesses owned by Black Women. As co-founder of Certified Access, a supplier development company, she is building an ecosystem that supports business owners in their efforts to obtain and benefit from certification.
Before becoming a full-time business owner, Shawntera was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), where she led a team of 1400 and oversaw an annual budget of approximately $1.2 billion. Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Shawntera holds a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Affairs from The Ohio State University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.
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Co-Founder, Danger Boat Productions
Tane Danger is the co-founder of Danger Boat Productions and host of its nationally renowned civics improv show, The Theater of Public Policy.He currently serves as Artist in Residence at the Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine. He developed and teaches the Serious Play Medical Improv class for Mayo Clinic medical students.
He previously created and taught design thinking through improv for the University of Minnesota School of Design. He has taught hundreds of classes and workshops across the United States for everyone from Fortune 500 companies to Lutheran bishops.
He is the co-founder of the improv and event company Danger Boat Productions. He’s the host of Danger Boat’s flagship show, The Theater of Public Policy, which has used improv to bring issues of public policy to life since 2011.
He’s a 2016 graduate of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a 2014 Bush Fellow, and was selected for the 2025 “40 Under 40” list by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
What Others Say About This Work
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"Our team learned about the importance of trust, the value of risk, and the creative opportunities that arise when you support the team around you."
Gemma Forbush
Content Strategist
Carmichael Lynch
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“This is the first training I have attended in years that has left me feeling inspired and like I pushed myself into new growth and learning.”
Jessica Giordano
Strategy & Support Division Manager
Hennepin County Land Information and Tax Services
