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Three stories, from the first session to what changed.

Across various industries, Improv Alchemy’s work has a lasting impact.

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Athletes seated on stage during a debrief, talking through what just happened in the exercise.

Athletics · Seattle Seahawks

Ten years, five groups, both sides of the building.

It started with one rookie session in 2017. It now runs across the football side and the business side of the same organization, and has contributed to a Super Bowl LX championship.

Players standing in a circle on a stage during a session exercise.

The situation

A rookie class arrives every spring with a few weeks to learn a building, a city, and each other. Player engagement staff are responsible for whether that lands, and they are doing it on a compressed calendar against everything else the club needs from those players.

What runs

We open the spring rookie transition program in May and close it in June, so the class finishes where it started. Since 2023 that has extended to Family Weekend, programming for players’ significant others at the season kickoff, and a wellness retreat.

What changed

The club has run it every year for ten years and keeps adding groups. It is an integral part of their rookie transition program. The work now extends to the business side, where multiple departments use Improv Alchemy’s services.

We understand the importance of supporting the whole ecosystem around our players, which is why we’ve extended our work with Improv Alchemy beyond the players to their families and significant others.
Mo Kelly and Connie CateVP of Player Engagement, and Director of Player and Family Services, Seattle Seahawks
Having collaborated with Improv Alchemy in Football Operations, I recognized their tailored facilitation was ideal for onboarding and team bonding in my role leading Seahawks Community Engagement and Legends. Lainie skillfully fostered collaboration, encouraged team members to showcase their personalities, and boosted communication through effective training exercises. Working with Improv Alchemy transformed our team, and we look forward to ongoing sessions to sustain and enhance our department’s unity and effectiveness.
Mario BaileyVP of Community Engagement and Legends, Seattle Seahawks

Education · Denver Public Schools

Helping students, faculty, and staff grow one Development Lab at a time.

Education is a constant state of improvisation. We help educators strengthen their improv skills to creatively handle what comes their way. We help students gain confidence in their academic and personal skills, leading to more collaborative and healthy classrooms.

  • Bruce Randolph School
  • Manual MS
  • Manual HS
  • Montbello HS
  • Contemporary Learning Academy
  • Gilliam Youth Services
  • Colorado High School Charter
  • Florence Crittenton HS
  • Montclair Elementary
  • DCIS Fairmont
  • Summit Academy
  • DC-21
  • PREP Academy
Educators standing in a circle in a studio while Lainie Hodges leads an exercise.

The situation

Students who will not speak up in front of thirty peers, and staff who spend development days being lectured at about engagement. Both problems are the same problem, and neither is solved by more information.

What runs

Improv as a supplemental tool for increased engagement and positive culture shifts, professional development that teachers actually enjoy and can apply in their classrooms, and impactful development for school leaders.

What changed

A teacher reported afterward that students who are usually quiet in class discussions were speaking with more confidence. Two principals described the sessions changing how they communicate with their own staff, which was not what either of them booked it for.

I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly they brought down the walls, allowing us to speak frankly and honestly about our work. I absolutely believe all leaders can benefit from this type of workshop.
Cesar CedilloOperational Superintendent, Denver Public Schools
Students who are generally more quiet during class discussions and share outs now have shown more confidence when speaking.
Melodie KossBruce Randolph School

Events · Player Development Summit

The session that made the rest of the day work.

Beyond the Field brought us into their 2026 Summit with one stated goal: connection. The room held people at very different levels of familiarity with each other.

  1. Before

    Discovery calls

    Before anything was designed, built to the Summit’s own goal.

  2. Friday

    A participant first

    Lainie attended the Friday, building relationships in the room.

  3. Saturday morning

    Opening day two

    Session design and facilitation.

  4. The rest of the day

    Panels, workshops, discussion

    A program the organizer says the session set the tone for.

Summit attendees shaking hands and laughing during an exercise, with Lainie Hodges seated among them.

The situation

Some attendees already knew each other. Others were still working out who was in the room and who to talk to. A program of panels and workshops was about to run with a group that had not yet become one.

What runs

Discovery calls before anything was designed, then a session built to the Summit’s own goal rather than a standard package. Lainie attended the Friday as a participant before leading the Saturday morning opening.

What changed

The organizer credits the session with setting the tone for a full day of panels, workshops and discussion that followed it. The observation he came back to was not just of the session itself but what it did to everything after.

If you are looking for someone who can help a group move beyond simply being in the same room to actually connecting with one another, I highly recommend Lainie Hodges and Improv Alchemy.
Ed JonesFounder, Beyond the Field Player Development Systems

The rest of the record

Everything else, by program.

In athletics, education, business, or events, Improv Alchemy’s programs are customizable to the needs of your group, team, or organization. Tell us your goals, and we will tailor the games to reach them.

Athletics

From high school to collegiate to professional levels, we’ve got you covered.

Athletics programs

Education

K-12, higher education, students, faculty, and staff. Everyone can benefit from the power of improv.

Education programs

Corporate Teams & Organizations

Team-building, new member integration, change management, retreats, and more. Improv training is the joyful and impactful way to progress.

Corporate programs

Events & Speaking

Summits, conferences, retreats, keynotes, presentations, and facilitation. We bring the power of play to truly help attendees learn and connect.

Events & speaking

Tell us about your group.

A brief phone call is usually enough to figure out what your people are working through and whether a session is the right instrument for it.

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