Facilitation Lab Summit

At the 2026 Facilitation Lab Summit, Renita Joyce Smith delivered a session that flipped the script on facilitation: the most powerful tool in any room isn't your agenda or your activities—it's you. Drawing on years of experience in coaching and organizational work, Renita challenged facilitators to move beyond the performance of professionalism and into the practice of genuine presence. She explored what it truly means to show up unmasked, how to build a container that is both structured and deeply human, and why noticing, naming, and inviting are the three moves that separate good facilitation from transformative facilitation. A must-watch for any facilitator ready to stop hiding behind the toolkit and start trusting themselves as the instrument.

At the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit, Elena Farden led an immersive session titled "Consent as Ceremony: Learnings from Nurturing Safe Connections in Indigenous Play Parties." Elena, known for weaving cultural rituals and deep respect for consent into her facilitation practice, provided profound insights into how we can integrate these sacred traditions into our own work.

At the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit, Elena Farden led an immersive session titled "Consent as Ceremony: Learnings from Nurturing Safe Connections in Indigenous Play Parties." Elena, known for weaving cultural rituals and deep respect for consent into her facilitation practice, provided profound insights into how we can integrate these sacred traditions into our own work.

At the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit, Kathy Ditmore led an impactful session on "Mapping the Change Journey", offering valuable tools and frameworks for creating successful change processes within teams and organizations. This session focused on using a canvas as a "compass" to guide projects toward success and aligned transformation, emphasizing how to adapt and lead through change effectively.

At the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit, Dom Michalec led an engaging and thought-provoking workshop titled "Facilitating Transformation," focusing on the practical aspects of creating lasting change—both personally and professionally. With a mix of theory, hands-on activities, and personal reflection, Dom took attendees on a journey of understanding how transformation happens and how we, as facilitators, can support others in driving meaningful change.

At the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit, Caterina Rodriguez led an engaging and insightful workshop on the power of non-verbal communication in facilitation. Through lively exercises and group discussions, Caterina explored how facilitators can use their bodies, tone, and silence to build stronger connections and create meaningful conversations.

Alyssa Coughlin's session at the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit explored the power of storytelling in change management. Learn how to craft compelling narratives to engage teams, gain buy-in, and drive successful organizational change. Through interactive exercises, Alyssa shared insights on tailoring stories for different audiences, simplifying complex ideas, and using emotion to create lasting impact. Watch the full session video and read the transcript for actionable takeaways.

Dr. Karyn Edwards' session at the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit explored the powerful intersection of coaching and facilitation. With interactive exercises, Karyn demonstrated how non-directive coaching techniques can enhance facilitation, empowering participants to reflect and solve problems on their own. Learn key insights on creating a supportive environment, fostering self-awareness, and empowering participants. Watch the full session video to dive deeper into these transformative practices.

In his session at the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit, JJ Rogers shared innovative methods for incorporating joy and surprise into facilitated sessions. Drawing from UX design and the concept of "delight," JJ introduced three Radical Acts of Delight: using drawing to communicate, applying inverted thinking with "The Twist," and utilizing metaphor cards for creative problem-solving. These techniques help facilitators engage participants and unlock fresh insights through play and surprise.