From Meetings to Magic

How Authenticity and Creativity Transformed My Approach to Collaboration

I’ve spent most of my career in management consulting, where meetings are your bread and butter. For years, my main focus was running efficient, structured meetings. In consulting, especially project management, you live and die by meetings—one after another. It was always about getting in, hitting the agenda, and getting out. No time wasted. But after a decade of doing this, I started asking myself, Is this it?

Things began to shift for me when I realized I could bring more of myself into my work. I’ve always been a bit of a jokester and love making people feel comfortable. So, I started to experiment with bringing that personality into my meetings. I distinctly remember working on a project for a global staffing firm where I was tasked with running a series of strategy meetings with the C-suite. Here I was, about to lead a room full of powerful executives—the CEO, CIO, and every other “C” in the book. That should have been intimidating, right? Instead, I thought, Let’s make this fun. So, I did something different: I threw in some dad jokes, added music during breaks, and even sent out emails with GIFs to lighten the mood.

At first, I was nervous about how it would be received. But the feedback? It was phenomenal. The CEO himself told me, “I actually look forward to your meetings, Renita.” That moment changed everything for me. I realized that facilitation wasn’t just about running efficient meetings—it was about making them engaging and human. It was about connection. That was the beginning of my journey toward becoming a facilitator.

But it wasn’t just about jokes. Around that time, I also started to question how I could bring more authenticity into my professional life. There was one moment, in particular, that stands out. I had been contemplating wearing braids to work but kept hesitating. I was genuinely worried—What will they think? Will I be judged for not looking “corporate” enough? It seems small, but it was huge for me. Eventually, I said, “This is who I am,” and I wore my braids to work. No one batted an eye, but for me, it was a pivotal moment in my journey toward authenticity. I realized I could bring my full self to work and still be respected for my skills and expertise.

Realizing the Power of Facilitation

That breakthrough with the C-suite meetings was the first time I really saw the impact of being me in the room. It wasn’t just about efficiency; it was about creating an atmosphere where people wanted to show up. That’s when I started paying more attention to facilitation as a skill. I kept getting great feedback from clients and my colleagues. People would specifically ask for me to lead workshops or meetings, saying things like, “Renita knows how to keep things moving and keep people engaged.” At first, I thought it was just a natural extension of being a good consultant, but then I wondered, Is there more to this?

That’s when I approached my mentor, Lisa, with a question: “Is facilitation an actual skill? Or am I just making meetings more fun?” Lisa confirmed what I hadn’t yet fully realized—facilitation is absolutely a skill, and not everyone can do it well. She told me, “You’ve got something special, Renita. Not everyone can hold a room like you can.”

I’d always been someone who loved learning, so naturally, I began researching. My Google searches led me down a rabbit hole of facilitation programs, and that’s when I discovered Voltage Control. It was like everything aligned. I didn’t just want to be the person who could make meetings fun—I wanted to master the tools and techniques to take my facilitation to the next level. Voltage Control wasn’t just offering a certification; they understood the deeper human elements of facilitation. They blended psychology, storytelling, and structure, and I knew right away that this was the path I wanted to follow.

The Right Fit

When I found Voltage Control, it was like the stars aligned. I’ve always been a sucker for certifications—so much so that my friends once had to stage an intervention! They were like, “Renita, you don’t need another certification!” But for me, certifications aren’t just about getting a piece of paper—they’re about sharpening my skills and staying marketable. So when I came across Voltage Control, it wasn’t a matter of if I was going to sign up—it was when.

What sealed the deal for me was Voltage Control’s focus on the human side of facilitation. I had come across other programs, but they felt dry and mechanical. Voltage Control, on the other hand, infused personality, creativity, and psychology into everything. They understood that facilitation wasn’t just about setting up agendas and sticking to timelines. It was about connecting with people, understanding group dynamics, and creating an environment where real work could happen. I saw it as a natural extension of what I was already doing, but with the added structure and depth I craved.

I signed up immediately, knowing this was going to be more than just another certification. It was a step toward becoming the kind of facilitator I wanted to be—someone who could blend strategy with humanity.

Learning, Laughing, and Leveling Up

The Voltage Control certification didn’t just meet my expectations—it exceeded them. From day one, I felt like I was part of something special. The cohort was full of people from different backgrounds, and we all had something unique to bring to the table. The diversity of perspectives made every session richer. I remember thinking, “I’m in the right place.” The opening and closing ceremonies, icebreakers, and activities weren’t just fun—they were tools I immediately started incorporating into my own sessions.

One of the most valuable parts of the program for me was working on my portfolio. It forced me to really think about the kind of facilitator I wanted to be. I included projects like a racial equity series and a corporate strategy workshop. As I reflected on those experiences, I realized how facilitation could cross boundaries—from business process design to social justice work. I started to see that facilitation wasn’t just a tool—it was a mindset. The portfolio helped me refine my approach and define my philosophy as a facilitator.

One of the standout moments during the program was learning how to use Mural. I’d never seen anything like it, and it completely changed how I ran workshops. I began integrating Mural into my sessions, creating interactive, engaging canvases that clients loved. After the certification, I became known for my ability to bring structure and creativity into virtual spaces, and that set me apart in a big way.

New Skills, New Impact

The skills I gained from the certification immediately transformed how I worked. Facilitation became a dedicated part of my business, not just something I did casually. Clients began to trust me with more high-stakes projects, like a two-day leadership retreat for the Girl Scouts of Tarrant County. We flew out to New York, and they let me design and run the entire offsite. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just something I did on the side—it was a core part of my value as a consultant and leader.

What surprised me most was how facilitation became a business development tool. I wasn’t the person who was great at cold calls or coffee meetings, but I realized that workshops could do the selling for me. By helping clients solve real problems during these sessions, I was showing my value before they even hired me for bigger projects. It was a subtle, but powerful shift in how I approached my work.

Facilitation didn’t just change my business; it changed my approach to leadership. I began designing leadership programs with facilitation as the backbone. This past summer, I landed a contract to develop a year-long women’s leadership program for a local utility company. We sold the program based on our ability to create engaging, transformative experiences, not just deliver content. Facilitation became the cornerstone of everything I was building.

Building a Legacy of Facilitators

Looking forward, I see facilitation continuing to grow as a core part of my business. My vision is to build a team of facilitators who share my passion for bringing humanity and creativity back into meetings. I want to be the go-to resource in Dallas, especially for nonprofits and organizations that need productive, engaging sessions. Too often, I hear people say, “We had a retreat, but nothing got done.” That’s a waste of time and money, and I know we can do better.

I want to create a network of facilitators who share my values—people who understand that meetings can be fun, engaging, and still get real results. My goal is to build a bench of experts who can step in and transform any offsite, strategy session, or leadership retreat into a meaningful experience. We’re not just running meetings; we’re creating moments that matter.

Facilitation has become one of the most important skills in my toolkit, and it’s a game-changer for anyone who leads teams or brings people together to solve problems. If you’re thinking about stepping up your facilitation skills, I can’t recommend the Voltage Control certification enough. It’s more than just learning how to run meetings—it’s about transforming how you lead and engage with people. Take the leap; it’s worth it.