On the Menu: Intro to Applied Improvisation for the Modern Professional

To keep the momentum going in the new year, On the Menu is mixing it up once again.

This February, join us for a lunch & connect experience featuring improv led by Richard Zink – an interactive session designed to spark creativity, strengthen communication, and build authentic connections.

Here’s how it works.

Applied improvisation? What does this have to do with the workplace? Applied improvisation is all about cultivating interpersonal skills using the principles and tools of improvisational theater in a non-theatrical setting. Applied improvisation has been used in many settings, including business, medicine, healthcare, and science to help participants develop and expand quick thinking, confidence, communication, and collaboration. In this brief introduction to the topic, we will engage in physical and verbal exercises to stretch our boundaries, build confidence, react more effectively to unexpected events, engage one another with active listening and improved communication, and build ideas through collaboration. These skills are essential for effective leadership and communication for the modern professional! Any environment that requires the expertise of numerous disciplines needs effective communicators and collaborators to find the best solutions from the multitude of competing priorities and big ideas. These interpersonal skills become even more important when trying to engage more general audiences. No experience is required, just an open mind, an eagerness to participate, and a willingness to take risks in a supportive environment. And don’t worry, you will have so much fun, you won’t even realize you’re learning!

Due to the nature of this event, it will be hosted exclusively in person. We encourage all participants to join us on-site to fully engage with the experience.

Game Plan

10:30 a.m. | In-Person | Registration opens 

11:00 a.m. | Event begins

12:30 p.m. | Event ends & lunch is available

1:00 p.m. | Go on back to work!

Our Session Leader

Richard C. Zink, PhD

Biostatistician • Software Developer • Professor • Improviser

Richard C. Zink is a biostatistician and software developer who has spent more than 20 years in and around clinical trials and medical product development. He is author, editor, and contributor to 9 books on statistical topics in clinical trials and clinical research. Richard holds a Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he serves as Adjunct Professor of Biostatistics and Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice. His journey with applied improvisation began in 2017 after hearing a podcast that scientists could benefit from improvisation training to improve their communication and collaboration with non-scientists. Richard offers courses and workshops on applied improvisation locally and at conferences for scientific and professional organizations.

What’s On The Menu?

At Frontier RTP, we are constantly growing, and hope you will come along for the ride! We developed On the Menu as a way of helping you and your business grow to the next level, whatever that next level may be.

Each month, we offer a lunchtime workshop on a special topic related to small businesses or startups. On the Menu is taught by a diverse group of experts from around the Triangle (some of whom started their business here at Frontier RTP!) in a small group setting.

Our hope is that these workshops will not only be rich in content, but spark dialogue, start relationships, and make your lunch break meaningful. Did we mention there will be food? For those joining us in-person, there will be a free lunch available. If you are joining us virtually, we invite you to bring your lunch to the Zoom. No shame in eating with your camera on!

We want you to easily access our events and webinars. Please reach out to us with accommodation requests at programming@rtp.org and we’ll do our best to facilitate.

Note: By registering and participating in this event, you consent to the recording of your likeness, image, and/or voice and authorize Frontier RTP to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing your likeness, image, and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.