Showing Up for Myself AND Others at AJ&Smart's Full Stack Facilitator

Over the last six months, I’ve kept my substack content pretty focused. Usually there’s an outline, a theme, often tied to a book I’m reading. But this week? I’m going off-script.I wanted to share some reflections from my recent week at Full Stack Facilitator with AJ&Smart in Palo Alto. Many of you have asked about it, and I promised I’d give you the behind-the-scenes — not just what I learned, but why I went in the first place.Why I Went (Even Though I’m Not a Beginner)If you’ve been in facilitation or leadership for a while, you might wonder why an experienced facilitator — someone often seen as a “master” in some circles — would take a course that also welcomes complete beginners.The answer? Mentorship and immersion.Over the years, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t happen in isolation. Many success and mindset books (Jack Canfield, The Power of Focus, and more) talk about the importance of finding mentors. For me, people like Jonathan Courtney and other AJ&Smart facilitators started as role models I followed from afar. Attending events, taking their courses, and showing up in person is how I’ve turned those role models into real mentors.And yes — sometimes that means paying for access. Last year, I joined AJ&Smart’s mastermind in LA. I’ve been part of Voltage Control’s summits and worked with Douglas Ferguson on various aspects of building a community. I’ve taken courses with Brittni Bowering and Dee Scarano. Each investment has paid off — not just in skills, but in relationships.Giving Myself the Gift of FocusThe second reason I went? To immerse myself in what I love without juggling my other roles — mom, employee, entrepreneur.Spending a week away, even at personal expense, gave me time and mental space to focus on my own growth. My mom has always told me: the best investment you can make is in yourself. That’s been true from grad school (which unexpectedly opened doors into my current career) to professional development like this. If you missed my reel on this, you can check it out here. What I Expected vs. What I GotI thought I’d get my ego checked — maybe discover I wasn’t as strong a facilitator as I believed. Instead, I found myself in a position to mentor others.One of my favorite moments was with Dave, a fellow participant. Early in the week, I facilitated a quick exercise, improvising to start with personal reflection before moving to solutions. I worried Dave was silently hating it… but later, he told the group he’d learned something important from my approach.By the end of the week, I watched Dave facilitate for the first time — terrified, but doing it anyway. Being there to encourage him through that “first time” moment was just as rewarding as anything I could’ve learned for myself.The Power of the Emergent FacilitatorA big theme in the program was becoming an emergent facilitator — someone who embodies adaptability, optimism, and awareness.In my own recent design sprints, I’ve faced team tension, especially when exploring AI product strategy. Those moments require more than sticking to the plan. They demand pivoting, holding space for discomfort, and guiding people toward clarity and alignment.This is the next stage of my growth — not just knowing the tools and designing experiences, but having the agility to flow when the unexpected happens. It’s hard work. It’s also the difference between a good facilitator and a great one.The Unexpected Takeaways* Mentorship goes both ways. I came to learn, but ended up teaching. Even my mentors picked up tips from my facilitation style.* Your “curse of knowledge” can be a gift. What feels natural to you may be a revelation to someone else.* Presence matters. Being physically with peers and mentors creates deeper bonds than any online interaction can.GratitudeI’m leaving this experience grateful for the people I met — some I’ve known for years online, others brand new to me. From old friends like Heidi, Rujuta, Mimi , Katie, and Talia to new connections like Audrey, Christina, Marc, Sean, and yes, Dave (and about 25 other amazing people) — each conversation, each shared challenge, made the week richer.Final ThoughtInvesting in yourself isn’t always about acquiring more information. Sometimes it’s about showing up, sharing what you know, and being willing to transform alongside others.If you take one thing from my Full Stack Facilitator experience, let it be this: Your growth and your service to others can happen at the exact same time.What’s Next?Starting next week we’ll be on a learning journey together with Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo. This will consume about 7-8 episodes but my hope is that each episode will have stand alone insight if you don’t read it with me. The first episode of this series will explore insights and actions from Chapters 1 and 2!Whenever you're ready, I can help you with:* Workshop design and facilitation* Facilitation and workshop training, including AI Opportunity Mapping, Strategy & Design Sprints* Intention setting, planning, and incremental progress for success Get full access to Confessions of a Creative Leader at creativeleaderconfessions.substack.com/subscribe