Episode 91: How to Design Workshops That Work (with the right tools) ft. Alex Eisenchteter

Katharina Schwerdt is an international moderator, traveling Emcee, who has lived on four continents, hosting and presenting conferences, shows, panels, retreats and conversations for the UN and global brands.This episode started with a very real client challenge: a science conference that needed to become more interactive. We explored what it takes to turn a conference from a collection of presentations into a collection of experiences.⚡️ Key Takeaways✔ Discover why a conference should be a collection of experiences, not presentations ✔ Learn how to design connection before, during and after the event ✔ Understand the 3 phases: anticipation, participation and lasting memories ✔ Explore concrete ways to make panel discussions more interactive and engaging ✔ Find out what a professional Emcee actually does 👤 Guest: Katharina Schwerdt | Travelling Emcee & Consultant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharina-schwerdt/ YouTube series How to make panels more engaging and fun: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtsTeVNh_6ZHE9So_UDlxdAC5iPWtDQS6 🌐 Website: https://katharinaschwerdt.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_traveling_emcee/🎙️ Host: Nathy Ravez | Founder of La Workshoppeuse | Co-Founder of the Fit for Facilitation community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathyravez/Newsletter: https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/facilipreneurstickynotes Community: https://community.fitforfacilitation.com

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Eisenchteter, facilitator, tool builder, and one of the co-founders of the Fit for Facilitation community. Alex has been facilitating for over 15 years and building Stormz, his own facilitation platform since 2012. We explore how he designs workshops from scratch, why tools always come last in the process, and what makes Stormz fundamentally different from whiteboards and engagement tools. Plus: a first look at Stormz V3, launching invitation-only on June 23rd.⚡️ Key Takeaways✔ Discover why the scope meeting is the most important meeting with a client✔ Learn how to design from macro to micro ✔ Understand why physical artifacts create memories that outlast the workshop ✔ Explore how Stormz differs from both whiteboards and engagement tools like Mentimeter ✔ Find out what a dynamic board is and why it changes how you collect, vote and debrief ✔ Learn how Stormz works for in-person workshops — with phones, not laptops👤 Guest: Alex Eisenchteter | Founder of Stormz | Creator of ILoveCards |Co-Founder  Fit For Facilitation CommunityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eisenchteter/Website: https://stormz.aiPlatform : https://ilovecards🎙️ Host: Nathy Ravez | Founder of La Workshoppeuse | Creator of Facilipreneur Mastermind | Co-Founder  Fit For Facilitation community LinkedIn: / nathyravez Facilipreneur Mastermind: https://laworkshoppeuse.com/facilipreneur-mastermind/Newsletter: https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/facilipreneurstickynotesCommunity: https://community.fitforfacilitation.com

In this special episode, I sit down with the 4 lined-up experts of the next Facilipreneur Mastermind cohort starting July 1st:Joana Köhl (storytelling), Silvia Coco (branding), Adriana Tica (content strategy) and Penny Blackmore (sales). We dive deep into what it actually takes to build a sustainable freelance facilitation business: the real numbers, the mindset shifts, and the different business skills you need to master. ⚡️ Key Takeaways✔ Discover why six-figure income typically shows up after year three ✔ Learn why waiting for referrals is a trap, and what to build instead ✔ Understand the power of storytelling as your biggest business differentiator ✔ Explore how branding goes way beyond a logo ✔ Find out what "gentle sales" really means ✔ Learn why good content starts with a goal *****************************************************🚀 Ready to build a profitable facilitation business you love?Joint the Facilipreneur Mastermind 8-week program for facilitators who want to turn their craft into a profitable, fulfilling business. Starts July 1st. Seats are limited. Subscriptions close on June 20th. 🔗 https://laworkshoppeuse.com/facilipre...****************************************************🎥 *Chapters*[00:00] Welcome & Episode Introduction [01:30] Meet the Guests: Penny, Silvia, Joana & Adriana [06:28] The State of Solopreneurship Report: Real Numbers, Real Talk [09:25] The Referral Trap & Why Control Matters in Your Business [11:17] Joana's Journey: Building a Personal Brand from Scratch [14:07] Nathy's Story: From Corporate PM to Facilitation Entrepreneur [16:27] The Power of Storytelling with Joana Köhl [20:19] Real-World Example: Why Vulnerability Beats Credentials [21:52] Branding as a Full Business Experience with Silvia Coco [24:21] Your "Drag Persona": Showing Up as the Boldest Version of You [26:08] Content Strategy That Actually Serves Your Business with Adriana Tica [31:27] What Is Gentle Sales? with Penny Blackmore [34:05] Why the Facilipreneur Mastermind Brings in Expert Voices [37:36] One Piece of Advice for Anyone on the Fence✨ ResourcesState of Solopreneurship Report by Adriana Tica: https://www.adrianatica.com/what-buye...👤 Guests:Joana Köhl | Storytelling & Brand Positioning LinkedIn:   / joanakoehl  Silvia Coco | La Creativa — Brand & Business Strategy Linkedin:   / silviacoco  Adriana Tica | Strategic IF Newsletter — Marketing & Strategy LinkedIn:   / adrianatica  Newsletter: https://www.adrianatica.com/newsletter/Penny Blackmore | Sales & Business Strategist, Berlin LinkedIn:   / pennyblackmore  Substack: https://pennyblackmore.substack.com/🎙️ Host: Nathy Ravez |Founder of La Workshoppeuse | Co-Founder of the Fit For Facilitation communityLinkedIn:   / nathyravez  Newsletter: https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/facil...Community: https://community.fitforfacilitation.com#facilitation #workshops #freelancing #solopreneur #workshopdesign #businessgrowth #facilipreneur

Join our live Session with Tim Leake on Mai 27 5:00PM CEST in the Fit For Facilitation Community https://community.fitforfacilitation....In this episode, I sit down with Tim Leake, experienced facilitator and founder of Let’s Lightbulb.We explore one of the biggest challenges I hear from freelance facilitators: how to get your foot in the door with companies?And we take you behind the scenes of how a simple LinkedIn comment turned into weekly conversations, rapid ideation sessions… and ultimately the creation of a new product: The Door Opener Factory.⚡️ Key Takeaways✔ Discover how door opener workshops can help you land your first client conversations✔ Learn why you must sell what clients want and deliver what they need✔ Understand the power of plugging into existing meetings (entry points)✔ Explore the 4-ingredient framework to design irresistible workshopsChapters02:27 Tim's Unique Background in Facilitation05:13 The Importance of Understanding Corporate Language07:42 Finding Your Unique Value Proposition10:26 Challenges in Getting Foot in the Door12:47 The Role of Door Openers in Facilitation15:01 Building Relationships with Clients17:40 The Power of Listening and Active Engagement21:41 The Door Opener Factory Introduction23:52 Understanding the Four Ingredients26:28 Real-World Application of the Tool30:46 The Value of Quick Proposals35:47 The Ripple Effect of Door Openers37:09 Excitement and Future Plans for the Tool🔗 Door opener Waiting List: https://dooropenerfactory.com🔔 *Door Opener Factory* - Fit For Facilitation live session🗓️ 27.05 | 5:00PM CEST✨ https://community.fitforfacilitation....👤 *Guest*: Tim Leake | Let’s Light Bulb*LinkedIn*: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timleake/*Website*: https://www.letslightbulb.com/🎙️ *Host*: Nathy Ravez | La Workshoppeuse*LinkedIn*: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathyravez/*Newsletter*: https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/newsl...*Fit For Facilitation Community*: https://community.fitforfacilitation....#facilitation #workshops #workshopideas #workshopdesign

What if a simple artifact could make your participants more honest, more curious, and more willing to go deep?Cat Hase, aka Little Miss Card Deck, is a creativity coach and the founder of Imagine If. She designs playful, thoughtful activities and workshops — and she's spent years obsessing over one of the most underused tools in facilitation: card decks. In this episode, we dig into why card decks are the perfect artifact to use in a workshop, what makes one genuinely great, and how Cat's Deck Adventure takes you from "I've got an idea" to "I've got a deck in my hands."⚡️ Key Takeaways✔ Why physical card decks shift group dynamics — and make participants more honest, curious, and engaged✔ The many ways to use card decks: emotions, reflections, puzzles, models, and more✔ How to design a deck for a specific outcome✔ The 9-step Deck Adventure process: from first idea to finished deck without getting stuck✔ Why you probably already have everything you need to create your own card deck📚 Resources from the Episode• Deck Adventure – https://www.imagineif.ltd/deckadventure• Playing with Strengths card deck – https://www.imagineif.ltd/products/ca...• The Little Deck Company (arty affirmation decks) – https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLittleDe...• I Love Cards platform – https://ilove.cards/--- Alexandre Eisenstetter, co-founder of the Fit for Facilitation community, is also the creator of I Love Cards — the platform Cat mentions in this episode. If you've been putting off building your card deck, his webinar "7 Reasons You Still Haven't Created Your Card Deck" might be exactly the nudge you need. Watch it here: https://community.fitforfacilitation....---Want more tools, ideas, and behind-the-scenes from the podcast? Join the newsletter for regular insights straight to your inbox.Sign up here: https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/newsl...---👤 Guest – Cat Hase | Creativity Coach & Founder of Imagine IfWebsite: https://www.imagineif.ltdDeck Adventure: https://www.imagineif.ltd/deckadventureCard Decks: https://www.imagineif.ltd/products/ca...The Little Deck Company: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLittleDe...LinkedIn: / cathase🎙️ Host – Nathy Ravez | La WorkshoppeuseLinkedIn: / nathyravezNewsletter: https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/newsl...Fit For Facilitation Community: https://community.fitforfacilitation.com/#facilitationskills #facilitation #workshopideas #carddeck

What if your consulting expertise became a repeatable workshop?In this episode, I'm joined by Silvia Coco, brand and business strategist known as La Creativa. She works with micropreneurs helping them gain clarity and make grounded business decisions.At the heart of her work is a Brand Audit workshop journey that helps clients explore their business from multiple angles: their positioning, audience, competitors, offers, and customer journey. Instead of relying only on traditional consulting conversations, Silvia facilitates these explorations through a structured Miro board where insights, ideas, and decisions become visible.Together we explore how turning your expertise into repeatable workshop frameworks can make your work more tangible, collaborative, and impactful for clients.⚡️ Key Takeaways✔ Why workshops can make consulting work more tangible and collaborative for clients✔ How Silvia transformed strategy interviews into a facilitated Brand Audit workshop✔ Why branding is much more than logos and colors - it starts with values, positioning, and audience✔ Why visual thinking tools like Miro help surface insights and decisions faster✔ How repeatable workshop frameworks strengthen your consulting methodology🎥 Chapters00:00 Introduction02:00 Silvia's Journey Into Brand Strategy04:30 Branding Beyond Logos and Colors07:10 From Strategy Interviews to Workshops10:15 Inside Silvia's Signature Brand Audit Workshop14:40 Designing a Strategy Board in Miro18:00 Making Consulting Tangible for Clients21:30 The Workshop as a "Gym" for Business Thinking25:00 Creating Repeatable Workshop Frameworks28:40 Navigating Multiple Audiences as a Consultant32:00 Final Reflections*****************************Want to turn your consulting expertise into a signature workshop?In my 1:1 Signature Workshop Sprint, we work together across 3 focused sessions to design the workshop that structures your methodology and strengthens your offer.Book a call to explore it here:https://cal.com/laworkshoppeuse/15min***********************👤 Guest - Silvia Coco | Brand & Business Strategist, La CreativaWebsite: https://www.lacreativa.ch/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviacoco/🎙️ Host - Nathy Ravez | La WorkshoppeuseLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathyravez/Newsletter: https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/newsletterFit For Facilitation Community: https://community.fitforfacilitation.com/

In this episode, I'm joined by Theresa Destrebecq, founder of Emerge Book Circles. She has created a signature learning model that flips traditional training on its head - where content happens at home, and practice, dialogue, and experimentation happen together.If you've ever felt frustrated by "shelf development" - all the books read and insights gained but never applied - this conversation will inspire you to rethink how learning truly happens inside organizations.Episode SummaryTheresa combines her background in education and coaching to design book circles as leadership laboratories. Instead of delivering expert advice, she creates spaces where participants experiment, role-play, reflect, and integrate ideas into real behavior change. ⚡️Takeaways✔ Discover how to flip traditional learning by separating content absorption from practice.✔ Learn how to design sessions as leadership laboratories, not discussion clubs.✔ Understand why behavioral change, not insight, is the real measure of success.✔ Explore how a coach-like leadership mindset empowers teams and increases ownership.✔ See how small, structured experiments create safer and more sustainable change.📚 Books Mentioned• The Advice Trap - Michael Bungay Stanier• Think Again - Adam Grant• Defy | The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes - Dr. Sunita Sah• The 6 Types of Working Genius - Patrick M. LencioniCurious what books are shaping facilitators right now?Inside the Fit for Facilitation Community, I asked members to share the one book that truly changed their practice - and why.https://community.fitforfacilitation.com/c/question-of-the-week/what-s-one-book-every-facilitator-should-read-and-how-has-it-influenced-your-practice-89984432-0460-4514-a35f-fe0448f04ca8👤 Guest Info - Thérèse Destrebecq | Emerge Book CirclesWebsite: www.emergebookcircles.comSubstack: theresadestrebecq.substack.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresadestrebecq/🎙️Host Info -  Nathy Ravez | La WorkshoppeuseLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathyravez/Newsletter – https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/newsletterFit For Facilitation Community – https://community.fitforfacilitation.com/

Alex Judges is a learning experience designer and facilitator with a gift for turning client needs into clear, engaging journeys. In this episode, we unpack the signature workshop he's created - and used again and again - to co-design training, seminars, and strategies with impact.If you're a facilitator or consultant ready to create a workshop you can confidently reuse and sell - this one's for you.Episode SummaryIn this conversation, Alex walks us through the three-step co-design workshop he uses as a foundation for almost every client project. From his early days at Apple to running his own company, Alex shares how he found clarity through simplicity. We explore why great experiences often start with the right question, how to balance structure and creativity, and how this signature format helps both clients and facilitators save time - and deliver better results.🔑 TakeawaysDiscover a 3-step framework to design workshops with clients in real-timeLearn how Alex uses objectives → ingredients → storyboard to build any learning experienceUnderstand why asking before telling creates more engaging training sessionsExplore the mindset shift from "every session is custom" to a signature workshop process🚀  Let's Level-up, TogetherJoin us on Feb 11 at 6PM CET for our monthly Live Fit For Facilitation session:How to run workshops that actually work - facilitated by Mehdi En-Naizihttps://community.fitforfacilitation.com/c/agenda/how-to-run-brainstorms-that-actually-work-896dd940-c092-432a-b583-2e8a346bdd38📚 Resources from the EpisodeBloom's Taxonomyhttps://helpfulprofessor.com/levels-of-understanding/Edgar Dale's Cone of Learninghttps://www.educationcorner.com/cone-of-learning/👤Guest Alex Judges | Learning Experience Designer🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-judges-56826b80/🌍 Webside - https://octobooster.com/👤HostNathy Ravez | La Workshoppeuse🌟 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathyravez/📩 Newsletter - https://laworkshoppeuse.kit.com/newsletter🎥 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@laworkshoppeuse🤝 Fit For Facilitation Community - https://community.fitforfacilitation.com/

What’s really holding you back as a freelance facilitator? In this honest and uplifting conversation, I sit down with Judit Osika, Lucrezia Ponzano, and Rosemary Forest: 3 facilitators, Consultant, Coach solopreneurs who completed the Facilipreneur Mastermind last summer.We unpack the real challenges of running a facilitation business and how to overcome them to sustain your business with systems and confidence.If you’ve ever felt like you’re hustling alone, stuck between delivering and marketing, or unsure how to talk about what you do—this is your sign to pause, breathe, and grow.🌱 In This EpisodeVisibility blocks, imposter syndrome, and the constant juggle between doing the work and finding Clients, these are the topics we dive into. But more importantly—we share what’s possible when you make time to work on your business. You’ll hear stories of transformation, mindset shifts, and the power of being in a group where you don’t have to figure it all out alone. ⚡️ Key TakeawaysDiscover the power of reflection and why slowing down helps you grow fasterClarify your value so you can talk about your work and get awareness from potential clientsBalance sales and delivery with intention (and less burnout)Why the Facilipreneur Mastermind is the best program to grow your business and get clarity thanks to the collective intelligence🎁 Free Event InvitationFree Live Class — 5 Mistakes Even Established Freelance Facilitators Make🌍 Register Here: https://luma.com/bvxp8hei📅 December 17th at 12 p.m. CET (Paris Time)🎟️ Bonus: Get a special Santa surprise and sneak peek into the Facilipreneur Mastermind 2026, launching January 12👥 GuestsLucrezia Ponzano | Facilitator in private & cultural networks🔗 LinkedIn Judit Osika | Coach & youth leadership facilitator🔗 LinkedIn Rosemary Forest | Campaigner turned collaboration facilitator🔗 LinkedIn 🎙️ Host - Nathy Ravez | La Workshoppeuse🔗 Linkedin💌 Newsletter🎥 Youtube

What if one workshop could help you stand out, wow your clients, and grow your facilitation business?In this episode of “There is a Workshop for That”, I sit down with Oussama Labib, founder of Miki Island — a gamified team development platform that’s transforming the way facilitators design, deliver, and sell their programs.More than just a game, Miki Island is a powerful facilitation tool that helps you deliver immersive team-building, coaching, and leadership experiences while making a real impact on your clients.Together, we explore how gamification can reveal team dynamics, accelerate trust, and help facilitators move from one-off sessions to long-term partnerships.💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn- The three research-based layers of high-performing teams- Why gamified learning creates emotional engagement that sticks- How facilitators use Miki Island to create transformation — and grow their business🏝️ About Miki IslandMiki Island is more than a game — it’s a digital, research-backed platform that lets facilitators run unforgettable team experiences.Whether you work in team development, coaching, or leadership, Miki Island helps you combine play, performance, and purpose.Explore: https://miki-island.com🎮 Upcoming Events & CertificationFree Live Event – “Pimp My Offer with Miki Island”🗓️ November 20, 2025 🔗 RegisterMiki Island Certification 🗓️ Next Cohort November 10–11🎁 Use coupon code NATHY to get 5 free team assessments🎓 Enroll🎮 Play the Game or Host a Session https://luma.com/MikiIsland👥 Guest Oussama Labib | Founder of Miki Island Linkedin🎙️ HostNathy Ravez | La WorkshoppeuseHelping facilitators turn meetings into powerful workshops.🔗 LinkedIn🗓️Event Calendar👥 Fit For Facilitation Community💌 Newsletter 📞Book a Call