Leadership Training in Portland
Multi-session programs that develop & refine the skills that managers and executives truly need: active listening, authentic presence, and confident decision-making.
Change Through Play designs and delivers leadership training for Portland companies ready to invest in their people for the long term. Whether you're developing a cohort of emerging managers or working 1:1 with a senior leader, our programs are built around your specific goals — not a generic curriculum pulled off the shelf.
“David has a special touch with accomplished senior leaders; in his work, David generously balances precision and ease, making transformation seeable and achievable for all.”
THE CHALLENGE
Most leadership training doesn't stick.
Managers sit through workshops, take notes, and return to their desks unchanged. The reason is simple: reading about leadership or watching talks about isn’t the same as actually practicing it. Developing real leadership presence — the kind that earns trust, navigates conflict, and inspires people — requires repetition, feedback, and a safe space to fail and grow. As AI becomes an ever greated a part of our lives, the TRUE human leadership advantage become clear: leading with awareness of context, an understanding of history and progress, and understanding the power of psychology and emotion.
THE SOLUTION
We teach leadership by doing, not by watching.
Using applied improvisation and evidence-based coaching methods, we create customized multi-session programs that build skills through practice, not passive learning. Each session introduces new concepts, puts them into immediate unscripted practice, and debriefs what was learned. Over weeks and months, patterns shift, blind spots surface, and real behavioral change takes hold.
For cohort programs, we also offer optional EQi emotional intelligence assessments and tracked progress data — so leaders and their organizations can see growth over time, not just feel it.
THE RESULTS
Participants in our leadership training programs develop:
Active listening skills that make people feel genuinely heard
Authentic presence that commands attention without demanding it
Emotional intelligence to navigate conflict and difficult conversations
Confident decision-making under pressure and uncertainty
Communication skills that are clear, direct, and compelling
Self-awareness of patterns, blind spots, and default behaviors
Trust and psychological safety within their teams
“David challenged us on how to listen and handle difficult conversations, build authentic relationships, and stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zone in order to deliver the best, authentic professional performance. As a student of emotional intelligence for 20+ years, I find David’s hands-on coaching to be a home run.”
David Koff, in pink, working a leadership development cohort for food and beverage industry directors.
PRICING & FORMATS
Upfront, transparent pricing. Always. We can’t teach openness to clients if we don’t practice it ourselves.
| Format | What's Included | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
|
Cohort Program Groups of 10 or more |
Minimum engagement includes: • 8 hours of group training sessions • 2 hours of individual 1:1 per participant • Custom curriculum design & delivery • Weekly or bi-weekly sessions • Optional: EQi assessments & progress tracking • Programs typically run 8–16 weeks |
Custom Pricing Example engagement: 20 managers & directors Weekly sessions over 3 months Full curriculum, EQi assessments & tracking $20,000 – $28,000 |
|
1:1 Leadership Coaching Individual executives & managers |
• 75-minute sessions • Customized to your specific goals • In-person (Portland studio) or virtual • Minimum 2 sessions required • Ideal for career transitions, new leadership roles, high-stakes presentations |
$350 / hour Minimum 2 sessions 2-session starter package: $700 6-session package: $2,100 |
Optional add-ons: EQi emotional intelligence assessments • Ongoing progress tracking & reporting • Extended program length • Additional facilitators for larger cohorts
OUR APPROACH
Every job we design and deliver follows a proven process:
Evaluate -> EDUCATE -> FACILITATE -> CELEBRATE
We meet with your team to understand your company's challenges, goals, and what success looks like. Then, we design a customized program of modules tailored uniquely to your needs and share those plans with you. We then deliver our curriculum for positive and deep training with multiple facilitators, ensuring no group exceeds 20 people. Everyone participates, no one hides in the back. Finally, we gather feedback, provide resources for sustaining momentum, and help you measure the impact on company culture and collaboration.
What our clients do isn't casual or haphazard. It isn't for us either.
OUR EXPERTISE
We've designed and delivered leadership training programs to managers and executives at Intel, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Nike, Tomra, and organizations across the Portland metro area.
Applied Improvisation
Talk-based coaching falls short. Instead, leaders practice presence, listening, and communication physically and verbally with a professional actor. Get ready for lasting behavioral change.
Evidence-Based Assessment
We offer optional EQi emotional intelligence assessments and other data-based solutions so we can track progress metrics and demonstrate ROI to your organization.
Customized Design
No two programs are alike. Every single engagement we design is built around your leaders, your culture, and your goals.
READY TO INVEST IN YOUR LEADERS?
Schedule a 20-minute consultation to discuss your organization's needs.