Dear friends of Ei —

It’s hard to believe but it’s already been one year since I stepped out of the CEO seat at Experience Institute. Though I’ve missed showing up here with you, it’s been a joy to support and watch my longtime friend and teammate, Sara Loncka, lead the company with our remarkable crew. As it’s the one-year mark, I wanted to drop by your inbox with a quick note to share about that transition, what remains the same, and where we’re headed next.

Quick Recap

Most founders don’t start their companies thinking about how they’ll one day step away. I sure didn’t.

I started Ei at 26, with a backpack full of Post-it notes and way too many ideas about how higher ed and work could be better. For over 12 years, I ran full speed at this thing — learning, building, teaching, hiring, re-building — sometimes all in the same week.

But a couple years ago, something shifted. I looked around and saw a strong, steady team. Wonderful clients. Solid footing. And underneath it all, I could feel the nudge — that for Ei to really evolve, it would need someone new at the helm. Someone with fresh eyes, a different rhythm, and their own kind of fire.

That someone was Sara.

We’ve been friends since we were kids and worked together for years. She’d been the COO, shaped our programs, and helped build the culture. More than that, she cared about this place deeply. So last May, I stepped into a Chairman role, and Sara officially stepped in as CEO. I’ve stayed close — cheering on and working with Sara, Erin, Amelia, and the whole crew behind the scenes — even as I passed the day-to-day leadership baton.

What Hasn’t Changed

Transitions always bring change. But the most important parts of Ei are still very much in place:

• We still help individuals and teams grow through transformative learning experiences we call Leaps.

• We still serve leaders and teams facing some type of transition or growth — in their industry, in their leadership, or in their companies.

• We still teach the core skills that make work (and life) work: Innovation, Management, and Storytelling.

• We still use the formats that work best for live team learning – workshops, programs, and offsites. And we still do so in a non-boring way – not to spew theory but to help people actually practice new ways of thinking and working together.

• And we’re still anchored by the same values: Care, Character, Craft, and Curiosity.

Where We’re Heading From Here

• Launching a new AI Leaps program
  AI Leaps is our newest spin on our Leaps model. Instead of getting stuck in the confusion of emerging tech, teams get hands-on with AI in a way that’s structured, strategic, and grounded in their real work. They explore tools, build prototypes, and walk away with clear use cases for AI integration. Yes, it’s about AI. But more than that, it’s about learning to solve meaningful problem — whether for your customers, your team, or your entire organization — using the tools of today to prepare for what’s next.

• Doubling down on coaching
  All our cohort programs are now incorporating 1:1 and small group coaching into the learning journey. Because the real power of a learning experience isn’t just what happens during a workshop — it’s what leaders do afterward. We want to be there in those moments: when the meeting ends, when the resistance shows up, and when it’s time to put ideas into action.

• Sharing what we’re learning with intention
  Sara has been spending more time on the speaker circuit, helping grow Ei’s presence as a thought leader in the learning and leadership space. These moments allow us to share fresh ideas, spark meaningful conversations, and remind people that learning can be engaging, energizing, and deeply relevant. They also give us a chance to listen — to hear what’s top of mind for today’s L&D leaders — and bring those insights back to the organizations we support, strengthening our role as trusted partners.

• Gearing up for offsite season
  Fall tends to be offsite season—and we love it. It’s when teams carve out time to reflect, reconnect, and reset. This year, we’re helping leaders navigate change and spark new ideas in bold, human ways. The calendar is filling up quickly and we can’t wait!

• Establishing Design Formation as a core d.school class
  Though as an organization, we have fully wrapped our work building programs with universities, I’m still working with Stanford’s d.school. This year I’m focused on helping the team carry the Design Formation program forward as it takes root as a core class for every Junior in the new Design Program.

A Note about Trust

This past year has reminded me just how much of this work is about trust — trusting people to grow, trusting ideas to evolve, and trusting that the things built with care will keep unfolding in good ways, even amidst seasons of great change.

I’m incredibly proud of what Sara and the team are building. And I’m grateful to you for following along and believing that learning can still be human, creative, and full of heart.

Wherever this finds you, I hope you’re experiencing growth. And I hope it’s the kind that stretches you, surprises you, and calls out something true.

Before I let you go…

If you have an update, personal or professional, I’d love to hear from you. Just reply to this note. I read every email. And if you’re considering working with Ei to help your people take Leaps in Innovation, Management, Storytelling, or now AI — happy to share a call and be a sounding board.

Thanks for Leaping with the team and me. Experience Institute’s best days are still ahead of us, and we’re glad you’ll be part of them.

With care,

Victor