Failure Lab Events

an invitation to inquiry, self-reflection, and connection

At Failure Lab, we've mastered the art of compelling narratives that inspire genuine connection and personal growth. Through our unique approach, we have created a space where failure becomes a catalyst for profound change and meaningful connections. Our events are a fusion of authentic storytelling, community empathy, and deliberate reflection, creating a transformative social experiment.

For over a decade, we've curated profoundly engaging events that resonate across corporate and community landscapes, from bustling Chicago to vibrant Chandigarh, India. Partnerships with industry leaders like Dell, South by Southwest, VIVID Sydney, Herman Miller, PBS, and University of Michigan underscore our impact. Our work, recognized by premier publications including USA Today, Entrepreneur, Playboy, Times of India, Fortune, Washington Post, NPR, and many more, speaks to our unwavering commitment to crafting memorable experiences worldwide.

Each Failure Lab event is a social experiment where the magic of storytelling takes center stage, and the audience becomes a part of a shared, profound experience. Our approach is simple yet revolutionary: we place personal stories of failure under the spotlight, steering clear of judgment and avoiding prescriptive lessons.

Each story deliberately ends at a crucial, unresolved moment, transforming the audience from passive listeners to active participants in a social experiment rooted in empathy and reflection. This intentional lack of resolution not only invites self-inquiry but also encourages the audience to share their reflections and connect with the storyteller’s experiences. Questions like “What would I have done?” or “When have I felt what the storyteller felt?” naturally arise, turning one person's narrative into a multitude of personal experiences.

Listeners are thus drawn into the emotional depths of each story, adding their own experiences, identity, and interpretations, which makes every story a powerful tool for human connection. The genuine stories, told candidly by those who have navigated significant challenges, work to dispel any sense of isolation and stigma around failure. As the audience internalizes and documents the lessons from these narratives, a personal connection with the storyteller's journey of trials and triumphs emerges.

Failure Lab's storytelling technique employs the Zeigarnik effect, a psychological phenomenon where incomplete stories are remembered better than complete ones. By intentionally leaving stories without a clear ending, they stay in the audience's minds longer. This approach not only makes the narratives more memorable but also fosters a sense of shared humanity and encourages collective resilience.

Failure Lab Training

What could your organization accomplish by redefining its relationship to failure?

CORPORATE TRAINING

“Imagine what your organization could accomplish by overcoming the fear of failure.”

Organizations bring us in for a lots of different reasons: leadership development, communication & culture building, innovation & creativity initiatives, women in leadership programming, leaders of color programming, burnout & stress management tools, and more. But the through line is people. Take care of your people, give them tools, & they will carry your organization forward to success.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL TRAINING

Hungry to learn? Looking for opportunities to grow your leadership skills?

Invest in your growth and development via a virtual Failure Lab program offering. We wanted to make Failure Lab training accessible and open to anyone. We offer programming in a variety of formats (single workshops and multi-week cohorts) on a variety of topics. Come see what we have on the calendar! Become a part of the Failure Lab community.