The Foundation Course
Break Free from Internal Barriers
Build and Deepen Meaningful Connection
5-week Zoom Course | July 7–August 4, 2020 | Tuesdays 5:00-7:00pm PDT
Thank you for your interest! The course is full.
Sign up to receive updates about upcoming courses and other resources.
The Foundation Course is based on
Designed For Connection…
a neuroscience-based methodology that develops concrete skills and practices for building–and repairing–meaningful connection while navigating complexities of a diverse, dynamic, and uncertain world.
I’ve guided hundreds of leaders from different countries, cultures, and world views on their journeys, transforming how they connect with themselves and others. I’m excited to help you too.
What are the benefits of this course?
This Foundation Course helps you develop skills that are essential for building trust and meaningful connection – amidst inevitable stress and crisis of life – to effectively accomplished shared goals in personal and professional life.
Calm your nervous system so you are less reactive when you get “hooked” by defensiveness, judgment, blame, self-righteousness, withdrawal and/or shutting down
Become more aware of and comfortable with emotions in yourself and others
Share and listen deeply to validate each others’ experience and build trust
Repair and rebuild trust and connection after inevitable conflict or misunderstandings involving difference, social identity, and/or power dynamics
My approach to leadership development includes neuroscience, practicing core skills for awareness and connection with body-based somatic approaches. This integrated and multi-disciplinary approach is missing from many leadership development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings.
“The course pushed me, made me more self-aware, and led to tremendous amount of learning. More importantly, the class led me to realize there is so much science that one can leverage to manage the hard things in life - conflict, difficult situations, to simply how to have better conversations with people everyday.”
Examples of how these skills make a difference in life!
Here are some examples of ways people have applied skills and practices from the course to different types of challenges.
Build empathy through awareness of your own and others’ emotions
“I’ve used pause and Notice and Name while at work to understand what my physical and mental state is before I enter into a meeting. By doing so, I’ve realized that I am now becoming more aware of my partner and coworkers’ emotional state even via Zoom. I spend more time trying to understand where they are in life and how that might affect their work and responsiveness. In short, it’s made me more empathetic in the workplace.”
Transform inadequacy to internal resilience and worthiness
“When I am feeling inadequate, or nervous about myself, I recall the dignity practice and am a stronger, more self-assured individual. I am not waiting for or hoping for external validation or reassurance, but rather am able to boost myself up. This has meant less potential stress with others in my life.”
“I was able to better manage the emotions that were coming up for me, and to actively name, notice, and dispel the critical thoughts. After being able to call out my assumptions, I immediately felt calmer and more centered. It brought a greater sense of ease and confidence.”
Ground in connection amidst crises of COVID and racial challenges
“In just two weeks I am already experiencing impacts. I learned that my interpretation of others’ words can be completely incorrect. I am a lot calmer and less reactive when on the receiving end of comments that sound negative. This has been especially helpful while confined together in COVID lockdown.”
“In the wake of the tragedies that have been on the news surrounding the systemic injustice for black people in America, I find myself using the Notice and Name practice to ground where I am. To process what I need and let others know as well.”
“The course helped me better understand how my thoughts and actions are influenced by unconscious biases, as well as the unearned privileges I am granted by virtue of being a white woman in America. This has helped me show up as a better white ally to my women of color teammates, and it has helped me reflect on my own white privilege. Furthermore, the practice of “listening with empathy” has helped me maintain very strong relationships with my teammates rather than feeling divided by our differences. Hearing their personal stories and then sharing the profound impact on me has drawn us closer together.”
Interrupt conflict and shift into connection
“A disagreement with my wife has been going on for weeks and it’s easy for us to get frustrated and scale it quickly. However, I’ve been able to do the listening practice, which has helped us avoid turning it into a fight. For that I’m proud, grateful and hopeful!”
“I can more accurately understand my own responses to conflict and actively work on increasing connecting behaviors. I think a lot more about my physiological reactions to various moments and what they are telling me about my subconscious response. Seeing that translate from halting practice in class into real-world applications in only a few weeks has been a significant change for me. ”
Course Curriculum
A progression of concrete skills and intentional practices help you shift and transform how you connect with yourself and others in these foundational ways.
Unconscious Reactivity
to Conscious ChoiceBlame/Shame to Empathy
Contempt/Judgment to Curiosity
Isolation to Connectedness
Alienation to Agency
Overwhelm to Possibility
+ Weekly Sessions
Session 1
- Practice foundational skills for how to build and deepen meaningful interpersonal connection quickly
Session 2
- Transform unconscious beliefs and barriers through neuroscience-based practices
- Connect interpersonally from grounded self-worth
Session 3
- Practice interrupting unconscious processes that shape reactions and behaviors
- Connect interpersonally from grounded self-worth
Session 4
- Practice building meaningful connection amidst judgment and stereotypes
Session 5
- Integrate learnings
- Ignite a path forward with concrete next steps to continue practicing meaningful connection with yourself and others
+ Elements that will support your learning
- 2-hour live Zoom course each week with Erica and team
- Clear action items to set you up for progress each week
- Daily individual self-regulation practices and weekly Partner Practice
- Weekly reflection writing to deepen learning
- Access to a private online community where you can engage with others about the course
Conditions for Learning
You have the emotional capacity and are ready to invest 30-60 minutes a day to engage with daily practices and weekly reflection exercises.
You are not in the midst of loss or trauma that would interfere with your ability to contribute to a group learning environment and engage with the practices.
Note: If you would like to be notified when the course is offered again, make sure to sign up to receive updates about upcoming courses and resources.
Celebrating after a recent course!
“This is hands down the best class I have attended at Haas! Even virtually, the connections we built with our group were deep and meaningful. I am still amazed at how Erica and the team managed to keep everyone engaged on Zoom! They helped us exercise ‘interpersonal muscles’ to be a better person, leader, and manager.”
“In Erica’s class, I learned tools and resources to take safe risks and bring emotions and vulnerability into daily interactions. This truly transformed how I am able to approach even the most challenging transitions in my life, both personal and professional.”
Meet Erica!
Erica Peng empowers people with essential skills and practices to build meaningful connection and heal divides from social identity and difference. With a neuroscience lens and innovative, experiential approaches, Erica helps leaders engage with complex dynamics involving language, culture, social identity, and other dimensions of difference. Having lived and worked in Asia and Latin America, she brings nuanced skill and expertise to this work.
Erica has over 15 years of experience helping leaders develop interpersonal and leadership skills at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and University of San Francisco School of Law. When not working, she can be found Cuban salsa dancing, growing food in her garden, and thinking about her next kayaking adventure in warm waters.
Register Now!
The Foundation Course
Break Free From Internal Barriers
Build Meaningful Connection
Break Free From Internal Barriers
Build Meaningful Connection
5-week Zoom Course | July 7-August 4, 2020 | Tuesdays 5:00-7:00pm
Thanks for your interest, sorry the course is full!
Sign up to receive updates about upcoming courses and other resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have questions in between class sessions?
If you have a question about the course or your learning, post your question on the online community and we will respond!
What if the course is not meeting my needs?
If it’s not a fit with what you were expecting, we will gladly provide a full-refund within 7-days of starting the course. Email support@ericapengconnects.com and let us know.
How will the skills I learn “stick” beyond the 5 weeks?
After the 5-week course, you will be eligible to become part of a Community of Practice. Structure for monthly practice and a private on-line community provide support and accountability for continued progress and development.
When will you offer the course again?
If you would like to be notified when the course is offered again, sign up below to receive email updates about resources and upcoming courses.
What is the refund policy?
Due to the limited spots for each course, there are no refunds.