I design and teach the Stanford Continuing Studies course The Improviser’s Toolbox—Embrace the Unexpected, a wellness course for adults seeking more confidence, creativity, and calm in uncertain moments. Rooted in Stanford-developed techniques and inspired by my 25+ years of global experience in education, communication, and improvisation, this course gives professionals a practical toolkit to handle life’s curveballs—on stage, at work, and in everyday life.
Each week, participants explore a new concept from the “improviser’s toolbox” through interactive Zoom sessions that build quick thinking, active listening, and expressive leadership. While the course draws from theater, it is not performative; it is designed to help people grow more present, adaptive, and resilient—whether they’re managing team dynamics, public speaking anxiety, or personal transitions.
This work reflects my lifelong commitment to empowering others through experiential learning. I’ve taught writing and presentation skills at the University of Tokyo, served as the founding education director of the Stanford Improvisors, and led as board president of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants. My writing has appeared in Applied Improvisation Magazine, and I continue to consult on leadership, storytelling, and communication.
Since I took my first improv class at Stanford in 1988, my life has never been the same. But what is improv?
Keith Johnstone's biographer Theresa Dudeck defines it as “…a system that inspires creativity and innovation through collaboration and assists in the development of interpersonal and leadership skills.”
'The Improvising Teacher' author Nick Sorensen says, "Improvisation is an intentional activity that occurs in a context, there is a need to have something to improvise on or with. As such it is a creative activity that occurs in real time.
The final outcome of an improvisation will be unpredictable, and consequently, every improvisation will be unique.
What happens in an Improvisation is determined by intuition and interaction. Interaction might occur with other improvisers, with the material environment, or with an audience (if there is one).”
Finally, Wikipedia says, "Improvisation, often shortened to improv, is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. The origin of the word itself is in the Latin "improvisus", which literally means un-foreseen – but it is also related to both the old French word "emprouer" and the English "improve," to improve. Improvisation in the performing arts is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation. The skills of improvisation can apply to many different faculties, across all artistic, scientific, physical, cognitive, academic, and non-academic disciplines; see Applied improvisation."
Learning to improvise in groups can be valuable for individuals in various contexts, including the workplace, creative industries, and social settings. Learning to improvise in groups can offer several benefits, including:
Creativity and Innovation: Improvisation encourages participants to think creatively and develop new ideas on the spot. It also allows them to experiment with different approaches and techniques, leading to innovative solutions.
Communication and Collaboration: Improvisation requires participants to actively listen and respond to one another, promoting effective communication and collaboration. This can help build trust and foster better working relationships within a group.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Improvisation teaches individuals to be adaptable and flexible in their thinking. They must be prepared to respond to unexpected situations and adapt to changes in group dynamics.
Confidence and Self-Expression: Improvisation can help individuals build confidence in their abilities to think on their feet, express themselves creatively, and take risks in a safe and supportive environment.
Fun and Enjoyment: Improvisation can be a fun and enjoyable experience, promoting a positive and supportive atmosphere within the group and helping to reduce stress and improve mood.
In 2020, I started teaching improv again. This time, over Zoom. While I still prefer interacting in real life, I have found that online improv still helps groups come together. I have also taught corporate trainers, classroom teachers, and high school activity directors, who told me how much they appreciated learning new games they could utilize in their jobs.
Here are some ways I have shared the joys of improv with children and adults worldwide.
Please get in touch if you are interested in sharing these tools with your group:
A friend in London mentioned that her son and daughter wanted to take an improv course but could not find one that matched their schedule. Over five weeks, we met for an hour of games that helped students feel fluid and self-expressive when engaging in video-based communications.
"We loved learning how to be confident with others over a video call and how to have fun and engage even more. In challenging times like this, it is great for kids to learn to engage with other students and teachers on a video call. And we think it will be useful on many different occasions in this age of distance learning." – Parent of Participant
"Our family (mom, dad, 10-year-old daughter) had fun playing games and creating stories together. Having Vince as a coach helped us get outside our regular family dynamics. We listened to each other more deeply than circumstances sometimes allow. Then, we built on each person's suggestion to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Most of all, we simply laughed a lot together. In this age of digital entertainment and smartphone addiction, it felt great to put down everything and play silly games together. We look forward to joining another class with Vince soon. We highly recommend this experience for you and your family." – Parent
This adult-level Zoom class will help you connect with old and new friends worldwide.
Join us online to develop spontaneity, flexibility, cooperation, and social-emotional risk-taking.
Taught by a coach experienced in creating a safe, comfortable environment, this course will stretch your boundaries as you explore improv's life lessons and have a great time. This class will help you build the skills to
Think on your feet
Maintain presence under pressure
Build collaboration and teamwork
Present ideas with confidence
Manage the unexpected
Listen and share control
Make your partner look good
“Improv can give us confidence and wings to fly. Come and learn to play games that provide laughter and new ways of seeing the world. I have known Vince Ricci for 30 years. He is one of the top teachers of this work/play. I recommend his workshop.” – Patricia Ryan Madson, Improv Wisdom author and founder Stanford Improvisors
It's common to think that an interview is about sharing our best stories, but it is actually more about connecting with the interviewer. What matters is your ability to engage in natural conversation. Instead of trying to speak more eloquently, try listening more deeply and waking up to the gifts.
“Vince's Seminar was very useful for me. Vince kindly advised me on how to express my experiences effectively. For example, he kindly provided an example of a headline to summarise my success story. He provided training sessions to share multiple examples from a project from a different point of view. His tailored approach would be so useful for interviews and writing essays because watching things from different aspects helps me brainstorm more ideas to answer essay questions.” – Participant
Company website ▸ https://www.vinceprep.com/events/improv
LinkedIn profile ▸ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincericci
YouTube Channel ▸ https://youtube.com/c/VinceRicci
Applied Improvisation Magazine ▸ https://www.appliedimprovisationnetwork.org/applied-improvisation-magazine
“A mistake is an event followed by an evaluation. Cats don’t make mistakes.” — David K. Reynolds