History of the original course –

Creativity in Business

The original course was an MBA program developed at Stanford University in 1979 by Dr. Michael Ray, and there it was called Creativity in Business. Dr. Michael Ray created the curriculum because he saw his Business students graduating from Stanford with business knowledge and expertise and successfully getting high paying jobs, but they were thinking linearly, they were stressed, and they were extremely unfulfilled. His students expressed a lack of authenticity, creativity, and vision.

Dr. Michael Ray was a social psychologist with extensive experience in marketing communication and in developing generative work environments for companies and individuals. With his research and students in mind, Dr. Michael Ray created a profound program in Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence (EQ), which has revolutionized the art of success.

The course is based on 3 FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS

AUTHENTICITY

Being authentic means you are self aware and you know who you are. It takes courage to be authentic, but when you finally step into to yourself, it’s deeply fulfilling and you become a value you add. Authenticity also builds trust which is critical for leaders.

CREATIVITY

Exploring creativity together brings an opportunity to share and support each other as you move forward with your lives both professionally and personally. Exploring creativity together builds resilience and unity in times of uncertainty because together, everything becomes figure-outable and the possibilities become infinite. Tapping into your own creative well inspires innovate problem solving and breakthrough thinking which gives you a greater sense of self worth and self esteem.

CLARITY

Having clarity leads to confidence in both work and in life. Clarity provides you with a vision and it also reveals what isn’t working and self sabotaging behaviors. When you have clarity, you gain a new perspective allowing you to approach business and your life differently, creating hope, momentum, and excitement for the future.

SPEAKERS AND SUPPORTERS OF 

THE ORIGINAL MBA COURSE

(Creativity in Business)

During the time this course was offered at Stanford, Dr. Michael Ray invited incredible speakers to talk about how to blend creativity in business:

  • Steve Jobs – Co-Founder, Apple Computer

  • Jim Collins – Author of Good to Great

  • Charles Schwab – Founder & CEO, Charles Schwab & Co.

  • Ken Oshman – Co-Founder & CEO, IBM Corp

  • Michael Gould – Founder & President, The Learning Tree Open University

  • Krista Brunson – Producer, The Today Show on NBC

  • Philip Knight – Founder & CEO, Nike, Inc

And many other world class game changers.

In 2002, the program was taken out of Stanford University and was given to 400 women that lost their husbands in 9/11. The course was utilized to help these women restart their lives – to find clarity, their vision, and to discover their next life chapter and create new and empowering lives out of their tragedy. Many of the women who graduated from the program became artists, published authors, and entrepreneurs.

Eventually many other coaches were introduced to this program and trained on the curriculum. The program has since been rewritten for 3 different audiences:

  • Kids & Teens > Today the course is called Insights for Life

  • Adults > Today the course is called Clarity Catalyst

  • Corporations > Today the course is called Culture Catalyst