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  • Innovation At the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation (Paperback)
    Innovation At the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation (Paperback)
    by John Sweeney
  • Return to Civility: A Speed of Laughter Project
    Return to Civility: A Speed of Laughter Project
    by John Sweeney, The Brave New Workshop

 Jenni Lilledahl—Executive Director of the Brave New Institute and co-owner of the Brave New Workshop

Prior to becoming a full-time actress and co-owner of the Brave New Workshop Theatre (BNW), Jenni spent eight years in the field of public relations, as Communications Director for the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission, and Marketing Coordinator for Rollerblade, Inc.

Jenni leapt off the corporate ladder in 1995 to pursue her true passion -- comedy theatre and improvisation. After a short stint working for the corporate entertainment division at the famed Second City in Chicago, Jenni returned to the Twin Cities in 1997 with husband John Sweeney to take over the BNW from founder Dudley Riggs. While she’s had many roles both on stage and behind the scenes at the BNW, her primary role has been as the founder and Executive Director of the Brave New Institute, the BNW’s school for improvisation. Jenni has grown the Brave New Institute from 7 students in 1997 to more than 150 students weekly, making it one of the world's leading schools for the study of improvisation.

As one of the most experienced improv instructors in the Midwest, Jenni has led workshops at the prestigious Chicago Improv Festival, the Big Stinkin' Improv Festival (Austin, TX), Funny Women Fest (Chicago) and numerous colleges and universities. Jenni has extensive experience as a stage and corporate performer, as well as a workshop leader and public speaker. Jenni’s understanding of corporate culture, her experience in training people in improvisation, and her unmatched passion for the art form have combined to inspire thousands, including clients such as Sprint PCS, Texas Instruments, and Hewlett Packard. At the heart of the theatre flows Jenni’s core belief that people from all walks of life can embrace the philosophies of improvisation to find their most creative, innovative, and confident self.

Jenni was named one of the "40 under 40" to watch by CityBusiness, a well-known Minneapolis business publication. She is a native of Minnesota and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Augsburg College in 1987 with a Communications/Public Relations degree and a minor in theatre. Jenni’s non-theatre interests include her two boys William and Michael, the family dog Burt, and her husband John Sweeney.