Author.
Speaker.
Creative Culturist.
Hi! Welcome to my site.
My name is Rita Ezenwa-Okoro and I am a dynamic creative culturist, and visionary leader who harnesses the transformative power of play and performing arts to raise and nurture leaders. My previous book, Doing. Being. Becoming., earned me numerous speaking features, including at the United Nations 9th Global Forum and The Association of the Study of Play (TASP).
As a renowned thought leader, speaker, author, and creative strategist, I have directly empowered over 5,000 youth leaders and entrepreneurs, sparking ripple effects that have positively impacted countless families and communities worldwide.
My visionary leadership shines as the Executive Director of the Global Play Brigade. This movement uses play to soften borders and barriers between people across the globe. I am also the founder of the Street Project Foundation— a United Nations Award-Winning organization.
I am a Mandela Washington Fellow and also a three-time global fellow of the International Society of the Performing Arts (ISPA), and now the first Nigerian to serve on the board of ISPA, a prestigious organization for performing arts leaders across the world.
When I am not on a mission to change the world, I make music, explore the world, and indulge in the guilty pleasures of a good RomCom.
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This book delivers actionable strategies, real stories, and guided exercises to help leaders think bigger and act bolder. Expect practical tools to break the spell of stagnation, generate fresh ideas and lead with greater presence.
My name is Rita Ezenwa-Okoro and I am the author of Exercise Your Imagination. I wrote this book because nearly everyone thinks or believes play is only for children and, in fact, when adults play it is seen as a sign that they are childish. However, based on my research and experience, I believe play is a developmental activity for everyone across all ages. Only when we are in a child-like space and mind can we exercise our imagination for invention, innovation and transformation.
My hope is that, in reading this book, you will discover how the application of improvisation, role play, storytelling, humor, movement, dance, music, and creative direction in work and life makes team leads, managers, community organizers and public servants become extraordinary leaders. I hope to instill in you the same sort of passion and excitement that I have for integrating play into everyday life. Ultimately, I want you to see this book as a tool to help you become a high performing, creative and innovative leader.
Highly motivated, incredibly passionate and results oriented leader. Street Project Foundation benefits from her glowing leadership.
Tolu Ajayi
Vice Chairman, Street Project Foundation Board