We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lili Alice Walker Stiefel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lili Alice, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

“Express Yourself and Achieve Your Goals with Creative Coaching”

I fell into starting a business during undergrad. I was a young artist in school studying to be a theater Director. My mission was to build a bridge between artists and businesses. I fantasized about being hired by a corporate company; to work on a team, inspire collaboration across departments, improve communication and vulnerability amongst the team as well as generally lead in thinking outside the box. These skills have become second nature to me in the years of artistic training I have been through.

I started creating workshops that foster collaboration in its truest form. Artists of all disciplines, working together to create a performance piece. Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘collaboration’ as:

“The situation of two or more people working together to create or achieve the same thing.”

This is a simple statement, yet therein lies the grounds for exploration. We all have slightly to extremely different perceptions of what terms mean. Communicating openly, deeply listening to what others are sharing, learning how to lead without being the loudest or strongest voice in the room. Appreciating opposing perspectives can be the key to profound innovation.

My graduate thesis in management and entrepreneurship married my artistic journey with business. I endeavored to find out if I could apply my method to adult corporate settings, even though it had been developed for students in art school. As it turns out, play and imagination, self-reflection, connection and ideation, and implementation are usually necessary processes in both settings. Thus, we have been able to celebrate the uniqueness of each individual’s story and create a vibrant, supportive community where authenticity thrives.

These beliefs and values have formed the foundation of ‘Experimental Studio’, which is a coaching method that develops customized programs for higher education and workplace settings as well as individual services. My process-based coaching method focuses on the HOW of achieving a goal. It is designed to help people through life transitions, career goals, and personal growth using a blend of creative exercises, intuitive movement, and emotionally-present coaching. Experimental Studio nurtures individual expressive power. Together, we can build a more intimate relationship with your intuition, voice and body. I guide adults back to their inner child, and validate the journey of self-development through strategic check-ins and journaling. We regularly review goals and progress in a fun and engaging manner, turning personal growth into an exciting journey of self-discovery.

As an entrepreneur and an artist, I know firsthand what it means to use all of my faculties in both business and creativity, commerce and artistic expression. Business and art seem like two separate worlds to many people, but these sectors represent both sides of our brain, and every human needs to express their logical side as well as their emotional side. In my studio sessions, both components can learn to work in harmony, and the shadow aspects of one’s self are brought to light.

I aim to provide a supportive space, where people grow and empower themselves. It’s a place to vent, ask questions, and find resources to navigate the complexities of life and our interactions with each other as we continue to strive toward a wholesome and sustainable society.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Lili Stiefel, an artist, activist, and entrepreneur navigating the dynamic cities of NYC, Berlin, and Accra. I have a mixed identity. I’m an Air Force brat, biracial, and bilingual. Third culture kid raised in Germany. My mission is clear: I empower individuals to embrace their true creativity and unique identities, enabling them to not only discover their greatness but also to leverage it to forge deeper connections with the world. I create space for harnessing our best self.

I’m a theater artist. I’ve felt my need for creative expression since birth. I started dancing around first grade and kept developing my talent from there. After majoring in theater in high school, I studied acting at a conservatory in Berlin and later earned a BFA in Dramatic Arts -Directing. My hunger for knowledge and access to a seat at the proverbial table continued as I pursued a Masters in Management and Entrepreneurship at The New School. This educational journey equipped me with the knowledge and tools to embark on two transformative ventures.

I am the founder of The Mixed Space, a community organization that originated as a theatrical experience created for my undergrad directing thesis. It has since grown into a thriving platform that fosters inclusivity and connection. I created this space to provide a haven where no one feels othered, a place where individuals with mixed identities can feel at home and engage in meaningful conversations about their intersectional experiences.
Additionally, I am the Founder & CEO of Experimental Studio, a creative coaching company that specializes in guiding individuals through life transitions, career aspirations, and personal growth in a methodical and soulful manner. We facilitate success by helping professionals tap into their unique identities and assisting teams in approaching challenges and projects with innovative perspectives, strengthening workplace communication and collaboration.

My newest product is The ‘SoulWork Journal’. This is what I’m most proud of right now. This product is the result of my growth journey almost 10 years in the making. I’ve been an avid journaler, habit tracker, goal setter, and time management fiend since I started acting professionally in high school, needing to align my life to make time to learn lines, do my homework and my chores, remember birthdays, save money for Christmas gifts and have a space to jot down observations that come up during my commute on the train to and from the theater after my nightly performances. The ‘SoulWork Journal’ was created as an opportunity to reinvent yourself on a daily basis, and deepen your relationship with yourself. This will ultimately allow you to speak with intention, lead with intention, and stay authentic.

In your view, what can society do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I still believe the best way we can support artists is by creating cohesive and wholesome strategies that integrate the work they do and the way they do it into our commercial processes. This entails NOT just including their main discipline (like hiring a graphic designer to make a logo) but actively utilizing their creative approach to make connections that benefit the business strategy and internal SOPs. I think the biggest disservice we do to ourselves (which hurts artists) is categorizing creatives as disorganized, aloof, wild, crazy, and unable to function “properly” in our capitalist productivity structures. We mistakenly assume there is no way an artist can use skills other than their main practice to contribute to the benefit of a team or the revenue of a company.

In order for our society to enjoy making the most of artistic expression and culture building, we need artists to be well-funded, have emotional, physical, and psychological support as they carry the burden of our collective unprocessed, unconscious existence. We need a more intimate connection between the way we engage in trades and deal-making and the way we engage our imaginative senses. There is a gorgeous, mutually beneficial arrangement waiting to manifest that allows storytelling to live as an accessible tool alongside budgets that incorporate organizational management in a truly innovative manner.

Real talk: For every 5 regular people you hire, add an artist to the team and let them use their skills to add value to the way you’re working. This will give artists steady income to continue to grow their skill set, live a stable life, and keep contributing to the organization.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During grad school, I was expected to undergo many different rounds of critical examination and prove my research was substantial enough for my method to be validated. I needed to try out my work with test clients, make many adjustments, and realize what was working and what wasn’t. During this process, some experts didn’t think my work was appropriate. They criticized my approach. I felt doubtful I would be able to launch ‘Experimental Studio’ in the ‘real world.’ There were times I felt like I was being childish for trying to give adult professionals spaces to play, act silly, let go, and sink into their underlying desires. “People aren’t going to get it,” I heard numerous times. “This doesn’t make sense, you can’t really mix business and creativity like that.” – but you can. If you can imagine it, most likely there is a way to make it work, both in art and in business. It might end up looking differently than originally imagined. You might need to adapt and adjust along the way, but there is a gem waiting on the other side of resilience.

When I graduated and started taking clients, it was a challenge to find the right kind of person open to this work. Millions of folks want better for themselves. Most leaders want to improve their communication, however, it takes a special connection between a coach and a client to get the best value out of the work. Being honest with myself about WHO I really want to work with and the environment that I thrive in and going after those partners has been my journey for the past 5 years. I’m proud of the artists I’ve had the privilege to support in their careers and the significant career swings I’ve witnessed as a result of our collaboration. I’m excited about my contributions toward improving processes in banks, (home) offices, beauty salons, and medical spas to create community, revamp business plans, and increase revenue.

Ultimately, the need for resilience is never over. For me, ‘resilience’ means to keep moving forward, always. Find something to be grateful for, even if it’s very small, that will help you stay grounded in your new reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lilistiefel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilistiefel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themixedspace/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lili-stiefel12345/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMixedSpace
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/de/shop/SoulworkCollection

Image Credits
Erica Westley (Lili on couch) Yero Adugna Eticha (black and white pictures) Ian McRae (Lili in a brown-white-black dress & Lili with sunglasses & Lili with black turtle neck) Ani Hovannisian (Lili with cat) Naima Green (Lili & community in front of wall)