Chris Esparza

Co-Founder & Principal

Group of people engaged in conversation at a training event, with one person gesturing while speaking.

Let's face it—uncertainty is a constant in today's world. And while leadership isn't about having all the answers (wouldn't that be nice?), it is about creating spaces where people can navigate the unknowns together, with courage and creativity.

We support individuals and teams through three simple yet powerful principles:

  1. Attention is our superpower. When we practice wholehearted listening—finely tuning in to others and our environment—we discover possibilities that were there all along, just waiting to be noticed.

  2. Connection is where the magic happens. Leadership isn't a solo sport; it’s a dance. It lives in our relationships, conversations, and those wonderful "aha!" moments we co-create together.

  3. Improvisation is the rhythm and flow. Think of it as jazz—we might not know what the next measure brings, but with the right mindset and skills, we can spark something awesome together.

The name CO-Create reflects our fundamental belief that leadership itself emerges through collaboration—it's not something that happens in isolation but through our connections and shared experience. We partner with clients to bring fresh opportunities for exploration, growth, and action—think of them as laboratories for positive change. Together, we'll transform challenges into opportunities.

NOTE: You'll notice we use WE throughout—that's intentional. CO-Create was born from partnership, is sustained by a network of brilliant collaborators, and comes alive through our work together with clients. While I (Chris) am your primary point of contact, this work has always been, and will always be, about creating something greater than any one person.

Chris’ Core Values

Wisdom

Wisdom lives in unexpected places—in our stories, our struggles, and especially in our collective experiences. It's not just about gathering knowledge; it's about being curious enough to learn from every conversation and humble enough to be surprised. When we approach leadership with this mindset, we discover insights beyond any textbook.

Empathy

Leadership without empathy fails at its core. Creating excellence requires us to bring our full humanity to this work— to build spaces where people feel truly heard and valued. It's about supporting each other through uncertainty, celebrating progress, and recognizing that care isn't just nice to have—it's essential for sustainable success. Think of it as professional care with purpose.

Play

Somewhere along the way, we got the idea that serious work can’t be playful. We disagree! Play is how we experiment, iterate, and find creative solutions to tough challenges. It’s not about being silly (though costumes, parades, and beads can be quite fun!). It’s about bringing a spirit of curiosity and joy to our work. When we learn to play with challenges instead of fearing them, amazing things open up.

About Chris

  • I am a leadership educator and facilitator who helps individuals, teams, and organizations build connection and community to respond creatively to new situations. As the grandson of Mexican immigrants, I understand deeply how being seen and heard shapes our understanding of what’s possible. My experience reinforces a core belief: that wisdom emerges from diverse voices and perspectives in the room. With 20+ years of professional experience spanning higher education, leadership development, and organizational training, I bring a unique blend of psychology, adult learning, leadership theory, inclusive practice, and improvisation to my work. I am currently based in New Orleans and originally from Los Angeles.

    • Co-designed and co-facilitated an award-winning, yearlong university leadership academy for faculty & staff.

    • Facilitated day-long and week-long leadership programs for 25+ universities including Yale, USC, University of Washington, and Boston College.

    • Led peer-reviewed presentations at numerous conferences, including the International Leadership Association, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals, and others.

    • Designed and facilitated programs for a range of organizations, including PWC, Meta, Swift, Owens Corning, Thermo Fisher, and the United Nations Development Programme, both independently and in collaboration with past consulting roles.

    • Currently serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the global Applied Improvisation Network.

    • Served 3 years as VP for Leadership & Culture at Koppett, a business consulting and training group that blends learning with improvisation and storytelling to enhance team performance.

    • Served 3 years as Director for Diversity, Inclusion, and Leadership at the University of Oregon School of Law, coordinating diversity initiatives and leadership development for law students.

    • Served 7 years as Associate Director at the UO’s Holden Center for Leadership & Community Engagement, coordinating and facilitating transformative learning programs across campus.

    • Spent first 10 years of career as a counseling psychologist working to bridge an understanding of human development and growth with individuals, groups, and teams.

    • B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University, with a concentration in health and development; and began my improv journey with the Stanford Improvisors (received Founder’s Award in 1996)

    • M.A. in Counseling Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, with a concentration in multicultural career counseling

    • Ph.D. coursework and accredited internship in counseling psychology, focusing on cross-cultural issues, supervision, & career development

    • Certification as a Gallup Strengths Coach

    • Certification in Wisnio Talent Analytics Platform

    • Certification in Mindful Facilitation

    • An unexpected hobby: running—and somehow it’s gone so far as to include multiple marathons (!) … but, please understand I’m not very fast

    • Most memorable race: running a full marathon in a banana suit and another pushing a 30lb speaker on a baby jogger

    • Former Disneyland parade performer

    • Former nanny and a former volunteer firefighter (both at the same time)

    • Future learning ambitions: dj’ing and surfing (not at the same time)

MORE QUESTIONS?

We have an FAQ page for common questions and an emerging Resource page.
Or, if just want to talk through your situations and needs… let’s chat!