Research & Events
Services
We document and analyze narratives by women+ willing to share their true experiences of life in the business setting.
Oftentimes, the interviewees feel alone, thinking their trials and tribulations are unique. When brought together, the testimonies point to universal themes around a lack of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Through the experience of story-sharing and conscious leadership practices, we lift each other up.
The first round of research focuses on the financial services sector.
Innovative thought leadership that promotes humane approach to business through the power of storytelling about workplace realities
Story Excerpt
"I was shocked. As soon as I resigned, I realized there was going to be no humanity in the offboarding process. I was no longer available as a resource, so there was no need to treat me as human? Just a cog. After spending my whole career with one firm, it was such a bummer. It reinforced my decision. If I had only known what the exit interview was going to be like..."
-Asks to remain anonymous
Dare to Care®
Overview:
We study personal and collective stories to understand how people experience worth, value, wealth, and wellness. Guided by principles of applied psychological anthropology, we explore how identity, culture, and social systems shape these experiences. We connect what we learn to existing research on conscious leadership and wellbeing, uncovering deeper patterns that influence both personal and collective health. Our findings are shared through talks, workshops, and events, always with practical ideas for lasting change.
“I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is not.”
~ Malala Yousafzai
Upcoming Events
The Pivot Perspective
University Club, Portland Oregon
October 28, 2026
5:00pm to 7:00 pm PT
Explore what Step Into the Pivot conversations teach us about navigating turbulence, tribulations, triumphs, and transformation.
We will examine pivotal moments, surface the principles beneath them, and turn shared insight into practical takeaways for future decisions and transitions.
Watch this space! More events coming soon.
Want to stay up to date?
Past Events
Lead by Example:
Courageous Being presents poet Monika Herceg
Cloud & Leaf Bookstore, Manzanita, Oregon
June 19, 2026
A special evening conversation with acclaimed Croatian poet, playwright, editor, and activist Monika Herceg. Through poetry, storytelling, Courage Cards prompts, and interactive audience reflection, the evening explored creativity, courage, advocacy, identity, and the human experience. Part literary conversation and part experiential gathering, attendees participated in guided reflective exercises designed to spark insight, connection, and meaningful dialogue.
Wisdom of Courageous Leadership: Worth, Wealth and Wellness
University Club of Portland, Oregon
June 4, 2026
A live experience exploring how Worth, Wealth, and Wellness shape the way we lead and make decisions. Through practical insights from cross-industry experts—Jessica Taylor, Ph.D., Carolyn Marsh, JR Kuo and Liam Polonijo—we learned to recognize often surprising patterns driving our choices and apply simple tools to move with greater clarity, alignment, and intention in real time, leveraging perspectives relevant to professionals across industries, including financial services.
Well Bragged: Energy, Agency, and Reading the Signals of Burnout
Western Pension & Benefits Council (WP&BC), Portland Spring Conference
May 20, 2026
A practical workshop to help you spot early signs of burnout, regulate your energy, and make clearer decisions under pressure. Burnout builds through signals that are often easy to miss or override—decision fatigue, irritability, or a persistent sense of overwhelm. We learned how to recognize these patterns early, understand what they mean, and apply simple tools to restore clarity, capacity, and agency in real time.
The Power of the Pause at the Alexcel Conference – The Alliance for Leadership Excellence
Virtual – Zoom
April 14, 2026
Dr. Ivi presented Rest and Receive®: Intentionally Rest to Be at Your Best session. In high-performance environments, rest is often treated as a reward or afterthought. Yet the quality of our decisions, relationships, and leadership is shaped by the state we are in while doing them. In this session, Dr. Ivi introduced Rest and Receive®, a structured approach that reframes rest as a strategic, trainable capacity. Drawing from the Anthropology of Inner Transitions, she explored how to access clarity, presence, and personal power under pressure. She also introduced “The Fourth F: Feelings,” expanding performance frameworks to include emotional and relational dynamics. Participants left with practical ways to restore on demand and integrate rest into daily life and key transitions.
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness Annual Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada
March 30, 2026
When major life changes overlap, relationship dynamics shape every decision, even when the relationship itself is changing or ending. Dr. Ivi’s session, “Advising Through Relational Transitions: Staying on the Same Team During Change,” explored how advisors can guide clients through loss, role shifts, and divorce while staying grounded, clear and effective. Participants learned to recognize relational patterns under stress, reduce reactivity, and support conversations that move from opposition toward alignment around what matters most. The focus is not on preserving relationships, but on helping clients stay on the same team with the process of change, even as paths diverge.
Resilience through Change: Financial Transitionist Institute’s Midyear Conference
Virtual – Zoom
March 24, 2026
When major life changes overlap, relationship dynamics shape every decision, even when the relationship itself is changing or ending. Dr. Ivi’s session, “Advising Through Relational Transitions: Staying on the Same Team During Change,” explored how advisors can guide clients through loss, role shifts, and divorce while staying grounded, clear and effective. Participants learned to recognize relational patterns under stress, reduce reactivity, and support conversations that move from opposition toward alignment around what matters most. The focus is not on preserving relationships, but on helping clients stay on the same team with the process of change, even as paths diverge.
Wisdom of Women in Finance, and Why We Need It Now More Than Ever
University Club of Portland
February 19, 2026 at 4:30-7 pm PST
In a time of unsettling intensity, nonstop media, and relentless uncertainty, many women in finance are carrying more than their share. For families, clients, teams, organizations, and communities. This practical workshop offers hopeful insights and practical tools for staying grounded, steady, and clear, especially when anxious energy arises in ourselves or those around us.
Power-Spot™: Workshop for New Beginnings, (Self) Love + Relationships
Virtual, Zoom
February 7, 2026
We gathered for a virtual workshop, Power-Spot™ for New Beginnings, (Self) Love + Relationships. Together, we explored how to create a simple, intentional Power-Spot space using everyday objects and Courage Cards to support new beginnings, self-love, romance, and the kinds of relationships participants wanted to invite into their lives. The experience unfolded as a gentle, retreat-like, guided gathering, complete with delightful bonus gifts.
American Anthropological Association Annual Conference
New Orleans, LA
November 19-23, 2025
We were deeply honored that Dr. Ivi presented at the 2025 AAA Annual Meeting in New Orleans, the world’s largest anthropology conference. Her talk, Unhaunting the Self: Autoethnographic Rituals for Reclaiming Identity from the Wounded Past, was part of the conference theme, Ghosts, which explored how the past lingers in the present and how unseen forces shape our realities.
Financial Transitionist Institute: 25th Anniversary Annual Conference
West Palm Beach, FL
November 10-12, 2025
We were excited to share that Dr. Ivi spoke at the 2025 Financial Transitionist® Conference. This year’s theme, The Great Disruption, highlighted how cultural shifts, technological acceleration, and evolving client expectations can serve as catalysts for reinvention and lasting impact. The conference explored how Financial Transitionists® could harness disruption to turn uncertainty into opportunity, while celebrating 25 years of transformative life transitions informed by brain science.
Cetera Connect 2 Impact
Austin, Texas
October 21, 2025
We were thrilled that Courageous Being was part of Cetera’s 4th annual Connect2Impact, a pivotal event for the financial advisor community. This year’s theme, United in Curiosity, Growing Together, highlighted the importance of growth and connection through shared learning and perspective. The symposium brought together financial professionals and partners to explore innovative strategies, exchange insights, and strengthen collaboration.
WIPN Wellness: Connected at the Core
National Webinar, Zoom
September 23, 2025
Courageous Being was proud to share that Dr. Ivi served as a featured panelist at the WIPN Wellness national webinar on social wellness. Alongside other women leaders in retirement and finance, she explored how meaningful human connection impacts happiness and longevity, and shared personal insights on building relationships that help us stay grounded and well. The #WIPNWellness webinar was a benefit of WIPN membership and was offered free to members.
Choose Courage: Daily Practice Workshop
Cloud & Leaf, Manzanita, Oregon
September 13, 2025
We gathered this September at Cloud & Leaf for an intimate after-hours event with Dr. Ivi, featuring the Courage Cards and the Inner Bonding Guided Journal. Each participant received a Luxe Courage Deck and learned simple, consistent practices for calming the body, honoring feelings, and reconnecting with inner wisdom. The hands-on session demonstrated how these ritual technologies support resilience, clarity, and daily self-connection.
LEAP Small Group Gathering
Portland, Oregon
June 4, 2025
We were excited to continue the momentum of our LEAP Small Group with a members-only lunch-and-learn at House Magnolia. Dr. Ivi hosted a relaxed, restorative session featuring the brand-new Courage Cards, guiding the group through a hands-on experience designed to spark deep reflection and meaningful connection. This gathering blended conscious leadership tools with simple self-calming practices, offering members a fresh perspective on how ritual technologies can support personal growth and wellbeing.
Daily Practice, Deeper Peace: A Two-Part Guided Inner Bonding® Workshop
Virtual, Zoom
June 1 and June 8, 2025
We hosted a special two-part virtual workshop designed to help participants create a daily practice that was sustainable, nourishing, and real. Using the Inner Bonding Guided Journal as our foundation, we explored practical tools to help move from insight to integration, building inner steadiness, clarity, and self-trust along the way.
Part 1 focused on creative structure and personal rhythm. Part 2 offered reflection, accountability, and the support to keep each practice alive and evolving. Participants also heard from co-author Liam Polonijo, who brought a next-gen perspective on how daily practice shapes emotional growth and leadership.
Registration included five hours of live guidance, the digital Inner Bonding Guided Journal, session recordings, and thoughtfully curated bonus materials to support the journey long after the workshop ended.
Second Annual Women in Finance Forum
Portland, Oregon
May 25, 2025
This year’s Women in Finance Forum brought together over 200 professionals for a dynamic, collaborative event hosted by CFA Society Portland, Portland Women in Investment Management, Women in ETFs, Women in Financial Services, and WIPN.
Courageous Being was honored to join the speaker lineup, with Dr. Ivi sharing insights on conscious leadership, self-alignment, and embodied presence. From practical wisdom to bold truth-telling, the forum offered powerful reminders of what leadership can look like when rooted in care, clarity, and community.
it was a joy-filled, thought-provoking day from start to finish.
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness Annual Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 1, 2025
Courageous Being had the honor of presenting at the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness Annual Conference, held May 1–3 in Las Vegas, marking a milestone with the official launch of Courage Cards, our new ritual technology for self-reclamation and inner wisdom.
In this session, Dr. Ivi shared most poignant moments from her immigrant journey, illustrating four universal stages of migration. The presentation wove autoethnography + personal storytelling with applied anthropology, offering reflections on universal migrant journeys. Dr. Ivi demonstrated how she uses Courage Cards in real time to self-regulate and ground herself, an experience that resonated deeply with attendees.
Afterward, Courageous Being connected with conference leaders and fellow researchers over a lively lunch. The highlight of the event was watching participants engage with Courage Cards firsthand, creating transformational moments of their own.
Women’s Million Dollar Conversations Alumni Event
Portland, Oregon
April 24, 2025
Dr. Ivi was honored to take part in the Women’s Million Dollar Conversations event, co-hosted by Alice Tang ChFC®, MIM, and Laura. This inspiring project celebrates women who have reached significant financial milestones and shares their wisdom to empower others. The recent alumni celebration focused on financial success as well as the deeper wealth found in strong networks and a generous community spirit. Conversations circled around how we can continue standing up for one another and paving the way for collective growth.
You can catch Dr. Ivi’s full conversation with Alice in the episode Courage, Authenticity & Success
Financial Transitionist Institute’s Conference
Virtual - Zoom
March 7, 2025
Dr. Ivi’s session, "The New Paradigm: Thriving in Turbulence," addressed the relentless uncertainty financial professionals and their clients face today. She shared how staying calm in turbulence very much depends on being genuinely authentic. We also discussed how staying in poise grants three critical gifts from our brain: a safety mindset, a reframing mindset, and an opportunity mindset, helping advisors not only find their own footing but also guide clients toward confidence and clarity.
Pivot Mastery at Wealth@Wor(k) Conference
San Antonio, Texas
October 15rd, 2024
Courageous Being and Power Through Wellness Coaching co-hosted Pivot Mastery: How to Have More Human Conversations in the Age of AI. The powerful session marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and featured a heartfelt panel with Theresa Conti, Ami Hindia, and Andrea Nitta, moderated by Dr. Ivi. The panel explored personal stories of transformation through the lens of awareness, advocacy, and awakening and blended brave storytelling with actionable tools, reminding us all of the power of real connection in life, leadership, and every pivot we face.
SWAY | LIVE
Step into the Pivot Live Recording
Palm Springs, California
August 6th, 2024
At Courageous Being, we believe in the power of taking a break to invest in your personal brand. By humanizing your virtual interactions, building a consistent presence, and mastering storytelling, you can attract and retain clients while smoothly transitioning through changes. At SWAY | LIVE we integrated these principles into our podcast creation process and recorded an episode in front of a live audience: SITP Ep 27 with Sheri Fitts: Resilient Love in the Grip of Addiction.
Exhibition: Coming Out Museum Encounters
Pula, Croatia
June 18th, 2024
We were honored to attend the first exhibition of the COME project—Coming Out Museum Encounter—hosted at NOVO Gallery in Pula as part of Pride Month celebrations. The exhibition was a collaboration between the Ethnographic Museum of Istria and PROCES (the association for the promotion of queer culture and LGBTIQ+ rights), The COME project spotlighted powerful stories and artifacts of queer history and culture, creating a vibrant, inclusive space for reflection, dialogue, and visibility.
LEAP (Leaders and Executives Across Professions) Workshop: Elevate Yourself, Elevate Each other
Portland, Oregon
June 5, 2024
Dr. Ivi offered a self-mastery workshop to LEAP members where we dove into Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies framework. One of the best parts of this workshop is when the women get organized into cohorts according to their Tendency and start sharing their personal experiences with one another - so fun and healing! Through playful exercises and to-the-point, deep discussions, attendees were able to uncover hidden strengths, learn how to overcome challenges when their tendency goes “wounded”, and begin to recognize other people’s tendencies so they can communicate more effectively.
Broadridge 360 Advisor Summit - Power Breakfast
Portland, Oregon
May 20, 2024
We kicked off the conference bright and early where Dr. Ivi was a panelist on 2024 WIPN Research: The Mentor/Sponsor Boost. This energizing session presented WIPN’s latest research on how key mentorship and sponsorship relationships can transform career trajectories for women in the retirement industry. The discussion highlighted compelling data and practical insights into how these critical connections shape advancement, boost confidence, and create ripple effects across teams and organizations. It was a powerful way to launch the day, setting an inspiring tone for the rest of the conference.
Women in Finance Forum - Inaugural Event
Portland, Oregon
April 24, 2024
We had the privilege of attending the Women in Finance Forum, a collaborative event uniting Portland’s leading financial industry groups, including CFA Society Portland, Portland Women in Investment Management, Women in ETFs, Women in Financial Services, and We Inspire Promote Network (WIPN). The forum brought together influential women in finance to strengthen community ties, share expertise, and inspire advancement across the industry. The event was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when women join forces to drive change, build community, and uplift one another in the financial sector.
4 Tendencies Workshop at WIPN Leadership Summit
Denver, Colorado
February 2nd, 2024
Leaders of WE Inspire Promote and Nework (WIPN) organization wrapped up 2024 Leadership Summit with Dr. Ivi's professional development workshop based on The Four Tendencies by well-known happiness and productivity researcher Gretchen Rubin. To prepare, attendees were encouraged to take the Four Tendencies Quiz in advance, helping them identify whether they were an Obliger, Questioner, Upholder, or Rebel.
The workshop explored how each tendency shapes responses to life’s demands, including workplace dynamics, and offered fresh insights on how to better leverage their tendency across all areas of life.
Uplevel Your Potential:
Energy Codes Book Study Group
Virtual - Zoom
Most Sundays, January 7th, 2024 - April 21st, 2024
Participants explored the Energy Codes®, a set of principles and practices designed to fit seamlessly into daily life to unveil their authentic selves, increase self-awareness, and build confidence. Ivana led 12 experiential sessions from January 7 to April 21, guiding the group through Dr. Sue Morter’s book chapter by chapter. Most sessions were held on Sundays from 10:00 to 11:30 am PST, with recordings available for those who couldn’t attend live. The group filled quickly, creating a rich, supportive space for deep learning and transformation.
Come Grow:
Fearless Female Leadership
New York, New York
September 28th, 2023
We gathered in the heart of NYC for an inspiring discussion about leading with intention in life and the workplace.
This free, invitation-only networking and learning event brought together 25-30 women, fostering interconnectedness within a diverse group of women who represented both today's and tomorrow's leaders.
A panel of fearless female leaders from ZanaAfrica Foundation’s Board shared success tools from their extensive and diverse personal and career paths.
Courageous Being was proud to sponsor this event, as it wonderfully harmonized with our mission to empower women+ to become conscious and effective leaders both in business and their personal lives.
PlanAdviser National Conference: WIPN Lunch Event
Scottsdale, Arizona
September 13th, 2023
The WIPN lunch at the 2023 PlanAdviser National Conference featured an enlightening session by Ivana Polonijo from Courageous Being. The talk centered on the effectiveness of harnessing your Influential AF (Authentic Fullness) powers as a potent strategy to stand out in a crowded market and connect with people on a profound level, while also raising the critical question — is the financial services industry ready for authenticity, compassion, and true leadership?
This session looked at the realities of financial services today. We investigated whether you can be successful with an authentic-self-at-work approach, considered the role of personal branding, and gained insights into the opportunities to cultivate a fulfilling career in finance today.
Attendees left with a fresh perspective on how to navigate and thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of financial services.
SWAY | LIVE
Six reasons you should never use your Influential AF Powers
San Diego, California
Wednesday, August 9th, 2023
Embracing your authentic self is a powerful strategy to stand out in a crowded market and cultivate profound connections. But is the financial services industry ready for it? Or is it a hot mess of historical insults and present inequities where your efforts will be fruitless? In this session led by Dr. Ivi, we explored the dynamic fusion of Influence + Authenticity: a crucial combo for achieving success in finance today.
Experience Success without all the Stress
Portland, Oregon
Wednesday, July 19th, 2023
Courageous Being was thrilled to team up with the WIPN (WE Inspire. Promote. Network) Oregon chapter to host this unforgettable and empowering event! It was the perfect blend of enjoyment and personal growth, featuring delightful wine tasting, fun networking, and an easy-to-apply emotional freedom technique workshop led by the phenomenal tapping expert, Helen McConnell. Beautiful evening with authentic business women eager to learn and grow... and have fun! And heartfelt gratitude to JP Morgan for sparking the event and sponsoring our speaker!
Reimagining Retirement by Endeavor Retirement:
Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon |
Mental Health in theWorkplace Edition
March 15, 2023
Dr. Ivi spoke on a dynamic expert panel exploring the intersection of mental health and DEI initiatives in the workplace, focusing on their impact on the future of the retirement plan industry. The discussion explored holistic approaches to supporting mental health, practical methods for equipping the financial services industry with stronger DEI tools and resources, and the financial implications of DEI initiatives for business outcomes and client satisfaction. The session offered actionable insights and highlighted the growing importance of mental health and inclusion in shaping a resilient, forward-thinking industry.
The Engager Icebreaker Workshop at WIPN Leadership Summit
Dallas, Texas
February 23-24, 2023
We were thrilled to co-host the ENGAGER experience at the WIPN gathering in Dallas, where Dr. Ivi led a creative and interactive session designed to kick off the conference on a light but meaningful note. The event featured a multi-part sacred theater performance: first, a glimpse into the internal dialogue of a busy working woman navigating her day; next, a breakdown of what participants saw, with insights and practical techniques from Courageous Being’s conscious leadership framework; and finally, a reimagined version of the same day, showing the protagonist emboldened and practicing new skills for self-care and empowered presence.
