Client Testimonials

"You should know how spectacularly effective Paula Hansen was at the Rancho Cordova retreat with the Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, City Manager and key staff.

Paula, with very little context setting and preparation time, was able to show up and capture the conversations in a way that was a complete match with the style of the participants. Her graphics relentlessly followed the core content thread of the dialogue, added a strongly aesthetic coherence to the retreat, and helped the people who are challenged by the bias for talk to follow and stay engaged in the process. She was engaged at the mind and heart levels with the challenges facing the folks in Rancho Cordova, and was truly joyful when they made breakthroughs in insights and when these insights transitioned to a sense of what action was needed.

Her support of the retreat team was generous and sensitive. She was present and contributing for long hours. Her work both as a graphic recorder and as a presence at the retreat added value in great measure. I am grateful for having had her as a partner in this project and look forward to opportunities to work with her again.

- Mayan Baker
Consultant and Facilitator
San Francisco, CA

"When it was first suggested that I use a graphic recorder when facilitating these groups of business leaders, I was skeptical. However, Paula has a unique ability to follow the discussion and capture the group's sentiments concisely and accurately. This alone has been tremendously valuable in these meetings, but her ability to also produce interesting and engaging images to reflect the group ideas was truly impressive. I am now convinced of the value of graphic recording and use Paula at every opportunity."

- Ted Lyman
Principal, Economic Competitiveness Group
San Francisco, CA

"Graphic recording added a dynamic element to our planning sessions - Paula captured community members ideas quickly and creatively and it helped our meetings a great deal. Her graphic recording helped add a new and broader dimension to the creative thinking process."

- Ulla Britt Jonsson
City of San Rafael

"Paula's representations of the multi-faceted and often emotionally charged conversations during my workshop revealed her own capacity to listen deeply and capture the spirit of a message in image or symbol. Participants not only felt heard but also saw how their contribution fit into the whole. What has been a collection of individual insights and stories became a unified group image and compelling reminder of the collective experience."

- Beata Lewis
Bridging Lives

"It was amazing to see the energy and enthusiasm generated in the room as the group participants could actually see their ideas take on life through the graphic recording. It definitely added to and enhanced the dynamics of the planning sessions."

- Kathy Baylis
Vice President Economic Development
Sarasota County Committee for Economic Development

Graphic Recording Helps Bring Vision to Reality

(click images to enlarge)

At the meeting of Monterey County business leaders in the tourism industry the idea emerged of creating a "Wine Corridor" with signage and promotion to increase visitor awareness of the local wineries. I did a quick sketch to capture the group's vision of welcoming more tourists to area wineries. Local leaders were inspired; the idea took and was sucessfully implemented. See photo of sign