About Agon
First things first: You can call us “AGG – on.” We took our name from an ancient Greek word, ἀγών, that first meant gathering, and later came to mean contest or game.
When Agon Advisors founder Jessica Burlingame added team-based services to her individual coaching practice, she observed the struggles of many skilled individual leaders to excel as team-based collaborators. Agon Advisors now supports these leaders and their teams to thrive in the moment when circumstances are unforeseeable, stakes are make-or-break, and best practices aren’t good enough. Agon clients grow to find opportunity in situations no one can plan for − and that most leaders, teams, and talent development providers ignore.
Fast-forward to today, Agon offers bespoke virtual and live experiences – from 1:1 coaching sessions to multi-day team immersions — to serve your key talent development needs as an individual, team, or organization. Our roots are in collaboration techniques (often non-verbal) used by theater artists. We have grown to integrate a unique range of artistic, somatic, psychological, and contemplative practices (both mindfulness and “bodyfulness”) to best serve our clients’ needs – thus fostering abilities to thrive through skillful, in-the-moment action and reaction.
Our model is founded on real-time learning, with tangible, high-impact workplace application. We set you up for success by minimizing or eliminating common obstacles in organizational learning and development: time-consuming pre-work, and cumbersome post-training implementation.
Ultimately, we help your teams – and individuals – cultivate subtle, powerful practices and “in the moment” skills to find hidden opportunities in unplannable situations. That next chance meeting, hurried chat, or (even) awkward moment might just be the start of your next big win.
We are excited to explore collaborations with you, your teams, and your organization, as you seeking to elevate your performance through ambiguous, challenging times.
Let’s get to work.
Services
When you, your team, or your organization face opportunities or challenges, Agon Advisors customizes solutions. Our solutions may integrate practices from improvisational theater, Laban Movement Analysis (a “language” of human movement), Buckminster Fuller’s tension-integrity or “tensegrity” model, and/or others. Team-level psychometric assessment (evaluation of a group’s psychological values and work preferences) is available in partnership with Cubiks, global innovators in talent assessment and development.
PRESENTATION SKILLS |
PUBLIC AND CLIENT PRESENTATIONS: Agon helps presenters connect with external audiences — and deliver on-target messages, every time
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: Agon helps colleagues at all levels develop best-in-class communication skills: formal and informal, verbal and written
ONBOARDING |
EMPLOYEE ONBOARDING: Agon helps new teammates bond as a group – and connect with your broader organization (specialized offerings for new employee cohorts, including graduate, experienced, and post-merger hires)
TEAM STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT: Agon supports your team to discover strengths and gaps — before recruitment efforts start
CANDIDATE EVALUATION: Agon’s group experiences for potential employees help your staff evaluate fit, and introduce your organizational culture
TEAMBUILDING |
TEAM AND ORGANIZATIONAL RETREATS: Agon offers space to assess and celebrate progress – and envision your next moves ahead
PRODUCT/SERVICE LAUNCHES: Agon cultivates team members’ confidence to represent your growing enterprise
CONFLICT AND SETBACK RESOLUTION: Agon supports your team to uncover sources of conflict or stagnation – and opportunities to shift forward
EXECUTIVE, LEADERSHIP & INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT |
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT: Agon supports new and seasoned managers, executives, and partners, to thrive in their new roles
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Agon experiences ensure that staff and emerging leaders grow their team skills along with their technical expertise
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT: Agon nurtures you and helps you build heightened skills for ultimate fulfillment and success
Train-the-trainer and program design services are also available. Agon faculty reviews current learning & development offerings with your team, and designs solutions to complement your existing strengths.
PRESENTATION SKILLS
PUBLIC AND CLIENT PRESENTATIONS:
Agon helps presenters connect with external audiences — and deliver on-target messages, every time
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: Agon helps colleagues at all levels develop best-in-class communication skills: formal and informal, verbal and written
ONBOARDING
EMPLOYEE ONBOARDING: Agon helps new teammates bond as a group and connect with your broader organization
TEAM STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT: Agon supports your team to discover strengths and gaps — before recruitment efforts start
CANDIDATE EVALUATION: Agon’s group experiences for potential employees help your staff evaluate fit, and introduce your organizational culture
TEAMBUILDING
TEAM AND ORGANIZATIONAL RETREATS: Agon offers space to assess and celebrate progress – and envision your next moves ahead
PRODUCT/SERVICE LAUNCHES: Agon cultivates team members’ confidence to represent your growing enterprise
CONFLICT AND SETBACK RESOLUTION: Agon supports your team to uncover sources of conflict or stagnation – and opportunities to shift forward
EXECUTIVE, LEADERSHIP & INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT: Agon supports new and seasoned managers, executives, and partners, to thrive in their new roles
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Agon experiences ensure that staff and emerging leaders grow their team skills along with their technical expertise
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT: Agon nurtures you and helps you build heightened skills for ultimate fulfillment and success
Train-the-trainer and program design services are also available. Agon faculty reviews current learning & development offerings with your team, and designs solutions to complement your existing strengths.
Team
Jessica Burlingame
FOUNDER + PRINCIPAL
Jessica Burlingame is Founder and Principal of Agon Advisors. Her background in strategy consulting, leadership development, and individual and team coaching informs Agon’s high-impact, proprietary talent development solutions. She trained as a theatre director, educator, and performer with Shakespeare & Company, the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her studies with the Dance Education Laboratory at Jacob’s Pillow, Anatomy Trains founder Tom Myers, and collaborations with the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, also shape Agon’s offerings.
Ms. Burlingame holds an MBA and BA from Columbia University, and completed additional undergraduate studies at the University of Bologna, Italy. She has been recognized globally for individual and group coaching with MBA and EMBA candidates, and pursued coach training via the ICF-certified Newfield Network.
ADVISORS
Agon’s international faculty network includes strategists, artists, coaches, and clinicians, trained in our practices and ready to engage with your team. Our experience spans disciplines, industries, geographies, work cultures, and generations.
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