The Psychology of
Authentic Creativity
In an age of algorithms, aesthetics, and performance, it’s never been easier to create — nor harder to be authentic.
Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and the science of individual differences, this talk explores why our differences — from our quirks to our sensitivities to our struggles — are not obstacles to creativity but its very foundation. Jessica Carson, a researcher, author, and educator whose career spans the National Institutes of Health, the American Psychological Association, and Georgetown University, as well as startups and venture capital, reveals how each person possesses a unique “palette” of traits and experiences that determine the work only they can create. She outlines a framework for identifying and expressing this intrinsic palette — and highlights the essential role of courage in the creative process. Participants will leave with a new understanding of creativity not as a skill to optimize, but as a human necessity: an act of authenticity through which we become who we truly are.
The Light (and Dark)
of the Entrepreneurial Mind
Entrepreneurs are visionaries — bold, inventive, and unrelenting.
But beneath that brilliance lies a complex psychology. The very traits that drive entrepreneurial success — passion, risk-taking, intensity, and ambition — are often entwined with mental health challenges, moral gray zones, and volatile personality patterns. In this talk, Jessica Carson, author of Wired This Way, unpacks the paradoxes of the entrepreneurial psyche. Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, and her own research into the emotional and cognitive patterns of founders, creators, and innovators, she reveals why the light and dark of the entrepreneurial mind are two sides of the same coin — and why the goal isn’t to “fix” oneself, but to cultivate deeper awareness of one’s unique (and often combustible) wiring. Participants will gain a shared language for understanding and regulating their psychological extremes, learning how to transform inner chaos into clarity, resilience, and sustainable success.