Brian Arao (he/him/his)
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drbrianarao.bsky.social
Brian Arao (he/him/his)
@drbrianarao.bsky.social
President & Founder, Brave Space Leadership | transformative educator & coach | amateur plant-based chef | reluctant runner | queer chorister | professional geek
More info: bio.site/bravespaceleadership
My spreadsheet just flashed green 💚—500 hours of #leadership #coaching logged! This milestone is a celebration of client breakthroughs. I've distilled the 5 most powerful shifts leaders make, moving from fear and exhaustion to clarity and lasting impact.

bravespaceleadership.com/travelogs/500
November 17, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Chrysalis is transforming to serve even more #QTBIPOC navigating change! Visit our website or DM me to learn more.
November 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Evolve Your Leadership Voice is now the Evolve Institute for Higher Education Leadership! Join our free webinar to learn how to align purpose w/ impact & drive student success in higher ed. Stop just moving up. Start growing with intention.

🗓️ Nov 19 | 1 PM PST
🔗 forms.gle/ykdpvCoqocVd...
November 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Brian Arao (he/him/his)
Announcing the Evolve Institute for Higher Education Leadership.
youtu.be/Nojixbs1YzQ
Announcing Evolve Institute for Higher Education Leadership
YouTube video by Keith Edwards
youtu.be
October 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM
#PsychologicalSafety is the destination, but do you have the right vehicle (let's call it a starship) and course for diverse teams? My new blog post explores how to get there with #BraveSpace and #CulturalIntelligence.
bravespaceleadership.com/travelogs/charting-a-course-to-psych-safety
#Leadership
Charting a Course to Psychological Safety with Brave Space and Cultural Intelligence — Brave Space Leadership
Leaders can successfully navigate the journey to psychological safety in diverse teams when equipped with the right tools: a deliberate process for engaging in difficult dialogue and a navigational sy...
bravespaceleadership.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Why is psychological safety so hard to cultivate, especially in diverse teams? I'm tackling three often overlooked challenges in my new blog post. Read the first one now!
bravespaceleadership.com/travelogs/is-psychological-safety-enough
#Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #BraveSpace #CulturalIntelligence
Is Psychological Safety Enough? Why Your Journey to a Human-Centered Culture is Falling Short — Brave Space Leadership
This post is part of a three-part series on how leaders can cultivate brave space and use cultural intelligence to create psychological safety in their teams and organizations.
bravespaceleadership.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
A participant shared this pic from a recent workshop. It’s my reminder that great facilitation means staying hydrated, looking stylish, and having fun while creating a brave space for learning. Because that’s how I werq. #BraveSpaceLeadership #Facilitation #Learning
August 15, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Bravery isn't about being fearless; it's about acknowledging fear and acting anyway. My latest Travelogs post explores this idea, with personal stories to help you reflect on your own journey with fear in DEIJB learning spaces. www.bravespaceleadership.com/travelogs/co... #BraveSpace #Courage
The Courage to Be Afraid: Navigating Fear in Brave Spaces — Brave Space Leadership
Bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the antidote.
www.bravespaceleadership.com
August 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Thinking about your next professional development move? One-on-one #executivecoaching might be the powerful, personalized experience you need. Evolve Essentials helps you create a clear action plan for your unique #leadership challenges, all for just $895.
bravespaceleadership.com/evolve-essentials
August 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
My new blog post, "The Power of the Pivot," explores how my biggest career change became an act of self-liberation as a queer person of color. Find out how I navigated fear to create my dream career. #QTBIPOC #CareerPivots #BraveSpaceLeadership
www.bravespaceleadership.com/travelogs/pi...
The Power of the Pivot: Why Career Transitions are an Act of Self-Liberation for QTBIPOC — Brave Space Leadership
For QTBIPOC leaders, career transitions can be profoundly liberating acts. In this blog post, I explore how facing down fears—of failure, rejection, and uncertainty—paved the way for me to build a car...
www.bravespaceleadership.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Big news! ✨ #BraveSpaceLeadership is launching a new blog!
My first post dives into why I'm starting this blog – sharing authentic stories from my own and others' #Leadership journeys, embracing collaboration, and keeping it accessible.
Check it out! www.bravespaceleadership.com/travelogs/fi...
Travelin’ Thru: Launching the Brave Space Leadership Blog — Brave Space Leadership
The journey to launch this blog has been a long and winding road. Several years ago, I started talking with my dear friend and collaborator Kristi Clemens about a follow-up to our chapter on brave sp...
www.bravespaceleadership.com
June 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
So excited for Inciteful's free #PrideMonth webinar! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

I love #coaching marginalized leaders (especially my #LGBTQIA2S+ fam) to unlock their authentic superpowers. Natalie Jade and I will discuss cultivating confidence & self-trust. Plus, a chance to win free coaching with me!

lu.ma/le341cwg
You Belong Here: Cultivating Confidence, Safety, and Self-Trust in Your Career · Zoom · Luma
In a world where many of us have been told—directly or indirectly—that we’re “too much” or “not enough,” this session is a reminder: you belong here. Join Dr.…
lu.ma
June 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
✨Sharing a glimpse into my speaking work! ✨ I bring my lived experience as a #queer #Asian person with mental health challenges to talks on building #BraveSpaces and sustaining #SocialJustice work. May & June are coming up - let's collaborate! #Speaker #AAPI #MentalHealthAwareness
bit.ly/4jPdk7j
AAPI Heritage, MH, and Pride Months Sizzle Reel
www.veed.io
April 29, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Cultural intelligence (CQ) is essential for #highered #leadership success - and it’s coming to Evolve Your Leadership Voice! Join our FREE webinar on 4/29 w/ Dr. Rahn Franklin on #CQ for senior leaders. Register: forms.gle/LyFFq2gaHghd...
Evolve Your Leadership Voice Interest Form
Thank you for your interest in Evolve. Whether you are here to enroll, meet with one of us, or check out a webinar, we are glad you are here.
forms.gle
April 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Free transformative #leadership #coaching with a professional credentialed coach? Yes! Join me on #Inciteful. Earn tokens through surveys to get no-cost sessions! Use code BRAVESPACE! www.incitefulapp.com
Inciteful App Homepage
Inciteful App Homepage. Learn more about our unique user research tool.
www.incitefulapp.com
March 31, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Brian Arao (he/him/his)
At Evolve, @drbrianarao.bsky.social, Dawn Lee, and I are doubling down on building the strength and effectiveness of your leadership voice. We’re offering a 1/3 discount for our next cohort, launching on June 2. We’d love for you to be a part of it.
Is Evolve for You?
YouTube video by Keith Edwards
youtube.com
March 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Higher ed senior leaders: noticing an uptick in blame, rage, and feeling stuck? Ready to shift from just reacting to leadership challenges to strategic social change?

Don't evade. Evolve. Register for the summer cohort by May 16. More info in my link in bio. youtube.com/shorts/yeOHU...
Are you ready to Evolve?
YouTube video by Keith Edwards
youtube.com
March 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Not every situation calls for a #bravespace - and yes, I’m saying that as one of its co-creators. Learn how to discern which framework is most appropriate for different scenarios related to #diversity, #equity, #inclusion, #socialjustice, and #belonging. bit.ly/bravespaceclass
The Art of Cultivating Brave Spaces - Brave Space, or Something Else?
www.veed.io
March 10, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Learn to recognize your triggers and de-escalate so you can more effectively facilitate the co-creation of #bravespaces for powerful learning about #diversity, #equity, #inclusion, and #socialjustice.
The Art of Cultivating Brave Spaces - Curiosity and Self-Awareness
www.veed.io
March 6, 2025 at 10:07 PM
You’ve heard of brave spaces. But what exactly are they? And how can they support powerful learning about #diversity, #equity, #inclusion, and #socialjustice? Learn more in this video! www.veed.io/view/9072ed9...
The Power of Brave Spaces
www.veed.io
March 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The #ACPA25 Equity and Inclusion Team invites convention attendees to “recognize and honor the past and present labor which make our gathering possible." Learn more about our labor recognition initiative: bit.ly/ACPA25-labor
Labor Recognition & Invitations to Action
bit.ly
February 13, 2025 at 5:40 PM
#ACPA25 is committed to accessibility! We're thrilled to offer a low sensory room in Hyatt Harbor A (Mon & Tue, 8am-6pm) for attendees needing a quiet space. Learn more: bit.ly/4hSWe6Y
Accommodating Neurodiverse Attendees at Events
The Overland Park Convention Center has opened a dedicated room to help serve the one in six event attendees with sensory-processing issues. Here's how you can accommodate this often-overlooked group ...
bit.ly
February 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Your #CDO and #DEI teams aren’t the only leaders who need to get crystal clear on why #diversity, #equity, and #inclusion matters. You do, too. Yes, CFOs - even you! To learn more and get help (it’s trickier than it sounds), join my free workshop next Tuesday - info in my link in bio.
January 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Many leaders take for granted that #DEI matters to them and their organizations, and don’t develop a clear, concise, and compelling explanation of why. My DEWhy is powerful, and it fits on a Post-It. Join my free workshop next week if you want to create your own DEWhy.
January 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM