Seeing What We Carry
Six Films · Twelve Weeks · Virtual Cohort · 1:1 Coaching · Growth Edge Interview
Leadership is an art of seeing. And it begins where certainty ends...
The most consequential work of leadership often happens in the territory no training program prepared you for — the moments when you're asked to hold unwanted loss and grief, navigate complexity and ambiguity, while staying human inside systems designed to make that difficult.
Great films can show us a path forward. They create the conditions to see what we normally defend against — and to do it alongside others who carry similar weight. But this is not a film club. It's a structured developmental experience that uses the art of cinema as a lens for the inner work of leadership. It can help develop more self-awareness, while seeing the larger systems we operate in, and how those influence — consciously or not — our authority, identity, and role.
Drawing on adult developmental theory, systems psychodynamics, grief literacy, terror management theory, existisitential philosophy, and the adaptive leadership tradition, each session pairs a carefully chosen film with guided reflection, live dialogue, and exercises designed to shift not just what you think, but how you see. The program includes a developmental Growth Edge Interview and 1:1 coaching.
Six films. Six thresholds. One space for senior leaders to see what they've been trained to hide, ignore, or look past. A chance to be curious, and find the courage to stay with what they find.
THE ARC
Gattaca
THE SYSTEM'S STORY VS. YOUR OWN
Whose definition of your role, identity, and potential are you living inside — and what would it cost to reject it?
ACT 1
The Truman Show
THE CONSTRUCTED WORLD VIEW
Whose world have you been living inside, without even knowing it? And what happens when you begin to see the walls?
ACT 2
The Game
THE DISMANTLING CONTAINER
What happens when our power, authority, and defenses against uncertainty dissolve? Can we learn or grow to develop new perspectives and capacity?
Arrival
CHOOSING TO CONTINUE
What if uncertainty disappeared and you could see the personal losses you or others faced ahead? Would you remain engaged? How would you use your authority? Would you still take on leadership roles?
Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind
CHOOSING TO LET GO
How might we learn from — and lead through — loss and the pains of change, rather than just defending against them? Is it better to ignore or forget them? Or to see them and remember?
Lost in Translation
THE HOLDING ENVIRONMENT
When our environment is uncertain and complex, can we lean in and let go further to explore our own identity, role, values, and purpose with curiosity? Can we meet our world with courage to consider: “Who are you becoming?”
ACT 3
ACT 4
ACT 5
ACT 6
THE EXPERIENCE
Watch
Every two weeks, you will watch a film, on your own time, with a guided viewing framework that sharpens your awareness and attention to see clearly with new perspectives.
Reflect
Written prompts invite you to explore what’s happening beneath the surface of the film — within and between the characters or groups — to encourage more insight and understand of your own identity, role, and leadership challenges. Individual coaching is available to deepen your learning.
Gather
A live session brings the cohort together for organized dialogue. This is not film analysis, but rather deepens the reflection and learning individual and as a group — inviting different perspectives about how we see, hold, and exercise leadership.
Integrate
Optional, additional one-on-one coaching check-ins are available to help you connect what's emerging to the live challenges you're navigating right now.
Return
One month after the final session, the cohort is invited to reconvene to see what has settled, what has shifted, and what remains.
THE AUDIENCE
This experience is designed for senior leaders, executives, organizational consultants, and executive coaches who sense that the most important dimension of their leadership or work lies beyond technique. They sense something deeper.. They are curious about developing their capacity to see clearly, hold complexity, and remain present when everything invites avoidance or another approach.
You do not need to be an expert in movies. You do need to be willing to be moved. To be curious. And let what moves you become material for your own growth.
Small cohorts (e.g. 8 - 12 participants), intentionally limited to protect the depth of the work.
THE DIRECTOR
This course is designed and directed by Brian Sano, an executive and leadership coach, organizational consultant, and leadership development facilitator working with leaders who want to go deeper — into how they see, how they lead, and what they're willing to face.
His work draws on adaptive leadership and participant-centered learning, adult development theory, systems psychodynamics and group relations, grief literacy, human-centered design, eastern and existential philosophy, and Miksang contemplative photography, organized under one idea: leadership is an art of seeing.
This work is also based on Brian’s own experience studying and exercising leadership for 20 years in U.S. federal government — SEC, DOJ, Treasury, State, CIGIE, PRAC — including the 2009 Bear Stearns criminal prosecution and leading in high-stakes environments and within temporary organizations, as well as in private practice representing international financial institutions.
He is a certified coach (PCC, CPCC), holds a J.D. (barred in NY and DC), and works with clients in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and internationally.
YOUR INVESTMENT
The course will happen online, including six, 90-minute group sessions over twelve weeks, with guided discussion and reflection. A Growth Edge Interview and individual coaching is included.
Pilot Cohort: January — April 2027; online discussions: Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 18, March 4, March 18, April 1, April 29, (12 pm — 1:30 pm ET)
Maximum number of participants: 12*
Investment: $2,750 (VAT included); participants will be expected to buy or rent the movies to be watched with their own expenses.
*The course will be confirmed once we have enough participants for a meaningful learning experience.
APPLY FOR THE PILOT COHORT
Please provide the following information to submit your interest for this upcoming cohort. Once the course and your application are confirmed, you’ll receive a payment link and an invitation to book your coaching sessions.