Jazz of Leadership
CultureSync Senior Partner and USC Business School Professor Ken Perlman & USC Music School Professor Dr. Ron McCurdy
have teamed up to bring you new leadership and culture tools as learned through studying jazz. This is an engaging, lively, entertaining workshop that leaves a lasting impact on your team. Bring this 3-4 hour session to your team retreat, board retreat, on site, or off site meeting. We also offer this as a 60-90 minute keynote address for conferences.
What is Jazz of Leadership?
The Jazz of Leadership Experience is a dynamic, multidisciplinary workshop that blends leadership development, team dynamics, and high performance set to the rhythm of a live jazz band. Designed for teams navigating change and seeking deeper collaboration, this immersive experience shows how leadership shapes team culture and results. Hosted by Ken Perlman (USC Marshall School of Business) and Dr. Ron McCurdy (USC Thornton School of Music), participants hear and feel the difference between teams that merely follow orders and those that elevate each other to collective greatness. No musical experience is needed, just a willingness to engage. Through interactive dialogue and real-time jazz performance, attendees explore what effective leadership sounds like, how it shows up in their workplace, and where to focus to help their teams thrive. It’s a bold, inspiring journey into the essential elements of high-performing teams: shared goals, capable talent, collaborative culture, feedback loops, and empowered leadership.
"...Having the tools to diagnose & enhance the level of engagement has been an ace that we consistently lean on. The band was fantastic & the lessons stuck. Several team members describe it as their favorite team development session of all time. I would highly recommend this program and I’d love to do it again when the time is right."
Sean Benfield, VP Finance | Dexcom
"The Jazz of Leadership session showed how the beauty of deep listening, selflessness and collaboration can transform outcomes while also creating a highly engaging experience, for both the audience and team members. "
Rachel Laurs, System Vice President & Chief of Staff | City of Hope
"Our leadership team found immense value in the Jazz-Inspired Leadership session with Ken, Ron, and the band. The originality of their approach engaged the team immediately and made it a truly memorable experience, with relevant concepts that we continue to reference. Ron and Ken created a fun and safe environment to discuss challenges in our work and provided practical approaches and a lexicon the team uses to this day."
Jay Kantor, Executive Director of Talent Development & Inclusion | MediaArts Lab
"The Jazz of Leadership session led by Dr. Ron McCurdy and Ken Perlman was truly a one-of-a-kind experience for our physicians. This innovative approach, blending live jazz music with leadership principles, was a creative and powerful way to explore the dynamics of leadership, teamwork, and individuality. The live band brought the metaphor of jazz to life, highlighting the importance of harmony, improvisation, and respecting different styles—essential concepts for effective leadership. What made this session even more impactful was how Dr. McCurdy and Professor Perlman customized it to the unique needs of our physician group... The lasting impact was evident as our physicians continued to discuss the session throughout the weekend, sharing insights and reflecting on how they could apply the principles to their leadership styles and team interactions. This was more than just a learning session; it was an experience that fostered personal growth and a stronger sense of camaraderie within our teams... I highly recommend this session to any group looking to explore leadership in a fresh, dynamic way."
Jennie Walker, Regional Senior Consultant, Physician Education | Kaiser Permanente
