I’m excited to share that I’ll be presenting at the 2026 Creativity Expert Exchange (CEE), a two-day virtual conference hosted by the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State University.
For more than two decades, CEE has brought together professionals, educators, and practitioners who are passionate about creativity, innovation, and creative problem solving. What began as a way for alumni of the creativity program to stay connected has grown into an international gathering of people exploring how creative thinking can shape leadership, learning, and real-world problem solving.
And the best part?
Admission is completely free.
This year’s conference takes place March 19–20, 2026 and features keynote speakers, more than two dozen interactive sessions, and a global community of participants interested in the future of creativity.
You can explore the full program and register here:
www.creativityexpertexchange.com
What to Expect at CEE 2026
The conference is designed to spark new thinking and meaningful conversations across disciplines. Sessions explore topics like:
- Creative leadership
- Innovation and AI
- Creative problem solving (CPS)
- Collaboration and team dynamics
- Creativity in education, healthcare, and organizations
The event includes two keynote speakers and more than two dozen concurrent sessions over the two days.
Keynote Speakers
- Professor James Kaufman — The Creativity Advantage
- Professor David Yates & Team — AI-Enhanced Creative Problem-Solving Tools for Higher Education & the Workforce
Participants can choose from sessions throughout the event covering topics like creativity research, AI and innovation, creative leadership, and practical applications of creative thinking in many fields.
My Session
I’ll be presenting during Day Two – March 20 in the 1:15 PM Concurrent Session Block.
Rebellion Against Perfection: Why Deferring Judgment Is a Creative Necessity
This session explores one of the most powerful—but often overlooked—principles of creative problem solving: deferring judgment.
In many environments, ideas are evaluated almost immediately. While this instinct is understandable, it can unintentionally limit creativity and prevent teams from exploring possibilities that could lead to breakthrough solutions.
In this session, we’ll explore:
- Why perfectionism often blocks creative thinking
- The role of deferring judgment in creative problem solving
- How individuals and teams can create space for better ideas to emerge
- Practical ways to apply this principle in real-world work and leadership
The session is designed to be both reflective and practical, helping participants think differently about how ideas develop—and how to create environments where creativity can thrive.
Join the Conversation
Because CEE is fully virtual, anyone can attend from anywhere.
📅 March 19–20, 2026
💻 Virtual Conference
🎟 Free to attend
You can view the full program and register here:
www.creativityexpertexchange.com
CEE has become a beloved tradition in the creativity community, and this year’s lineup of speakers and sessions looks especially inspiring.
If you decide to attend, I hope you’ll join my session—and I’d love to hear which conversations or ideas resonate most with you.
— Jenn
MADE consulting 