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Twila Thompson Memorial Page
January 2, 1954 – January 4, 2022
With great sadness, we share the news of the death of our friend and colleague, Twila Thompson. Twila bravely battled glioblastoma for the last eight months. Twila was tenacious, optimistic, and daring throughout her illness as she was in her life.
Twila was born in Indiana and grew up in Iowa. An exceptional student, she attended Grinnell College to study theater. Upon graduation with high honors, she and a fellow student toured a piece of feminist theater entitled Sirens that they wrote, produced, and performed, ultimately landing in New York City.
As a young actor, Twila came to The Actors Institute to participate in acting classes and the signature program, The Mastery. Her quick connection to the work made her an eager student and volunteer. Soon, Twila was training to facilitate the same programs that drew her into the organization. Her skill and intuition in leading group experiences and personal coaching soon cultivated a loyal following of students.
As The Actors Institute evolved to work more consistently in the corporate world, Twila joined Allen Schoer and Gifford Booth as partners in The TAI Group. Her capability and humanity, along with her pioneering spirit, were evidenced in innovative program design, acuity with logistics, and sensitivity to her client's particular needs.
Often a champion of the oppressed and disadvantaged, Twila dedicated herself to coaching the AIDS Mastery for Northern Lights and developing a course called Sources. This intense experiential program challenged people to reframe personal injury and trauma as a source of creativity and supported them in the unfettered expression of their unique voice and perspective through poetry, prose, music, and sculpture.
As the demand for TAI's work continued to grow, Twila recruited and trained coaches. Beginning in the late 1990s and continuing throughout her career, Twila trained four cohorts of coaches in the US and two cohort groups in Europe. The majority of these coaches continue to work with and hold leadership roles in TAI today.
In 1996, Twila partnered with principal Mindy Chermak to create the middle school and high school theatre and musical theater curriculum for the Professional Performing Arts School. PPAS, as it is known locally, is a vibrant public school in New York City dedicated to students who are pursuing professional work in the arts and those who are studying the arts as an avocation. Over her 14 years, Twila directed mainstage productions and created a staff of artist-teachers with diverse professional experience that included acting, voice, speech, mime, music, and directing.
Twila grew to be an exceptionally successful salesperson, resulting from the deep relationships she cultivated with her clients. In 2013, Twila relocated to London to develop international business. In her time, Twila deepened TAI's partnerships with clients such as the Boston Consulting Group, IMD Business School, Maersk, Lego, and Cognizant, opening doors into new industries like pharmaceuticals and technology.
Twila returned to the US as the Director of New Partnerships. Before the pandemic, Twila began training her 5th cohort of US coaches. In 2020, she led a new initiative, Focused Impact Training. The program introduced a select group of former clients, exceptional professionals in their respective fields, to the principles that underscore TAI's work, enabling them to connect our programs and ideology with new markets and geographies.
Twila's intrepid spirit, her intelligence founded in deep curiosity, and her abiding faith in the power of the arts to change worlds, big and small, will never be forgotten by the many whose lives she touched.
If you would like to share a memory or a story about Twila, please scroll to the bottom of this page and add a comment.
Twila was an advocate for and, in recent months, a recipient of the services of God's Love We Deliver. God's Love We Deliver prepares and delivers nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. Their mission is to improve the health and well-being of men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDs, cancer, and other serious illnesses.
A memorial tile will be hung in the offices of God’s Love We Deliver, New York City. Those who wish to contribute to Twila’s Tile and the work of God’s Love may do so at God's Love We Deliver.
Twila was so generous to me with her time, understanding, and kindness…. But, more than that – she was willing to share her vulnerability and personal journey – to help me make sense of mine. I will never forget her strength and compassion.
One of the many gifts of collaborating with the TAI Group was getting to meet and collaborate with Twila. On one of my trips to London, Twila was gracious enough to organize tickets to a Shakespeare Play at London's Globe Theater shortly after I arrived from the US. I learned more in that afternoon from Twila about Shakespeare and the London Theater than I had in my previous life. I am forever thankful that Twila was a part of my life for a brief period. Peace to her family and to all that knew her and collaborated with her.
I was so sad to read of Twila's passing, and my thoughts go out to all her loved ones. Twila was a force of nature working with so many at BCG over the years, helping us all individually and collectively get better. She brought boundless curiosity, intent listening, her very personal brand of warmth and just wonderful ideas to all our conversations over the years. When Twila was in, she was always in 1000%. I have learned so much from observing Twila in action with a room of our leaders. Thank you, we will miss you.
When I think about working with Twila, my memories of the impact she had are clear and profound, but exactly what she did or said is often fuzzy...something that bothered me until I figured out the obvious reason why: Twila's work was always about the audience, not herself. Outside of work, I remember and cherish her personal kindness, her bravery and humour, and her willingness to take risks to make a difference. She made that difference, to many of us, in many ways.
I am so saddened by the news. Twila trained me as a coach at TAI, and was an incredible, tough, smart, insightful teacher and mentor.
Some gems I learned from Twila and I use every day: "It's never the exercise, it's all about the debrief"; "A cynic is a disappointed idealist". And many more.
There were many meaningful moments. One that I particularly remember was in Buenos Aires. Twila took me with her, when I was just a "baby coach", recent graduate of the training (she chose me not because of my skills as a coach, but thanks to me being Argentinean originally and fluent in Spanish).
It was exciting and scary. I got to spend 5 days with Twila and co-lead two consecutive "P&P"s. There was one moment during the workshop with the leadership of a big company, when I wrote a note to Twila with an idea of an exercise to do with a participant, thinking she'd lead the exercise. Twila read it, and without saying anything, signaled to me with her head: "Great, go ahead. do it."
I still remember the feeling of being pushed to grow, while knowing she has my back if anything goes wrong.
Twila may be gone, but she left a strong legacy and much of her lives on through her clients and mentees.
Big hug to Gifford, Allan and all the TAI family.
Abigail
While I had the gift of working with Twila for many years, there is one conversation I will never forget. It was a Monday in winter and I was having a hard time. At one point, Twila looked at me with such empathy and care, with understanding and acceptance. Her graceful presence alone spoke volumes. My heart goes out to Twila’s family.
Twila Thompson. Oh my God.
She and I both grew up in tiny spots in the Midwest - she in Iowa and me on a farm in Wisconsin.
Both of us were young, sheltered and clueless when seemingly eons ago - the early '80s perhaps? - we met as part of a group doing a weekend workshop on West 19th Street in NYC. It was called The Mastery of Acting, led by Allen Schoer.
A motley crew were we when we all assembled on that Friday night. But by Sunday evening, each member of our group had been re-birthed. The creativity in each of us Exploded & Expanded during that weekend workshop - most vividly in Twila. I remember her turn in the "hot spot" in front of the group, dancing a vaguely American Indian dance, laughing and glowing, unleashed.
She found her niche at The Actors Institute and its subsequent permutations.
You touched many lives and made them better, Twila, mine included. Rest well, my friend.
With love from Katherine.
From Grant Freeland
Senior Advisor
BCG
Twila changed the trajectory of my career and life. It is that simple.
Our paths first crossed in 1999. I had just been promoted to Partner and because I was focused on ecommerce I was asked to speak at a CEO event. I was sent to Twila to get in shape -- and she did it brilliantly.
She taught me all the basics of good communication: story-telling, leaving room for the audience to take your ideas relevant to them etc. She made me a far far better speaker and connector. But it was her care, friendliness and overall support that I remember most.
I had the privilege of leveraging her skills many times after that, including just last year. And her training is the basis of how I now teach at Harvard.
I will miss her greatly.
Geez. Twila was instrumental in ultimately honing my philosophy of living. Twila taught many of us to coach. I remember my initial interview with Twila to be a Guinea pig for other coaches. After connecting my work with animals to leadership and energy she said Ok! “We don’t have anyone like you!” Watching her train other coaches and, eventually, me was awe inspiring and a little intimidating. The ease in which she picked up on just the thing to focus on…it seemed unattainable…but in a quiet way she let you know she had faith in you. Unflappable…strong…consistant…Twila was a rock we could count on and she will be sorely missed.
I’m so thankful for having met Twila, an amazing and inspirational leader as part of the TAI coaching sessions. I learned from her to connect (by investigating the audience), to trust (in oneself and your colleagues), and letting the magic happen in conversations. Her feedback and coaching to me and my team has been invaluable in helping me discover the authentic voice of power that lies deep within.
Twila, we will miss you and may you Rest In Peace!
Twila, when I first encountered your strength, sensitivity, insight, wisdom, piercing precision, fierce feminism, unflinching truth and loving artistic embrace, I immediately got your indelible power. I was completely intimidated. You used that power responsibly, respecting others, leading by example, forever connecting and unifying a room of disparate individuals to a common cause of goodness and growth. You created a space that included healthy boundaries, and challenge where everyone in the room was invited to strive for their highest potential and best selves in an atmosphere of respect both for self and others and in a place that was above and beyond safe. And if it was uncomfortable to be in that safe space, the invitation was to look at why and deeply understand that we all deserve to be there—and here. Twila did this all through a penetrating gaze that was perfectly fine and dandy to live and work its magic in the silence and it was relentless and infectious in the best way. When Twila looked upon you with that discerning, creative, laser-focused gaze she somehow got the whole room backing her up in chorus. It was not one of judgement or condemnation, but rather illumination and invitation for change, for shedding what’s not needed, to return to your authentic self. Believe me, you could look away and hope that the powerful gaze had run its course, but when you looked back, there Twila was holding space for you and waiting for you to catch up. Before I entered that magical Twila zone, I had heard of artists doing workshops or working with “masters” and going through a process of “finding your voice.” What Twila did was to give you the gift of being seen and heard and encouraging you to see and hear yourself. Your voice was already there just waiting for you to recognize and acknowledge it and step into your own power. She sure did provide one