Visionary artist Janet Echelman joins Alissa Hsu Lynch to pull back the curtain on her creative journey - one that’s anything but conventional. Oprah ranked her work #1 on her list of 50 Things That Make You Say Wow, and it’s easy to see why: Janet’s monumental, wind-borne sculptures transform skylines across continents, inviting viewers into immersive, contemplative experiences. In this episode, Janet shares the story behind her new book, Radical Softness, and the decades of experimentation, setbacks, and discovery that shaped her practice.

From learning traditional craft in Bali and India, to designing custom software and collaborating with engineers who helped build the world’s tallest building, Janet’s career is rooted in curiosity, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and finding opportunity in the unexpected. She describes how “temporary” installations become her playground for risk-taking, while permanent works demand precision, partnership, and deep planning. Janet also opens up about honoring her late husband’s legacy, why she’s not afraid of AI, and how using “self as instrument” keeps her art - and leadership - deeply human.

💡Key Takeaways:

Don’t start with compromise — give your imagination room to dream big before letting the critical brain step in.

Collaboration across disciplines — from engineers to dancers — is what makes innovation scalable and alive.

Using “self as instrument” keeps creativity human: intuition, emotion, and lived experience guide what no AI can replace.

______________________________________________

Connect with Janet:

Website: echelman.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetechelman/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/janet-echelman-inc./ 

______________________________________________

✅ Sign up for the newsletter: 

https://theleadershipdance.substack.com/s/the-leadership-dance

👉Listen, share and follow: https://linktr.ee/theleadershipdance