Friday, August 14th
Open Studio: A strategy offsite for creative leaders
Designed for folks building ambitious things.
A full day for founders, strategists, creatives, and operators to step away from the constant pace of work and reconnect with bigger thinking.
Hosted by Erika Velazquez Alpern in Brooklyn, Open Studio is part strategic offsite, part creative reset, part collaborative working session.
Together, we’ll explore what it means to create, lead, and build in 2026 through conversation, reflection, strategy, and making.
Limited to 12 attendees to ensure depth of conversation and connection.
Who is this for?
A curated collective of experienced builders and creative leaders navigating their next chapter of growth.
This includes:
Early-stage founders with initial traction and revenue
Independent creatives, consultants, and strategists with 10+ years of experience
CMOs, creative directors, and marketing leaders shaping forward-thinking brands
Operators and cultural builders working outside traditional structures
The attendee group is intentionally curated to create a room of thoughtful peers, generous conversation, and high-context collaboration.
The Experience: Friday, August 14th -
Ease into the day with breakfast, coffee, conversation, and optional reflection prompts.
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Facilitated by strategist and Dance Movement Therapist Eliza Fish, this opening session is designed to help attendees transition out of the pace of everyday work and fully arrive into the space.
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A collaborative discussion exploring creativity, ambition, technology, burnout, authorship, and building meaningful work in a rapidly shifting landscape.
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Work through ideas, challenges, and projects alongside fellow attendees through guided small-group sessions.
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A shared lunch designed for deeper conversation and connection.
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Bring a challenge, roadblock, or strategic question to the table for facilitated group problem solving and feedback.
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A tactile creative session, let by Elana Noy, the artist behind Malka Dina.
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A guided strategic reflection session focused on where you’re headed next, what you want to build toward, and what may need to shift to get there.
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Optional 1:1 strategy sessions with Erika, quiet working time, or continued conversation with the group.
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An intimate family-style dinner to end the day together.
What to expect
The day blends:
Strategic conversations
Collaborative working sessions
Facilitated reflection
Creative exercises
Space for connection
Hands-on making
Practical problem solving
You’ll leave with:
Clearer thinking around your next season of work
New collaborators and peers
Fresh creative energy
Dedicated time to think about your business and ideas
Actionable insights from collective strategy sessions
About Erika
Erika Velazquez Alpern is a fractional CMO, strategist, and the founder of Tactile, a Brooklyn-based studio and community for forward-thinking brands and builders.
Over the past 15 years, she has led marketing, brand, and audience growth for companies across media, technology, and consumer brands, helping founder-led businesses navigate moments of growth, reinvention, and expansion. Prior to launching Tactile, Erika held leadership roles at Morning Brew, New Stand, and The New Republic. Her recent client work includes Dieux, Eddie AI, FACE Stockholm, The Boston Globe, and Modernist Financial.
Her approach blends integrated marketing strategy with editorial thinking, community-building, and audience-first storytelling, helping brands grow with intention while creating meaningful connection.
Open Studio is an extension of the kind of space Erika has long wanted more of: thoughtful rooms where ambitious people can step away from constant output, think expansively, and reconnect with creativity, strategy, and community.
The fee to attend includes a full day of strategy, inspiration, 1:1 strategy sessions, and meals. All attendees will also receive a 60 minute 1:1 strategy session with Erika post-event.