Introducing Kirsten Olshan: Wellness champion and Head Learning Facilitator

 

Introducing Kirsten Olshan: Wellness champion and Head Learning Facilitator for Executive Education courses Healthcare Leadership and Employee Wellness and Stress Management

Kirsten’s compassionate and personable approach distinguishes her Exec Ed teaching. Her courses are among the handful in Exec Ed that involve live sessions, which she considers a valuable place to slow down, connect, and learn what motivates her students. She emphasizes that forming personal connections with your students, synchronously or asynchronously, is essential in online education and unearthing what truly motivates students to learn. For Kirsten, understanding her students isn't just a pedagogical strategy—it's a pathway to their growth.

Kirsten’s favorite aspect of teaching her Stanford Exec Ed online courses is the opportunity to meet learners from all over the world. She adds, “online teaching goes beyond geographical boundaries, allowing me to reach students worldwide on these important [wellness] topics.”

Outside of her courses, Kirsten utilizes her own wellness practices. Her biggest piece of advice is to identify energy patterns: Keep track of your energy levels throughout the day to identify when you're most productive and need to re-energize. In doing this, you can optimize productivity while honoring the need for rest—a philosophy she practices and shares with her students and colleagues.

Kirsten has been part of the Stanford community since 2014 in a variety of roles (including 2U/Stanford Exec Ed programs since 2020), but her life in California began years before when she was drawn to Big Sur - literally! After wrapping up a theater tour, Kirsten drove across the country with friends on a whim. She was awed by the sight of the Pacific Ocean while cruising down the road in the final hours of daylight, and decided then and there that California would be her new home. 

Now that she’s living and working in Carmel, CA, Kirsten champions online teaching by tying her wellness work to her daily teaching practices. She even shares her insights with us at 2U/edX! In November 2023, she presented at the 2U Educators Conference, and recently shared her insights during a 2U Educator Enrichment Seminar. Check out Kirsten's Gratitude to Thriving seminar here.