About Susan
Susan Olesek is an unapologetic idealist, a Human Potentialist in passionate pursuit of what is possible for people. Susan brings her conviction that there is something inherently “good” in people to anyone in her presence. During her 15 years of developing self-awareness training for Fortune 500 executives, corporate teams, schools, and those experiencing incarceration, she became known for her compassionate approach to the Enneagram. In 2012, she founded Enneagram Prison Project (EPP), a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the self-awareness education of people who are incarcerated, now scaling around the globe.
With a clear vision for how the Enneagram could be taught in every jail and prison in the world, Susan Olesek founded Enneagram Prison Project (EPP) in 2012. EPP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to help people understand why we do what we do, using the Enneagram to inspire transformation - on both sides of the bars - through self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-compassion. We do the work together. Since then, EPP has established programming in correctional facilities around the world, including in the following U.S. states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Washington; as well as globally in France, England and Wales, and Canada.
Inspired by EPP’s compassionate approach, in 2021 Susan founded The Human Potentialists as a Benefit Corporation with a vision to further democratize the Enneagram. THP is galvanizing a collective of Enneagram practitioners and EPP Ambassadors who translate this work through creative and customizable offerings to reach all people, everywhere. Whether it is through 1:1 or group Enneagram coaching, public courses, or team based workshops, THP is introducing the Enneagram as a powerful and practical tool to support personal and professional growth; foster deeper relationships with self, other, and the planet; and propel each of us toward our highest potential.
This 2 hour gathering will feature an introduction to EPP and THP’s compassionate approach; opportunities to practice ‘doing the work’ in small breakout groups; and powerful conversations with EPP Ambassadors who are exemplars of personal transformation. Guided by Susan Olesek, participants will explore what’s right about all of us, and the potential that is unleashed when we are able to bring awareness, compassion, and understanding to the patterned ways in which we get stuck in personality.
EPP Ambassador Bio: TROY PHILLIPS
Troy Phillips is an EPP Ambassador and consultant for The Human Potentialists. He was introduced to the Enneagram through his work with the Enneagram Prison Project, while serving a three-strikes to life sentence at San Quentin. Troy says, "Mentally, I was…locked in a box, living in a cage in my mind. I didn’t even know… I needed to unlock that door." Troy embraced The Work of self-understanding, where his Enneagram Type Six gifts for tenacity and truth-telling shine through. He’s learned that while he will always seek safety and security, he can address any issue or circumstance by paying attention to his thoughts and feelings and expressing them safely. In his own words, Troy says, “I’ve learned to respond and not react when triggered.” Today, he is a co-pilot of EPP’s compassionate curriculum in custody, virtually, and the “free” world. He regularly returns to prison as a co-facilitator, bringing hope and healing to those incarcerated. He is the proof that doing The Work works. In 2023, he co-presented EPP’s curriculum to the California Board of Parole Hearings. Troy knows that “I don’t have to live in a cage anymore. I choose to reach out, and EPP has helped me with that." He is a father and a grandfather, living in Bakersfield, California, positively impacting his family, his EPP family, and the world.
EPP Ambassador Bio: DERRICK GIBSON
“EPP, the classes, the work, it touches all parts of my life. All my interactions with everyone, dealing with myself, I have my own rough days, I just don’t stay trapped in it like I used to. Feelings of hopelessness, I don't get stuck. Learning about myself and my own worth and being confident in that pulls me out of any depression or self pity that tries to creep in.”
Derrick Gibson is an EPP Ambassador, loyal friend, and father who knows what it means to truly see another and meet them exactly where they are with compassion and love. He understands the power of allowing others to experience what they are experiencing and be an empathetic witness to them in the process. He credits the Enneagram and EPP’s course with helping him to embrace his own self-worth, and stay connected to the truth that everyone belongs when we can fully belong to ourselves. After 32 years of incarceration, Derrick was released in 2023 and has been the embodiment of the work of personal growth and development. As an Enneagram Type 9, he brings presence and right action to each mindful step he takes. Since his release he has grown his leadership skills and advanced from employee to Assistant Manager at U-Haul in just over six months. Derrick reflects on how today he is able to be a light not only for himself, but also for others. Sharing his lived experience, he is able to be a profound source of hope for others. In his spare time, he is practicing saying yes to new experiences, including major league baseball games.
EPP Ambassador Bio: Patrick Demery
“I am no longer the man who closes himself off out of fear. I have made friends all over the world and speak to them on a regular basis. I have healed relationships with family and friends from my past. I have become a member of this beautiful family that we call the human race, and I have promised that I will never do intentional harm to any of them again. Freedom has not come without its challenges, nor do I expect not to encounter more in the future, but I do know that what I have learned through EPP has prepared me to handle them with the grace that I have been shown.”
Patrick Demery is an EPP Ambassador, reflector of light, and an exemplar of what personal transformation and redemption look like. His origin story with EPP began in 2022 when he enrolled in the project’s in-custody course at what is now known as San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Despite achieving great success in both professional and academic endeavors on the inside, Patrick was twice denied parole prior to stepping into the EPP classroom. With the support of the Enneagram and EPP’s community, Patrick took up the invitation to bring compassion and understanding to healing the trauma and adversity of his childhood. What he discovered on the other side was an extraordinary capacity to connect with his own magnanimous heart, which was capable of forgiving not only himself, but also those who were the cause of so much harm in his life. As an Enneagram Type 8, Patrick is a natural leader who inspires others with the tenderness of his heart. When he isn’t growing himself in community with EPP, you’ll find him writing, enjoying a meal with friends, or taking in the beauty and vastness of the natural world.