What we do

Please Elaborate is a conflict resolution and communication agency. We conduct workshops (in person or virtually) for workplaces, religious communities and universities, to help people with varying politics, religions and cultures communicate productively, and see the value in other perspectives.

We’ve worked with Google, HubSpot, Vanderbilt University, Oregon public schools, Matter Communications and more!

With over 13 years of experience in conflict management and communications, we help your community navigate the hardest conversations with ease.

Our Story

Savannah Carreno founded Please Elaborate in 2022 after the Covid pandemic.
She saw that the world’s communication skills had atrophied after 2 years in quarantine. No one knew how to talk to each other respectfully or hold varying viewpoints without losing their temper. Society had become accustomed to living in echo chambers, their own beliefs and ideas affirmed through environments they could control. No one needed to engage with other viewpoints at work, restaurants or while running errands. The natural opportunities to collide with varying perspectives had vanished during social distancing. Covid along with significant political events created a crucible for single-mindedness to flourish and communication skills to evaporate. Please Elaborate was formed as a solution to the communication crisis post-pandemic.
Since then, PE has expanded beyond communication and public speaking, into workforce development and leadership development, helping teams create stronger communicators, effective yet empathetic leaders, and kinder humans.

Our Founder

Savannah Carreno has worked in communications for over 13 years, specializing in religious and political extremism. She has a B.A in international humanitarian affairs and Masters in divinity (M.div) with a focus on ancient languages in Christian religion. She’s worked on the communication team for Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers as well as World Vision, Operation Smile, and currently works in violence prevention and foster care support in Portland, Oregon. Her goal is to equip people of all ages with the skills to have productive conversations with those that think differently than themselves. Because we are less likely to abandon or harm those we understand and have empathy for. Communication skills are key to decreasing violence and divisive behavior within communities.

About our Workshops

Conflict Resolution - How to have hard conversations when everything is hard to talk about. This workshop teaches your group how to navigate arguments, speak with clarity and kindness and how to hold multiple perspectives without compromising your beliefs. We also conduct exercises to help your group become comfortable changing their minds and admitting when they don’t know something or when they’re wrong.

Advocating for Women in the Workplace - In this workshop we examine the 2026 landscape for working women, looking at how politics and economics influence women’s ability to thrive in the workforce. We identify signs a workplace is not advocating for women, we list specific action items everyone can do to advocate for women and action items MEN can do to advocate for women (without women having to ask). We also look at the infrastructure needed on a statewide and federal level to create truly egalitarian landscapes in the workforce, and how we can make it happen!

Public Speaking 101 - The workshop that started it all! In our most popular workshop we teach participants how to communicate with confidence. Whether it’s a work presentation, religious ceremony, toast or leadership communication to team members, we got you covered. We look at public speaking pitfalls (pacing, rambling, what to do with your hands!) how to combat nerves, how to write an outline you’ll remember without constantly looking at your notes, how to retain attention from your audience and how to sound authoritative in your field.

Debate Team - Turn dialogue training into a group experience! Debate Team is a workshop in the form of play. In this workshop your group is divided into two “sides.” The two sides debate increasingly challenging topics. Debate Team is 5 rounds, beginning with low-stakes topics around entertainment and culture to more divisive topics around politics and social morale. Groups will be given 10 minutes to come up with points to defend their assigned stance for each round. This workshop allows participants to “try on” other perspectives and practice exploring worldviews that contradict their own, in a low-stakes low-pressure environment. Participants will learn to hold multiple perspectives, consider other experiences and understand where conflicting views stem from. In the end, participants should have increased skills in dialogue, dictation and navigating conflict. All while having a good laugh and a good time!

Our workshops are roughly 2 hours long (in person or virtual) and include a presentation, exercise and Q&A.

Pricing

Each workshop costs $50 per person for the first 20 attendees. And $25 for each additional attendee. For groups over 100, flat rate fee of $2500 ($500+ savings)