About Us
Most people think heroism is rare. That it belongs to the brave few - the ones in the spotlight, the uniform, the storybook.
But we know better.
Heroism is not a superpower.
It’s a choice. A mindset. A skill.
It’s in the kid who speaks up against bullying.
The colleague who challenges bias.
The stranger who steps in, even when it’s awkward, risky, or uncomfortable.
The problem?
Most people are never taught how to act heroically.
They’re taught to fit in. Stay quiet. Follow the crowd.
And when the moment comes - the moment that matters - they freeze.
That’s why we exist.
At the Heroic Imagination Project, we equip ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
We blend the science of psychology with the power of story to create transformational experiences.
Our workshops, trainings, and tools help people understand the forces that shape behavior and how to rise above them with courage, empathy, and integrity.
We’ve worked with students, educators, businesses, communities, psychologists, and law enforcement.
And in every group, we see the same thing.
Once people realize what’s holding them back, they stop waiting.
They start choosing.
They become the kind of people others look up to.
Not because they’re special, but because they showed up when it counted.
This is not a program. It’s a movement.
We’re not here to build followers - we’re here to build leaders.
People who step forward when it’s easier to step back.
And we’re inviting you to join us.
Not someday.
Now.
Because the world needs you.
Not perfect. Not fearless. Just ready.
Ready to learn. Ready to lead.
Ready to matter.
Our Story
The Heroic Imagination Project began with a simple, powerful idea: ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things. Founded by psychologist Dr. Philip Zimbardo, HIP was created to flip the script on passivity. Instead of studying why people don’t act, we teach them how to step up.
Since 2010, HIP has grown from a research-based initiative into a global movement. We’ve trained thousands of people - students, teachers, corporate leaders, and community organisers - to understand how the human mind works in high-stakes moments. More importantly, they’ve learned how to override the psychological traps that stop us from helping when it matters most.
Our story isn’t just about heroism in the headlines. It’s about the everyday courage to speak up in meetings, to stand up for someone being mistreated, or to make the hard right choice over the easy wrong. Whether it’s addressing bullying in schools or bystander apathy in public spaces, our training empowers people to turn intention into action.
We’re building a world where heroism is not rare, but practiced.
The Team
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Ari Kohen
PRESIDENT
Professor of Political Science, Schlesinger Professor of Social Justice, and Director of the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies. He has published two academic books and several journal articles on the topic of heroic behavior.
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Brian Riches
VICE PRESIDENT
Currently an active researcher in heroism science, Brian has a background in developmental and positive psychology. Similar to the work we do at HIP Brian worked with a team of researchers to create, and evaluate an online toolkit to help young people foster purpose in life. Brian is also engaged in developing and testing the social science and evaluation protocols that HIP uses to measure the efficacy of our programs.
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Thomas Sartor
SECRETARY
Grew up working for his family’s paving company and segued into managing Hero Round Table conferences around the world. As an executive board member for The Heroic Imagination Project, Thomas contributes his profound focus on empathy to HIP’s event team, trainings, and international relationship building.
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Ellie Jacques
TREASURER
Ellie Jacques is an educator and organizational development practitioner. She has worked with HIP on and off since 2014 and is an experienced career and workforce development advisor. Ellie joined the HIP board in 2023 to support education that de-emphasizes economic roles and focuses instead on the embodied, everyday hero roles that people can play in their communities.
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Matt Langdon
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With twenty years of teaching heroism around the world and Magination Press’ “The Hero Handbook”, Matt leads program development and delivery, communications, and the blog.
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Allison Evans
Award-winning Psychology Professor at California State University, Bakersfield, who also facilitates online/hybrid curriculum design training. HIP's programs benefit from Allison's expertise in psychology and elearning.
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Mariana Reis Barbosa
Mariana is a Portuguese researcher and youth advocate committed to social innovation. With experience in public policy and European civic engagement, she supports initiatives that inspire courageous action and inclusive leadership across communities.
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Sven Fritze
Sven Fritze is a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, and founder of Helden e.V., an award-winning educational initiative for courage and resilience. Together with his team, he designs and leads nationwide programs that empower over 30,000 young people annually to navigate the challenges of our time with strength and compassion.
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Vanja Pesic
Passionate about people and mental health resilience-building, Vanja is obtaining her master’s degree in global social work at Boston College. With a macro-oriented lens, Vanja focuses on HIP’s goals and long-term impact.
