This Travel Tuesday explores how executive presence and leadership identity are intentionally designed through storytelling, superhero character development, and costume design. Drawing from two exhibitions at Chicago’s Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry—Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing and Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell— keynote speaker Barbara Rozgonyi shares lessons on visibility, persistence, creative collaboration, and transformation for executives, CMOs, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders navigating professional growth. It reminds us that identity is shaped through experience, intention, and courage—often before we feel ready.
Executive Presence Starts Before You Feel Ready
(And sometimes before you even know the opportunities waiting)
Executive presence is not something you’re born with.
It’s something you design—what you show, what you hide, and what you dare to become.
That idea settled in on a five-degree January morning in Chicago. I drove along Lake Shore Drive, the lake frozen white on one side, the skyline steady on the other. In a rented minivan with my daughter Phoebe, her childhood friend from Glen Ellyn, and my son’s girlfriend, we headed to the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry for Family Day on MLK Day.
We knew it would be busy—holiday crowds plus opening day energy—so we aimed to arrive right at opening.
It was still wonderfully full. Loud. Alive.
And that became part of the lesson.
Executive presence often begins before full clarity arrives. You sense momentum. You prepare. You show up even when the picture isn’t yet complete.
Why Museums Are Leadership Laboratories
The moment we stepped inside, the energy was unmistakable.
People of all ages exploring. Asking questions. Reaching for interactive displays. Curiosity in motion.
As a mother of three, I took my kids to museums for exactly this: spaces to explore, notice, wonder, and evolve together. Some of our best family stories unfolded in the halls of art, science, and history museums. The exhibits were the backdrop. Curiosity did the real work.
That instinct still matters. For leaders, it’s essential.
Organizations stall when curiosity fades. They thrive when it’s protected.
Family Day at Griffin MSI reminded me of that. Even with grown kids, the spark was there. Thanks to MSI for creating spaces where curiosity lives across generations.
Identity Is Never Built Alone
At a crafting station, an MSI team member smiled and said, “Welcome to Family Day.”
Guests created postcards that MSI projected on screens throughout the museum before mailing them out. We didn’t make one, but we paused to watch the artwork appear—individual expression becoming part of a shared story.
That detail mattered.
Professional identity forms the same way: through interaction, reflection, and collaboration. We become who we are in conversation with what inspires us and with the people around us.
Spider-Man: Trying on Identity Before You’re Ready
There’s no one I’d rather share exhibits like this with than my daughter, Phoebe.
She’s a lifelong Marvel fan, a museum nerd, and a gifted cosplayer who has embodied everyone from Doc Ock to pro wrestlers. Years ago, after riding the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Studios three times in a row, we posed with Spider-Man himself. That photo still makes me smile.
So when we entered Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing, we leaned in fully. Every photo opportunity. No hesitation.
(Unintentionally, I wore a red sweater. Subtle cosplay: achieved.)
The Origin Story Behind the Origin Story
What struck me most wasn’t nostalgia. It was Spider-Man’s early struggle.
The character didn’t succeed immediately. The concept faltered. Publishers hesitated. But Stan Lee kept going.
That persistence turned a risky idea into a cultural force.
“If you have an idea that you genuinely think is good, don’t let some idiot talk you out of it.” — Stan Lee
That’s creative wisdom. It’s also leadership strategy.
Watching my daughter try on characters through cosplay has shown me this again and again: identity often begins as exploration before it becomes powerful presence.
What You’ll Experience: Spider-Man Exhibition
Open May 22, 2025 – February 8, 2026
- Rare comic books including Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man’s first appearance)
- Props and costumes from Spider-Man films
- Life-size statues of Miles Morales, Ghost-Spider, and Spider-Man
- Interactive installations and hands-on activities
- Drawing tutorials exploring Spider-Man’s evolution
- The complete arc from comics to movies, TV, and video games
Pro tip: Bring your phone fully charged. These moments become part of your story.
Intermission: Stan’s Donuts and an Unexpected Yes
Every museum day needs a pause. We stopped at Stan’s Donuts—perfect name for a morning immersed in Stan Lee’s legacy.
I tried mushroom coffee for the first time.
Verdict: unexpectedly delicious.
Growth mindset. With caffeine.
The Question That Connected Everything
As the day unfolded, one question kept returning:
Do costumes make the character? Or does the character make the costume?
It became the bridge between superhero development, costume design, and executive presence.
Paul Tazewell: Where Creative Vision Becomes Identity
This exhibition was why we came. We couldn’t wait to see the costumes, but we didn’t expect such an immersive experience.
Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell opened that day. Walking in felt like stepping into the mind of someone who sees identity as craft.
The Experience: Immersive by Design
Small groups enter together. You start with Janelle Monáe’s 2025 Met Gala costume: a coat and gown with a clock monocle accessory. Stunning. Symbolic. Meticulous.
Then a short film.
Doors open to immersion: video-wrapped walls, glowing floor, Paul Tazewell’s voice guiding you. Artwork by his mother, Barbara Tazewell, honors lineage and collaboration.
That detail stopped me. Creative identity isn’t just what we design—it’s also what we inherit, what we’re taught, what shapes us before we even know we’re being shaped.
Paul Tazewell’s work carries his mother’s artistic influence forward. That’s not just biography. That’s a lesson in how identity forms across generations, through mentorship, through what we absorb from those who saw possibility in us first.
Costumes from Harriet, Hamilton, West Side Story, and Wicked follow.
The Costumes That Held the Story
Having seen Hamilton twice—once with Phoebe—I stood transfixed before King George III’s costume: historically accurate, over-the-top, perfectly absurd.
LED-lit gowns shimmered with technology and artistry.
But the Wicked costumes were the showstopper.
As a former Glinda in children’s theater, seeing her pink bubble dress felt like greeting an old friend who went on to do extraordinary things. Elphaba’s dress carried weight—you could feel her transformation in the fabric.
Costumes from West Side Story—including Anita’s iconic yellow dress—reminded me how color communicates character, emotion, and culture without a single word.
Then, the Line That Reframed Everything
As you exit, the words appear on the wall:
“To design costume is to design identity: what we show, what we hide, and what we dare to become.”
— Paul Tazewell
That line stayed with me.
Because it’s not just about theater. It’s about leadership. Visibility. Becoming.
And then, his closing words felt like a manifesto:
“As you leave this exhibition, I hope you are reminded that every one of us is a storyteller. Costumes are the medium I use, but your story might be shaped through art, movement, sound, science, or the small acts of imagination you bring into the world each day.
What you’ve experienced here was made by many hands. Creativity is always a shared act—born from collaboration, generosity, and the courage to see possibility in one another.
Carry that with you. Notice what inspires you. Let curiosity pull you forward. And may you continue to design—in whatever form it takes—a life that reflects your voice, your vision, and your own unfolding story.”
— Paul Tazewell
Read that slowly.
That’s leadership thinking.
Exhibition Details: Paul Tazewell at Griffin MSI
Open through September 7, 2026
Included in General Admission
Featured costumes:
- Glinda’s pink bubble dress and Elphaba’s Emerald City dress (Wicked)
- Janelle Monáe’s 2025 Met Gala couture
- Anita’s yellow dress and ensemble from West Side Story
- Schuyler Sisters’ Winter’s Ball gowns, Hamilton/Jefferson/Burr’s suits, King George III’s outfit (Hamilton)
- Costumes from Harriet
What makes it essential: This isn’t a costume display. It’s a narrative experience guided by Tazewell’s voice, his mother Barbara’s artistic influence, and immersive technology showing how creative vision becomes tangible reality.
What I’ve Learned About Becoming
The costume gives permission. The character gives courage.
Motherhood worked the same. So did leadership.
You step into the role before you feel ready. You wear it. You grow into it.
The “costume” of leadership—the title, the stage, the platform, the visibility—doesn’t magically make you a leader. But wearing it intentionally helps you become one.
That’s the uncomfortable, powerful truth about professional identity: you design it. Intentionally. Before you feel ready.
You choose what you show.
What you hide.
And what you dare to become.
One Last Stop: Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle
Before leaving, we visited Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle.
Tiny treasures. Extraordinary detail. A reminder that impact isn’t about scale. It’s about attention.
Phoebe has always loved this exhibit. Some things don’t change, even when your kids are grown.
Leadership lesson: Craft matters.
The Cold Was Real. The Warmth Was Too.
Living in Charlotte now, I forget how quickly Chicago cold returns.
But when you’re with people who light you up, even a frozen lake looks gorgeous.
People matter more than weather. Connection matters more than comfort.
Those are leadership choices.
Your Strategic Guide to Griffin MSI Family Day
Planning Your Visit
Location: 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
Family Day Tips:
- Check MSI’s website for special Family Day dates (typically holidays)
- Arrive at opening on busy days for breathing room
- Budget 4-6 hours for both exhibitions plus favorites like the Fairy Castle
- Underground parking available (fees apply)
Current Must-See Exhibitions (January 2026):
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing (through February 8, 2026)
- Paul Tazewell: Inside the Artistry (through September 7, 2026)
Food & Coffee: Stan’s Donuts nearby, or museum café
What to Wear: Layers—Chicago January is unforgiving outside, warm inside
Leadership Field Notes: Designing Executive Presence
1. Executive presence is designed, not discovered
You choose what you show, what you hide, and what you dare to become.
2. Persistence outlasts early resistance
Spider-Man didn’t succeed overnight. Stan Lee’s vision struggled first. Keep going.
3. Identity forms through exploration and intention
You try on roles. You experiment. Growth happens in the wearing, not the waiting.
4. Visibility requires courage before confidence
The costume gives permission. The character gives courage. Step in before you feel ready.
5. Creativity is always collaborative
Paul Tazewell’s work reflects his mother Barbara’s influence and many hands. Your best work will too.
6. Curiosity is a competitive advantage
Museums thrive on it. So do organizations and leaders.
7. Surround yourself intentionally
Choose companions as carefully as career moves. People who light you up matter.
Why This Matters
Museums aren’t quiet spaces meant only for observation.
They’re living rooms for imagination.
On a cold January morning in Chicago, surrounded by superheroes and storytellers, I was reminded of something essential:
Executive presence isn’t magic. It’s designed.
And when leaders design it with intention and courage, they don’t just become visible.
They become unforgettable.
That’s a powerful Travel Tuesday.
And an even better leadership practice.
Have you visited Griffin MSI’s Spider-Man or Paul Tazewell exhibitions? What unexpected places have taught you about leadership presence or professional identity?
Share in the comments. I’d love to hear what inspires you.
Save this for your next Chicago museum visit | Share with leaders who value creativity | Pin for family trip planning
RESOURCES
Chicago’s Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
About Barbara Rozgonyi
Barbara Rozgonyi is a keynote speaker, communications strategist, and founder of CoryWest Media/WiredPRWorks. She guides CMOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations to design executive presence, visibility, and strategic influence through storytelling, creativity, and intentional identity. A museum enthusiast, founder of Social Media Club Chicago, former Glinda, and mom of three grown kids, she believes the most meaningful leadership insights emerge when curiosity leads, even on 5-degree Chicago mornings.
Speaking Topics: Executive presence • Leadership communication • Strategic storytelling • Visibility & thought leadership • Professional identity & transformation
Search Topics This Article Addresses: executive presence, leadership identity, professional visibility, Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, Griffin MSI Chicago, Paul Tazewell costumes, Spider-Man exhibition, building executive presence, designing professional identity, leadership transformation, creative leadership, strategic storytelling, thought leadership development
Published January 2026 • Travel Tuesday Series
