Photo: Nikki Torres Langman, creator of UNBRICKABLE™, leads a workshop on emotional intelligence and resilience at an international seminar.
Empowering Leaders Through Courage, Authenticity, And Play
Nikki Torres Langman’s UNBRICKABLE™ programme combines LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® with emotional intelligence to foster resilience and psychological safety, transforming mental health training across institutions and workplaces globally.
Nikki Torres Langman is not just a name; she is a force of transformation. As an international speaker, award-winning author, and Emotional Intelligence Master Practitioner, Nikki has redefined what it means to lead with courage, authenticity, and resilience. Her pioneering work in mental health and emotional intelligence has touched lives across continents, equipping students, leaders, and organisations with the tools to navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.
At the heart of her mission lies UNBRICKABLE™—a groundbreaking programme that bridges the gap between emotional wellbeing and practical leadership. By weaving together the power of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® with evidence-based emotional intelligence techniques, Nikki has created a space where vulnerability meets strength, and where psychological safety is not just a concept but a lived experience. Her approach is as innovative as it is impactful, earning her accolades such as the Triple Silver Stevie® Awards and recognition as one of Australia’s Top 15 Coaches.
What sets Nikki apart is her unwavering commitment to truth and action. She does not just talk about resilience; she builds it, brick by brick, through frameworks like BADASS—Brave, Authentic, Direction, Action, Self-Love, Self-Talk. Her work is a testament to the power of lived experience, structured methodology, and the boldness to challenge stigma with both humour and heart.
Nikki Torres Langman revolutionises emotional intelligence training, crafting innovative, scalable solutions that empower individuals and organisations to thrive under pressure.
In this exclusive interview, Nikki shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey, the challenges of bringing UNBRICKABLE™ to institutions like Yale School of Medicine, and her vision for scaling impact without compromising integrity. Her insights are not just lessons; they are lifelines for anyone seeking to lead with emotional intelligence in an increasingly complex world.
Nikki Torres Langman is more than a thought leader—she is a catalyst for change. And her story is one you will not want to miss.
Can you describe the moment or experience that inspired you to create the UNBRICKABLE™ programme?
In January 2025 I was selected as one of 20 designated Ivy League speakers. The brief was clear: speak to students living through a mental health crisis and make it land. That forced one question: are we adding real capacity, or just more awareness slogans? UNBRICKABLE™ came from that gap. I built what I wish existed when I was 21 and falling apart.
How did your background in emotional intelligence and lived experience with trauma and resilience shape the development of your programmes?
Lived experience gave me the stakes. Emotional intelligence gave me the structure. Trauma often steals language and shame often steals honesty. EI brings people back to self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and connection, without turning it into therapy. I design for real humans, under real pressure, with tools they can actually use.
“UNBRICKABLE™ makes the invisible visible, using metaphor to express complex experiences without needing perfect words.”
The UNBRICKABLE™ programme combines emotional intelligence training with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. Why did you choose LEGO® as a medium, and how does it enhance the learning experience?
Because talk alone is not always accessible, and emotional literacy is not evenly distributed. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® makes the invisible visible. Metaphor lets people express complex experiences without needing perfect words. People build first, then speak. That sequence lowers defensiveness, increases insight, and creates psychological safety you can literally hold.
What challenges did you face while introducing UNBRICKABLE™ at Yale School of Medicine and other universities, and how did you overcome them?
Universities are right to be cautious around mental health. I overcame that by prioritising rigour: research, clear boundaries, and a model that supports existing services rather than competing with them. I treated it like an academic audience because it was one. Credibility is not a vibe. It is evidence, ethics, and outcomes.
What do you believe makes UNBRICKABLE™ stand out compared to traditional emotional intelligence and resilience training programmes?
It is experiential, not theoretical. Participants do not just learn concepts, they build shared language and practical self-leadership skills in the room. It is repeatable, structured, and designed to scale through a train-the-trainer pathway, so the capability stays inside the institution rather than walking out with the facilitator.
How does your BADASS Framework tie into your other initiatives like UNBRICKABLE™ or leadership coaching?
BADASS is the backbone: Brave, Authentic, Direction, Action, Self-Love, Self-Talk. UNBRICKABLE™ is one expression of those principles in a group setting, using metaphor to make inner work visible and doable. Coaching is another expression, with the same aim: truth, ownership, and emotionally intelligent leadership that holds under pressure.
You emphasise the importance of creating psychologically safe spaces. What specific strategies do you use to foster such environments in your workshops?
I set norms early: confidentiality, consent, respect, and the right to pass. I use structured prompts and debriefs so it does not become emotional chaos. I model vulnerability with boundaries, and I keep standards present. Psychological safety is not “say anything”. It is “say what is true responsibly”, without fear of punishment or ridicule.
How do you address the stigma surrounding mental health and emotional struggles, especially on campuses and in workplaces?
I normalise struggle without glamourising it, and I reframe it as a leadership and culture issue, not a personal defect. When people understand that wellbeing affects performance, relationships, retention, and safety, the conversation becomes practical. Stigma fades when truth becomes normal and support becomes visible.
What role does humour and playfulness play in your approach to resilience and emotional intelligence training?
Humour, used well, lowers threat and keeps people engaged. It is not about making light of pain. It is about making honest conversation possible without overwhelm. Play helps the nervous system settle and the ego unclench. Also, shame is not particularly fond of laughter, which is useful in any room.
You have been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 15 Coaches and featured as a leader to watch. How do these achievements reflect your growth and mission?
Recognition is not the mission, but it is a signal. It reflects consistency, outcomes, and the ability to translate complex human issues into practical change. It also raises the bar, which I welcome. If I ask people to lead with courage and truth, I have to keep living that standard publicly.
What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to find and own their authentic voice?
Start smaller than you think you should. Speak one true sentence you can stand behind, then build from there. Practise clarity over performance. Find environments that reward honesty, not perfection. Your voice is not “found”. It is built, repetition by repetition, until courage starts to feel normal.
Looking ahead, how do you plan to evolve or expand UNBRICKABLE™ and your other programmes to continue making an impact globally?
Scale with integrity. That means partnerships with institutions that care about outcomes, not optics. It means a robust train-the-trainer model so faculty and student leaders can carry it forward sustainably. And it means ongoing validation, measurement, and refinement, because when you are working with human lives, good intentions are not a strategy.
