Thousands of years before the creation of the first written language, humans harnessed the power of improvisation to tell stories, communicate culture, and address challenges. In the ensuing centuries, people improvised to express their creativity and imagination, often for comedic purposes in theatrical settings. In the 20th century, improv philosophies once exclusive to the stage moved firmly into business, humanitarian, and psychosocial practice. Educators such as Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone laid the groundwork for that significant shift, creating a conceptual foundation for thinking beyond entertainment and using improv's core principles to increase management capability.