072: The Journey from Workplace to "Workplayce" with Kristi Herold

In this episode of The Remarkable Project Jay speaks with author, speaker and founder Kristi Herold, who as CEO of JAM champions the culture and connections which can be built through play, about why welcoming a playful culture can be so powerful for adults as well as children, how meaningful guarantees can help build trust and team happiness drives great customer service, and ways to systemise the benefits of letting your guard down around colleagues and connections.

Kristi Herold helps people connect and companies unlock profit through play. Her vision is to get 1 million people playing annually. She is the founder and CEO of JAM, one of the world’s largest adult recreational sports league providers as well as a team of PLAYmakers who help corporate cultures thrive.

JAM has connected millions of people from all walks of life, through play since its inception in 1996, with its sports leagues operating in 12 different cities across Canada and the USA. The company has produced and delivered over 3,500 corporate events, connecting hundreds of thousands of people through play in over 30 different countries. Today JAM offers a wide range of virtual, hybrid and in-person play-based team building and learning experiences designed to help corporate cultures thrive.

In addition to her role at JAM, Kristi authored ‘It Pays to PLAY – How Play Improves Business Culture’, consults to businesses on creating thriving workplace cultures, and is a sought-after keynote speaker. She is also passionate about the power of play for all ages, as well as giving back to her community. In 2019, Kristi and her team founded national not-for-profit Keep Playing Kids, in order to help ensure children from lower economic communities have free access to organised sports regardless of gender, skill level or family income.

Kristi has been featured in Forbes and Fast Company, was named to the esteemed “Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women”, was a top three finalist in the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, and is the proud recipient of the North American Sport & Social Industry Association’s Industry Impact Award. She was also awarded the Governor General’s “Queen’s Diamond Jubilee” in recognition of her contribution to giving back to community. JAM has been certified as a “Great Places to Work – Canada” as well as being named one of the “Best Remote Startups” to work for.

Remarkable Takeaways

• Why welcoming a playful culture can be so powerful for adults as well as children – literally lifesaving in some instances.
• How meaningful guarantees can help build trust with your customers, and how true team happiness drives external service quality.
• The sometimes unexpected upsides of letting your guard down around colleagues and connections, and how to encourage this in a systemised manner.

Connect with Kristi

Purchase her book here
Find her on Linkedin
Learn more about her work and other endeavours via her website