The HiHelloSura Show Sura Al-Naimi

Title : Play as Brand Strategy at SXSW with panel friends: Gregory Schram, Damon Guidry, and Nikki Martinez

How can play revolutionize brand engagement?
What role does playfulness have in fostering creativity and innovation in organizations?

Today, let's welcome our panel of experts from South by Southwest:
- Gregory Schramm, Creative Director at Cogs and Marvel
- Nikki Martinez, Senior Brand Manager at Lyft
- Damon Goodrie, Adobe representative focused on workplace playfulness
- Sura Al-Naimi, our host and innovation specialist

These industry leaders are known for their groundbreaking work in incorporating play into brand strategies, workplace cultures, and consumer experiences. They come together to explore the powerful role of play in building cultures of creativity and increasing brand engagement.

Our panel highlights the unprecedented shift in how major brands, from airlines to insurance companies, are embracing playful strategies to connect with their audiences. They describe this trend as more significant than traditional marketing approaches, with brands across various sectors seeing remarkable results in consumer engagement and loyalty.

The conversation also addresses the academic and practical perspectives on why play is crucial yet often undervalued in business. Our experts present compelling examples and evidence to support their view that play is a universal language that can connect people more deeply to brands across cultures.

In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to incorporate play into your brand strategy
- How to balance playfulness with purpose in marketing
- How to create playful environments that foster innovation
- How to scale playful brand experiences across different markets
- How to use play to address serious topics and advocate for causes
- How to measure the impact of playful strategies on brand engagement
- How to foster a culture of play within organizations

Together, let's take a comprehensive look into the power of play in modern branding and marketing, and explore practical strategies for creating more engaging, creative, and meaningful brand experiences.

With Curiosity and Creativity,
Sura Al-Naimi

Meet our panelists 👉

Our MC - Gregory Schramm

Gregory Schramm is the Creative Director and Narrative Lead at Cogs & Marvel, bringing over a decade of experience from some of the most unconventional realms of advertising and marketing. His unique, play-driven approach was honed at vanguard agencies including Autofuss and Bot & Dolly, where he pushed the boundaries of creative storytelling.

👉Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/schram/

Damon Guidry

Damon Guidry is a Senior Event Strategist at Adobe, bringing a wealth of experience in creating engaging, people-focused events. With a passion for innovative engagement strategies, Damon excels in strategic planning, logistics, and budget management for both in-person and virtual programs. His expertise lies in partnering with diverse groups to help organizations achieve their goals through carefully crafted experiences.

👉 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonguidry/


Nikki Martinez

Nikki Martinez is a Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Lyft, known for her innovative approach to digital media and passion for purpose-driven marketing. With a keen eye for audience insights, Nikki has made significant contributions to Lyft's brand identity and strategy evolution. Her impressive career includes launching Adweek award-winning brand partnership programs and developing new tentpole sponsorship opportunities.

👉Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinezdominique/

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In this episode, educational psychologist and innovation expert Karen Tilstra, PhD, shares her insights on fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovation within organizations. With a doctorate in innovation and leadership, Karen has worked with diverse organizations, from healthcare systems and government agencies to universities and private businesses, to help people develop competencies in creative thinking and innovative practices. She's also the author of two recent books, "The Death-Line: Number One All-Time Killer of Human Potential" and "101 Activities to Ignite Collaboration, Boost Creativity and Fuel Innovation."
Karen discusses the concept of a "death line," an imaginary line that holds people back from reaching their full potential, and how challenging it can lead to personal and professional growth. She also shares practical activities, like the "Stinky Fish," that teams can use to surface fears, assumptions, and opportunities for growth, ultimately leading to a more collaborative and innovative environment.
🔑Key Takeaways:

Understanding and challenging your "death line" can help you grow and optimize your potential

Engaging teams in shared experiences and reflection can foster collaboration and innovation

Adopting a new vernacular, like "death line," can facilitate authentic conversations and create a more collaborative environment


🌈Resources:

Karen Tilstra's books:

"The Death-Line: Number One All-Time Killer of Human Potential"

"101 Activities to Ignite Collaboration, Boost Creativity and Fuel Innovation"



Website: www.creativityeffect.com

Email: karen@creativityeffect.com

LinkedIn: Karen Tilstra

Facebook: Karen Tilstra


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In this episode, Bruce Griffiths, a seasoned industrial-organizational psychologist and founder of OSI, shares his wealth of knowledge on leadership development and competency modeling. With over 40 years of experience working with diverse organizations, from the Walt Disney Company to Nike, Bruce breaks down the complexities of leadership into key competencies that can be learned and developed.
What you'll learn from this episode:

The essential competencies of effective leadership, such as inspiration, communication, problem-solving, organizing, and emotional intelligence.

How the hybrid workplace has necessitated a shift in leadership competencies, requiring a greater emphasis on communication, relationship building, and emotional intelligence to effectively lead remote teams.

The importance of embracing AI and adopting a growth mindset for leaders in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape.


About Bruce Griffiths:Bruce Griffiths is a seasoned leadership development consultant and the founder of Organization Systems International (OSI), a company that provides management and organizational development services and products that capture the right talent and develop leadership abilities. With over 40 years of experience in the field, Bruce has helped hundreds of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, to improve their recruitment, retention, team dynamics, and employee performance using his award-winning Polaris Competency Model.
Bruce's expertise in competency modeling stems from his diverse and rich background, which includes a 30-year career as an officer in the US Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve, teaching leadership in San Diego's universities, and designing and implementing assessment centers, 360-degree assessments, executive coaching, leadership training, and business simulations. He is also a prolific author and speaker, having published multiple articles and books on leadership and organization development, and delivered keynote presentations at various conferences and events.
Bruce's mission is to provide a common language for talent management and the integrating criteria needed in a complete HR system. His passion for leadership was sparked during his time in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he experienced firsthand the impact of effective leadership on mission accomplishment and team engagement.
🌈Resources:
Organization Systems International (OSI) website: www.orgsisinc.com

📕Books by Bruce Griffiths:
👉 Competencies at Work
👉 Competency-Based Education
👉 LinkedIn: Bruce Griffiths
👉 Email: bgriffiths@orgsysint.com
👉www.orgsysint.com

👉 Connect with Bruce Griffiths and OSI to learn more about developing leadership competencies and creating a common language for talent management in your organization.


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Join us for the finale of our three-part series on the importance of human-centered design for innovation and creativity. In this episode, we'll be speaking with Kathryn and David Eastlake, innovators and residents of United Church homes. They will be sharing their unique perspectives on the impact of human-centered design and how it has led to more innovation and creativity in their community.
But that's not all! We'll also be exploring the secrets of blue zone living and how to find purpose using the purpose equation. Kathryn and David will share their own experiences and insights on how to live a fulfilling life in retirement.
👉About Kathryn & David Eastlake
Kathryn taught 7-12 year olds at public school, in business and technology for over 30 years. David worked for IBM for 38 years as a service technician and sang in the Barbershop Harmony Qurtets for 45 years.
They now both sing in the local community chorus and are committed to living out their purpose.
✍️ References on the show
Bluezone living : https://www.bluezones.com
Discovering and living into your purpose:  https://thepurposeequation.com

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Join us for the HiHelloSura podcast where we delve into the importance of human-centered design for innovation and creativity. In the second part of our three-part series, we are joined by Dan Miller, a Senior Executive Director in the post-acute healthcare industry with over 32 years of experience. Dan will be sharing insights on the impact of an innovation project and how putting consumers at the heart of creation has led to more innovative and creative solutions.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from a seasoned expert in the field. Listen now and be inspired to bring a human-centered approach to your own work. Subscribe to the HiHelloSura podcast and be a part of the conversation on the importance of human-centered design for innovation and creativity.
✨About Dan Miller
Dan’s current role is the Senior Executive Director of the Northern Region of United Church Homes and have direct oversight of the Parkvue Community. 32 years of experience in the post-acute healthcare industry with roles as Administrator, Executive Director and CEO. B.S. in Business Administration from Heidelberg University. Have served on various boards for Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, Wyandot Memorial Hospital Foundation, NAHCA National Board of Advisors, Pioneer Joint Vocational School advisory board.
🙌Get in touch with Dan Miller @dmiller@uchinc.org and on Linkedin

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Today, we have a very special episode for you all. We are joined by Maxim Gelmann and Caroline Hobkinson, two experts in their respective fields. Caroline is a Behavioral Anthropologist and Food Multisensory Expert who has been exploring the connections between technology, food, art, and our senses. If you're a fan of our show, you might remember her from previous episodes. And, Maxim is the Chief Stroodle at Stroodles Eco Tableware, a company that is on a mission to make our everyday items as eco-friendly as possible. Together, they've just launched Stroodled, a Sustainable Mindset Audit that aims to close the "Joy Gap" in sustainability.
Maxim and Caroline will talk about conscious consumerism, the challenges of changing habits, and how the Stroodled audit measures your positive impact. They'll also delve into how companies can use the audit to show their commitment to sustainability and the environment, and how we as consumers can make small changes to live our best lives in a more sustainable way.
In this episode, you'll discover:
-The "Joy Gap" in sustainability and how Stroodled is closing it by measuring your positive impact.
-The importance of conscious consumerism and how small changes can make a big difference.
-How companies can show their commitment to sustainability and the environment through the Stroodled audit.
-The role of positive reinforcement in promoting sustainable living, and how to manifest sustainability in your daily life.
-The connection between happiness and sustainability, and how you can live your best life while being mindful of the planet.
So, get ready to learn, be inspired, and discover the joy of sustainability with Maxim and Caroline on the Hihellosura Show
So, grab your coffee cup, sit back, and get ready to learn about the modern approaches to happiness and sustainability. Who knows, before you know it, you might just be reading Shakespeare with a Stroodles top hat on!
Get in touch with Maxim Gelmann and Caroline Hobkinson on Linkedin, and on instagram.

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