Instead of focus groups, the team uses a full rehearsal day where staff and players test new promotions. If the internal team genuinely has fun and enjoys the experience, they know it will resonate with the audience. This "internal fun test" serves as their core product validation method before public launch.

To prevent the grind of pursuing massive goals from becoming arduous, Canva creates fun, memorable celebrations for milestones. These events, from smashing Greek plates to releasing doves, serve as important moments for the team to pause, reflect, and feel proud of their hard work.

To foster genuine AI adoption, introduce it through play. Instead of starting with a hackathon focused on business problems, the speaker built an AI-powered scavenger hunt for her team's off-site. This "dogfooding through play" approach created a positive first interaction, demystified the technology, and set a culture of experimentation.

To give the board tangible visibility into marketing, MasterCard's CMO sets up demo kiosks outside board meetings. During breaks, board members can interact with new campaigns, watch videos, and speak with the marketing team. This experiential approach builds confidence and understanding far more effectively than a slide deck alone.

Employees often reserve their best strategic thinking for complex hobbies. By intentionally designing the work environment with clear rules, goals, and compelling narratives—like a well-designed game—leaders can unlock this latent strategic talent and make work more engaging.

To launch an energy drink, Caribou Coffee created a dating content series hosted by a comedian popular with Gen Z. This move tapped into the cultural zeitgeist of dating shows and authentically reflected the brand's role as a popular first-date location, resulting in a highly successful campaign.

When FigJam felt soulless a month before launch, the team made a controversial decision to differentiate it by making it fun. This seemed frivolous but was strategically crucial for encouraging participation and creative expression in brainstorming sessions, especially during the remote-work era.

Caribou Coffee translates its purpose—"create daymaking experiences"—into action by embedding core values directly into HR processes. Behaviors tied to these values are integrated into hiring, training, and performance reviews, ensuring employees are empowered to deliver the brand promise.

Retailers like Tesco use AI to deploy gamified "challenges" at scale. This experiential approach builds long-term loyalty and emotional connections by engaging customers in a way that moves beyond traditional, transactional price-based promotions.