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Dara Simkin - Culture Hero
LEGO Literacy Alert
Nope, we didn’t ask Dara to answer any questions using Lego.
___________________
Hello there!
We’re Dr. Jane Hession and Ronan Healy. We’re a husband and wife team and co-founders of the service design studio How Might We - www.howmightwe.design
We're passionate about Play and provide online and in-house training in the LEGO Serious Play method to:
1) Third-level Educators - https://bit.ly/LSP_Ed_Innovators
2) Organisational Innovators - https://bit.ly/LSP_Org_Innovators
Episode Nine
George Bernard Shaw once said, “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” By our estimation, Dara Simkin will be making a playful ruckus well beyond the age of 250!
We had a wonderful conversation with Dara, who rightly earns the title ‘Play Pioneer’ for the playful and innovative work she and her team at Culture Hero have done since 2016.
Throughout this time, Dara has collaborated with other Play Pioneers such as Dr. Stuart Brown and Brendan Boyle. We’re particularly excited about the research Dara is currently conducting with RMIT, which promises to legitimise the value of play in the workplace.
And who knows, maybe Dara will celebrate her 250th birthday in a Barry Manilow t-shirt! (Barry Manilow t-shirt? You have to watch the episode to find out why!)
Dara Who?
Dara Simkin is a Play Pioneer, the Founder of Culture Hero, and is serious about play at work. As a certified coach and expert in bringing purposeful play to enterprise, Dara has over a decade of experience supporting hundreds of organisations and professionals globally – igniting teams through the unrealised potential of play at work.
Working with brands like McKinsey, The LEGO Foundation, PWC, Chevron, Monash University and the Australian Government, she understands the nuances of different industries and how to embed playful interventions that create real impact.
Contact Details
linkedin.com/in/dara-simkin-culture-hero
Website
www.culturehero.co
www.darasimkin.com
@DaraSimkin
Additional Topics
A NEW EARTH Create Your Better Life Today
https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Earth-LIFE-CHANGING-otherworldly-Breakfast/dp/0141039418
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Practicing-Hardcover-Collection-Eckhart/dp/9123821329
Eckhart Tolle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eckhart_Tolle
The Heros Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heros-Journey-Joseph-Campbell-Collected/dp/1608681890
Brene Brown
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bren%C3%A9_Brown
Dr Stuart Brown
https://nifplay.org/about-us/about-dr-stuart-brown/
Brendan Boyle
https://www.immersive-play.com/
Johan Huizinga
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Huizinga
Amy Edmondson
https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=6451
IDEO
https://www.ideo.com/
Spotlight Effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlight_effect
Timestamps
(0:00) - Introduction
(2:35) - Dara shares her childhood experiences
(8:03) - Defining adult playfulness
(13:01) - Dara's interest in play and personal development
(18:45) - Importance of intuition and playful mindset
(23:26) - Continued challenges in post-COVID work environments
(25:05) - Potential for play in a hybrid work model
(27:01) - Addressing misconceptions about play in professional settings
(29:55) - Description of Culture Hero and its mission
(33:45) - Using play to build soft skills in the workplace
(38:39) - Collaborations and research partnerships
(40:02) - Reflection on significant projects and events
(42:35) - Importance of purposeful play in professional development
(44:50) - Overcoming resistance to play in leadership
(48:25) - Empirical data supporting the importance of play
(51:00) - Reflection on personal experiences and play advocacy
(52:23) - Incremental changes and realistic expectations in adopting play
(54:20) - Final thoughts and advice on embracing play and authenticity
View all episodes
By How Might WeLEGO Literacy Alert
Nope, we didn’t ask Dara to answer any questions using Lego.
___________________
Hello there!
We’re Dr. Jane Hession and Ronan Healy. We’re a husband and wife team and co-founders of the service design studio How Might We - www.howmightwe.design
We're passionate about Play and provide online and in-house training in the LEGO Serious Play method to:
1) Third-level Educators - https://bit.ly/LSP_Ed_Innovators
2) Organisational Innovators - https://bit.ly/LSP_Org_Innovators
Episode Nine
George Bernard Shaw once said, “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” By our estimation, Dara Simkin will be making a playful ruckus well beyond the age of 250!
We had a wonderful conversation with Dara, who rightly earns the title ‘Play Pioneer’ for the playful and innovative work she and her team at Culture Hero have done since 2016.
Throughout this time, Dara has collaborated with other Play Pioneers such as Dr. Stuart Brown and Brendan Boyle. We’re particularly excited about the research Dara is currently conducting with RMIT, which promises to legitimise the value of play in the workplace.
And who knows, maybe Dara will celebrate her 250th birthday in a Barry Manilow t-shirt! (Barry Manilow t-shirt? You have to watch the episode to find out why!)
Dara Who?
Dara Simkin is a Play Pioneer, the Founder of Culture Hero, and is serious about play at work. As a certified coach and expert in bringing purposeful play to enterprise, Dara has over a decade of experience supporting hundreds of organisations and professionals globally – igniting teams through the unrealised potential of play at work.
Working with brands like McKinsey, The LEGO Foundation, PWC, Chevron, Monash University and the Australian Government, she understands the nuances of different industries and how to embed playful interventions that create real impact.
Contact Details
linkedin.com/in/dara-simkin-culture-hero
Website
www.culturehero.co
www.darasimkin.com
@DaraSimkin
Additional Topics
A NEW EARTH Create Your Better Life Today
https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Earth-LIFE-CHANGING-otherworldly-Breakfast/dp/0141039418
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Practicing-Hardcover-Collection-Eckhart/dp/9123821329
Eckhart Tolle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eckhart_Tolle
The Heros Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heros-Journey-Joseph-Campbell-Collected/dp/1608681890
Brene Brown
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bren%C3%A9_Brown
Dr Stuart Brown
https://nifplay.org/about-us/about-dr-stuart-brown/
Brendan Boyle
https://www.immersive-play.com/
Johan Huizinga
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Huizinga
Amy Edmondson
https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=6451
IDEO
https://www.ideo.com/
Spotlight Effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlight_effect
Timestamps
(0:00) - Introduction
(2:35) - Dara shares her childhood experiences
(8:03) - Defining adult playfulness
(13:01) - Dara's interest in play and personal development
(18:45) - Importance of intuition and playful mindset
(23:26) - Continued challenges in post-COVID work environments
(25:05) - Potential for play in a hybrid work model
(27:01) - Addressing misconceptions about play in professional settings
(29:55) - Description of Culture Hero and its mission
(33:45) - Using play to build soft skills in the workplace
(38:39) - Collaborations and research partnerships
(40:02) - Reflection on significant projects and events
(42:35) - Importance of purposeful play in professional development
(44:50) - Overcoming resistance to play in leadership
(48:25) - Empirical data supporting the importance of play
(51:00) - Reflection on personal experiences and play advocacy
(52:23) - Incremental changes and realistic expectations in adopting play
(54:20) - Final thoughts and advice on embracing play and authenticity