73: Legos, Leadership, and the Business Case for Play | Van Lai-DuMone

Creativity isn’t just for artists. It’s the secret ingredient behind teams that actually engage, retain, and perform.

In this energizing episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with Van Lai-DuMone, creative keynote speaker and CEO of Work Smart Advantage, to explore how creative tools supercharge workplace learning.

Discover why traditional engagement strategies miss the mark, how hands-on play transforms retention, and what happens when everyone at the table, yes, even the skeptics, gets their hands on Legos and markers. Van reveals her journey from “arts and crafts outsider” to in-demand L&D innovator, and the mindset shift every organization needs if they want people-first learning that sticks.

From self-efficacy breakthroughs to reinvesting in leadership development, this conversation is filled with stories, strategies, and takeaways that will change the way you look at engagement for good.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why most organizations misunderstand engagement, and how creative elements offer real, measurable impact
• The critical link between in-session engagement and lasting retention (and why adult learners need play, too)
• Van’s journey from “accidental entrepreneur” to creative learning strategist—and what it taught her about experimentation
• How to introduce creativity into your next workshop, even when your audience says “I’m not a creative type”
• The big, bold change Van would make to corporate learning if she could wave a magic wand
• The overlooked truth about leadership development, and easy ways every team can start, no matter their budget

In This Episode:

• 00:01 – Opening: The power of learning programs
• 01:00 – How creativity builds true engagement and retention
• 03:07 – The common mistakes L&D pros make with engagement
• 05:34 – Defining engagement vs. retention in learning
• 07:12 – LEGO Serious Play and tactile learning in action
• 10:14 – Why resistance to creative methods is normal (and how to overcome it)
• 13:40 – Personal stories: When adults rediscover play
• 14:00 – Van's accidental start in creative L&D
• 16:30 – How to introduce creativity without losing sight of business goals
• 17:09 – Making the case: Creativity as a strategic tool, not a “nice to have”
• 18:47 – Getting skeptics to experiment and see their own creativity
• 20:41 – Building self-efficacy through hands-on activities
• 21:29 – The mindset shift: Developing people, not just skills
• 22:14 – Creativity in every learning session
• 24:01 – Most important leadership lesson: Collaboration over having the answers
• 25:08 – Leveling the playing field with creative facilitation
• 26:16 – The biggest myth holding back leadership development
• 27:28 – Simple hacks for teams without a big L&D budget

About Van Lai-DuMone:

Van Lai-DuMone is a creative keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, and CEO of Work Smart Advantage, where she helps organizations unlock innovation and strengthen leadership through curiosity-driven, creative strategies. She’s on a mission to show that creativity isn’t an optional extra but a core problem-solving skill. Through hands-on workshops featuring tools like LEGO Serious Play, Van empowers teams—from skeptics to enthusiasts—to embrace experimentation and lasting change. She’s also the author of What If Pigs Can Fly? A Practical Guide to Follow Your Curiosities to Achieve Impractical Possibilities.

Resources Referenced:

• Van’s book: What If Pigs Can Fly?
• Connect with Van on LinkedIn
• Van’s company: Work Smart Advantage

Want to Learn More?:

• Website: www.learnit.com
• Email: podcast@learnit.com‍
• Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.