In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born sits down with Jolynn Ledgerwood, learning and development expert, certified Gallup Strengths coach, and founder of Elevate Your Talent. With over 25 years of experience working with global brands like PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, and Toyota, Jolynn introduces us to a transformative methodology called LEGO® Serious Play, a hands-on approach that sparks creativity, strengthens collaboration, and unlocks hidden insights within teams.

Together, Natalie and Jolynn explore how “thinking with your hands” activates up to 80% more brain power, why play is vital for innovation and well-being, and how leaders can create environments where every voice, from the CEO to the intern, has a seat at the table. From high school athletes to corporate teams, this episode proves that the opposite of play isn’t work, it’s stagnation.

[00:00 – 03:00] Jolynn’s Journey into LEGO® Serious Play

• From corporate learning roles at PepsiCo and Toyota to creative facilitation.
• How LEGO® reinvented itself and how Jolynn discovered its team-building power.
• Only 100 certified practitioners in the U.S. versus 15,000 in Europe, why Americans still struggle to see “play” as productive.

[03:01 – 07:00] The Science of Thinking with Your Hands

• Using LEGO® unlocks up to 80% more brain power.
• The four-step methodology: question → build → share → reflect.
• How creativity allows all personality types, even quiet thinkers, to express themselves fully.

[07:01 – 10:00] Building Trust and Curiosity Through Play

• LEGO® Serious Play creates safe, judgment-free conversations.
• Why every build is “right” for the person who made it.
• Metaphors and subconscious meaning in simple pieces and the power of asking, “Tell me more about what you built.”

[10:01 – 14:00] Real-World Example: A Basketball Team’s Transformation

• Facilitating a workshop with a high school girls’ team to build unity.
• How players gained empathy and emotional awareness through their builds.
• Discovering that supporting teammates means seeing beyond performance.

[14:01 – 18:00] Courageous Leadership and Unexpected Insights

• Why it takes a brave leader to invite play into the workplace.
• LEGO® as a tool for perspective-taking and emotional intelligence.
• Seeing the same model from different angles and how it changes interpretation.

[18:01 – 22:00] Building Culture in Times of Change

• How LEGO® sessions rebuild morale after layoffs or restructuring.
• The danger of calling connection “fluff” and why it’s business-critical.
• Creating “simple guiding principles” from each session to carry forward.

[22:01 – 25:00] Play as a Pathway to Innovation

• The opposite of play isn’t work, it’s depression.
• Inviting creativity through LEGO®, Play-Doh, or even watercolor.
• How play fosters engagement, focus, and retention in teams.

[25:01 – 27:00] Final Reflections and Call to Leaders

• Why leaders must make space for curiosity and fun at work.
• Mary Poppins wisdom: “In every job that must be done, there’s an element of fun.”
• When teams play together, innovation follows naturally.

Website: elevateyourtalent.co

LinkedIn: Jolynn Ledgerwood

Podcast: Play for Performance

If this conversation inspired you, leave a review and share this episode with a leader who’s ready to reimagine what creativity and connection look like at work.

🎙️ Check out Natalie Born’s book, Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co. These are proven tools to transform your leadership and innovation approach.

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Don’t just get out of the box, break the box and set it on fire. Let’s go transform something!