Coaching Leadership Through Role-Playing Games with Joe Lasley | Episode 395

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What happens when role-playing games become a leadership development tool? In this episode we interview Joe, founder of GameNamic Leadership, to explore how tabletop RPGs can unlock transformational learning, reshape team dynamics, and deliver lasting cultural change. From piloting immersive retreats to coaching teams in real time, Joe shares how combining leadership coaching with roleplay doesn't just gamify learning—it changes how people show up at work.

​Dr. Joe Lasley is an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Organizational Studies at the University of Southern Maine and the Founder of Gamenamic Leadership, where he merges academic rigor with the imaginative power of tabletop role-playing games to transform how individuals and teams learn to lead in the real world. He is an International Coaching Federation certified Leadership Coach, has a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, ​and degrees in Organizational Psychology, Higher Education Administration, and Organizational Communication. In academia, Joe designs and teaches courses on leadership ​d​evelopment, systems thinking, organizational​ and group dynamics, with a focus on experiential and transformational learning. He has published peer-reviewed ​a​research on leadership development through role-playing games, led action research projects, and regularly presents at national and international conferences including I​nternational L​eadership A​ssociation, National Communication Association, and N​orth American S​imulation A​nd G​aming A​ssociation.

As a consultant, ​Dr. Joe created LeadRPG, an innovative method that blends leadership ​d​evelopment with tabletop role-playing games to build emotionally intelligent, adaptive leaders​ and creative teams. ​W​ith the LeadRPG Team, he has developed immersive retreats, facilitated custom programs for mission-driven organizations and tech ​l​eaders, and produced game-based toolkits used for leadership coaching, team development, and reflective practice.

With expertise spanning group dynamics, adaptive leadership, and game-based learning, ​Dr. Joe is committed to helping people unlock their potential, co-design shared experiences, and navigate complexity with creativity, purpose, and play.​

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker and advocate for the use of gamification and games-based solutions, especially in education and learning. He's also a professor and workshop facilitator for the topics of the podcast and LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia.

Guest Links and Info

• Website: gamenamic.org
  • Retreats: gamenamic.org/retreat
• LinkedIn: Joe Lasley
• LinkedIn: GameNamic Leadership

Links to episode mentions:

• Proposed guest: Gijs
• Recommended book: Playing and Reality by