Michelle Lee

Discover the power of play in problem-solving with Michelle Lee. Learn about transitioning from engineering to toy design, the shift in problem-solving approaches, and how embracing a playful mindset can enhance creativity and collaboration. Michelle Lee shares insights on leveraging complexity for innovative problem-solving and the importance of creativity in finding solutions.

Michelle Lee, IDEO partner who brings playful thinking into complex organizations, and Cas Holman, play designer and creator of Rigamajig, discuss play as a leadership mindset. They explore asking better questions, design function versus form, psychological safety, seeding playful conditions, adult play types, purposeful friction, and balancing exploratory play with business goals.

Michelle Lee, Founder and CEO of Medra, with previous experience at NVIDIA, SpaceX, and McKinsey, talks about starting her deep tech company and giving advice to aspiring founders. She discusses the decision between academia and starting a company, the moment of conviction in entrepreneurship, the importance of optimism, growth mindset, and social support, the importance of building a network and seeking help, and the decision between horizontal and vertical focus and the potential of biology.

Dennis Hartlieb, an expert in cosmetic dentistry, discusses balancing likability and respect with patients. The chapter explores empathy, communication challenges, achieving flow in dentistry, and the importance of journaling and mindfulness in overcoming setbacks. It also covers mindset books, applying Stoicism, embracing the present moment, and prioritizing self-care for dentists.

Michelle Lee, IDEO partner who helps teams apply playful thinking to tough challenges, and Cas Holman, play designer behind Rigamajig, discuss play under pressure. They tackle making psychological safety fast, using constraints to spark creativity, collaborating without losing edge, and bringing playful practices into policy and healthcare. The conversation is pragmatic, story-driven, and full of quick, usable approaches.