FO
Future of HR

“Can Work Be Fun?” with Bree Groff, workplace expert and author of “Today was Fun,” and Mary Kate Stimmler, Practitioner Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford

April 14, 2026·50 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

How can leaders make work both fun and drive high-performance?Why do the high performers find joy in intense work?My guests on this episode are Bree Groff, workplace expert and author of “Today was Fun,” and Mary Kate Stimmler, Practitioner Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at StanfordDuring our conversation, Bree, Mary Kate, and I discuss the following: Why the belief that high performance requires pressure and sacrifice is flawedHow leaders can design work that creates energy, not burnoutWhy “fun” at work is about experience, not perksWhy stress undermines creativity and long-term performanceHow small, everyday moments shape culture more than large-scale initiativesConnecting with Bree and Mary Kate presenters: Connect with Bree Groff on LinkedIn Learn more about Bree’s book, “Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)Connect with Mary Kate Stimmler on LinkedInEpisode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leadersHR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

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