Ep. 52: How Intentional Facilitation Can Transform Your Culture with Tom Goulooze

In this episode, Tine sits down with Tom Goulooze — designer, facilitator, and founder of Tomfoolery — who's on a mission to prove that not every company offsite needs beach sports, cocktail workshops, or death-by-PowerPoint. Based in Amsterdam and coming from years of internal facilitation at companies like WeTransfer, Tom brings a refreshingly honest perspective on what teams actually need when they come together — and why most leaders get it wrong. Tom shares stories from the frontlines of culture work: a co-founder who wallpapered an entire office in protest, the power of giving detractors a role, and why a silly chair game might be the most effective team-building exercise you've never tried. Topics covered in this episode: - Why most company offsites and all-hands fail to deliver real value - The surprisingly simple process of asking people what they need before designing a gathering - How internal vs. external facilitation changes the dynamics of culture work - The role of brave, imperfect leadership in cultural transformation - Why comfort can do more harm than good in team settings - Navigating ambiguity — when "I don't know" is the honest answer from leadership - The chair game: a deceptively simple exercise that reveals team dynamics - AI's impact on authentic human connection at work - Tom's secret to implementing cultural change: lead with benefit first