How Role-Playing Games Transform Leadership and Culture with Laura Khalil, Founder of Once Upon A Roll

In this episode, we explore how role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons can transform team building, leadership, and organizational culture through immersive, hands-on learning. By using play as a tool, teams can build trust, improve communication, and uncover hidden dynamics that traditional methods often miss. The conversation highlights how experiential learning creates deeper connections, encourages authentic collaboration, and helps individuals develop skills in a low-pressure environment that translates directly into the workplace.00:00 – Introduction & Laura Khalil background02:00 – D&D and tabletop games explained07:00 – Games as a model for team roles & dynamics12:00 – Using game mechanics in real work (Stars & Wishes) 16:30 – Why games reveal real personality traits20:30 – Corporate dysfunction & lack of collaboration23:00 – Discovery of D&D’s team-building potential27:00 – Real business impact: building connections across teams31:30 – Why play is critical for learning & development35:30 – Leadership, vulnerability & “looking silly”40:00 – Using games to diagnose team dynamics45:30 – Breaking hierarchy & titles through gameplay48:30 – Google study: what makes high-performing teams50:30 – Where to find Laura & closing thoughts