Case studies

The problem

At a major event in Chicago, the organisers wanted something different for their 100 attendees. Not another lecture. Not another panel. They were looking for a workshop that would spark real connection, boost resilience, and remind people why their work, and the people they work with, matter.

Our work

Playgrounded designed a 2-hour, highly interactive workshop led in-person by our facilitator Stefan. The goal? Help people reconnect with joy at work and with each other, using the surprisingly powerful lens of clown (yes, clown—but not the red-nose kind).

Real, Human Fun: Through playful group games and activities inspired by clowning, people explored how joy can open the door to vulnerability, trust, and stronger team bonds.

No Pressure, No Performances: Everything was based on “challenge by choice,” meaning no one was pushed to do anything they didn’t want to. No solo acts, no silly costumes—just meaningful, low-stakes ways to show up and engage.

Talk It Out: The workshop built in time for reflection and conversation, helping everyone make sense of the experience and how it applies to their day-to-day work.

The outcome

The session became one of the event’s highlights. People moved, laughed, connected, and left feeling more grounded, more open, and more energized. The client loved how it balanced depth with lightness, and how it helped teams see each other (and their work) in a whole new way.

The problem
A team responsible for regularly presenting and facilitating group sessions needed a boost in confidence, and practice honing the art of facilitation in a variety of groups. Their leaders wanted to help the team sharpen their facilitation and performance abilities so they could better engage their audiences and enjoy the process more.

Our work:
We worked closely with the client to co-design a practical workshop that focused on performance and facilitation techniques, helping participants find their unique style. A key strategy was to connect facilitators with their message, and bring their unique and personal energy to authenticity deliver their content. 

The outcome
Participants walked away with greater confidence, not just in presenting content, but in showing up as themselves. They discovered new ways to connect with their audience, manage group dynamics, and tap into the ‘why’ behind their role.

Here’s what they had to say:

“I felt very confident after the workshop that I had the ability to present the content, and it reconnected me to my ‘why I am doing this role.’ Stef brilliantly identified everyone's unique talents, and reminded us we all present differently, because we're different people!”

“The reminder to bring your whole self, and having the space and time to have fun with the presentation and try different things was the most beneficial. Also, just learning a few more crowd control/engagement tips really helped!”

The problem
Redkite’s hybrid and remote team is spread across Australia and they were looking for a fun, engaging way to bring everyone together at a team offsite in Sydney. They wanted something that wasn’t just another team workshop - something that built real connection.

Our work
We designed a playful, energising session led by Stef, using principles from theatrical clowning (no red noses here!) The focus was on vulnerability, openness, and human connection—helping people show up as themselves and engage with each other in a meaningful way.

The Outcome:
The workshop sparked laughter, trust, and authentic connection. It gave the Redkite team a shared experience that felt fresh, fun, and genuinely bonding, without anyone having to perform or pretend.

What They Needed:
A department made up of six teams, working across different locations and time zones, wanted to wrap up the year with something special. The goal? Celebrate their hard work and create a sense of connection, despite the distance.

Our work
We designed and facilitated an online workshop focused on storytelling as a simple, human way to reflect on the year, share experiences, and strengthen team bonds. The session created space for laughter, gratitude, and recognition.

The Outcome:
The team described the workshop as engaging and meaningful. People left the session feeling more connected, seen, and appreciated for everything they’d contributed over the year, a great way to close out and look ahead. The session was part of their usual work day and lifted the group for the day to day work in teams across the organisation, across the world. 

The Challenge:
This team was made up of caring, capable individuals who all worked well, just not with each other. Collaboration flowed only through their team leader, creating silos and slowing down communication. While the team enjoyed working together, there was little peer-to-peer accountability, and all feedback was filtered through the leader, making it hard for the team to grow and hard for the leader to focus on strategic priorities.

Our Approach:
We delivered an online group coaching program that helped the team explore how their individual motivations and working styles shaped the team dynamic. Through guided sessions, we surfaced unspoken hesitation around giving feedback and helped the group understand the impact of relying solely on their leader for communication and collaboration.

The Result:
The team began stepping up and supporting each other directly sharing feedback, working across silos, and taking initiative. They reported feeling more trusted and empowered to contribute beyond their own roles. Their leader, in turn, gained time and space to focus on strategic work, knowing the team could manage themselves and each other more effectively.

The Challenge:
A tech scale up was experiencing significant growth - both in customers and headcount. With the establishment of a new executive leadership team, the founding members found their roles shifting to meet the demands of a more complex business structure. These changes began to affect how effectively the team could collaborate, make decisions, and lead the wider organisation.

Our Approach:
Over 12 weeks, we implemented a four-phase approach: Discovery, Plan & Act, Observe & Iterate, and Review. Through a combination of facilitated workshops, 1:1 coaching, and group coaching, we helped the team identify underlying dynamics that were blocking collaboration and creating friction during a pivotal moment of scale.

The Outcome:
Our work led to the board of directors making three critical executive structure and role decisions that set the company up for continued growth. With a clearer organisational structure and greater alignment at the top, the organisation is now better positioned to scale sustainably and lead with confidence.