From Start-Up to Grown-Up #64, Kristi Herold, Founder and CEO of JAM — Pivoting during a crisis, leading through playfulness, and creating joy in the workplace
Apr 9, 2024
In this conversation with Kristi Herold, Founder and CEO of JAM, we explore the transformative power of play in the workplace. Kristi shares how JAM pivoted during the pandemic to virtual events, showcasing the crucial role of resilience and creativity. She emphasizes injecting joy into corporate culture, from playful onboarding to open feedback, and discusses her journey through self-doubt as an entrepreneur. Her insights reveal that fostering social connections and a positive environment not only uplifts teams but also enhances overall productivity.
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Jam Group's Pandemic Pivot
- Kristi Herold founded Jam Group in 1996 as a recreational sports league provider.
- The pandemic forced her to pivot to virtual events and culture consulting when in-person sports were shut down.
Play, Not Just Sports
- Jam Group's core purpose is connecting people through play, not just sports.
- This broader focus allowed them to adapt to the pandemic and expand their offerings.
Virtual Bingo Success
- Kristi experimented with various virtual offerings like interviewing athletes and online bingo.
- Selling virtual bingo to corporations became a surprising success during the pandemic.