The power of play for better leadership | Rachel Supalla | TEDxParkland
In a world overwhelmed by burnout, pressure, and disconnection, Rachel Supalla reveals the game-changing truth: play is the antidote. It’s not childish—it’s human, and science backs it up.In this TEDx talk, Rachel takes us on a journey from skepticism to transformation, showing how leading with play—creativity, empathy, and joy—unlocks connection, collaboration, and innovation. Through her real-world experience, including a transformative moment in Utah, she demonstrates how workplaces that embrace play outperform those that don’t.
The best part? You don’t need a research paper to see the magic—just ask the teams who thrived through play. When you lead with permission instead of pressure, the result isn’t just compliance; it’s transformation.Rachel’s story proves that leadership isn’t about control; it’s about connection. Get ready to rethink leadership and discover how embracing play can create a culture of joy, freedom, and creativity. Because the power to lead comes from the permission to play.Are you ready to unlock your leadership magic? Rachel Supalla, M.Ed. is known for disrupting traditional leadership with her signature Playful Leadership framework. As the founder and CEO of Discovery Kidzone Montessori, she scaled a home-based childcare program into a multimillion-dollar, multi-state company with 10 thriving schools.Now, as the author of The Playful Leader’s Toolkit: Creating a Legacy of Joy and Magic in Ruby Slippers, Rachel empowers leaders to build team-led cultures rooted in empathy, creativity, and sustainable impact. Her M.A.G.I.C. framework—Mindset, Assessment, Grounding, Influence, and Clarity—replaces burnout and bottlenecks with boldness and brilliance.A former underestimated student with ADHD and dyslexia, Rachel knows firsthand the power of rewriting your own leadership story. Through her work, she invites every leader to stop playing small and start leading with joy—because permission to play is power to lead. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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