Discovering My Tribe: My #Play14 Journey

Reflecting on my career, there are many standout moments and brilliant people, but only one pivotal community: #play14. I discovered #play14 by chance in 2015 during an offsite day with Ant Gardiner . We were brainstorming and designing workshops, stretching our facilitation legs and experimenting with serious games, when a conference on the subject caught my eye.?

Extroverted Introvert

I am, and always have been, an extroverted introvert—by which I mean a clown. When I’m on, I’m on: leading with clarity and strength, full of presence and charisma, loud and playful. But when the spotlight’s off, I prefer the shadows.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg might as well have been Kathmandu for me, as I wasn’t well-travelled. Yet, before long, I found myself there. Networking for me is about as fun as a bath full of nettles, so I found a corner and sat quietly. Then, something new happened: someone found me. She checked in, putting me at ease with genuine kindness. We talked, and it was… good. She embodied a culture of inclusivity, respect, kindness, and selflessness, which I soon discovered was the essence of #play14.

Ignition

I was able to be alone, and no one minded. My friend Christina Davidian arrived from the UK, and soon enough, it began—explosively. Games, warm-ups, and orientation; my energy surged. I discovered the challenging dichotomy of being present while wanting to record everything sufficiently. It was loud, energetic, and marvellous. The first evening felt like a rollercoaster, leaving me excited and curious for the days to come.

Un-Conference

Every conference I’d attended before was curated with tracks and keynote speakers. But #play14 was different—it self-organised. A marketplace was held where people proposed sessions of games, activities, problems to ponder, and more, and from these, an agenda was formed. It was radical. I proposed a game I loved, and the response was overwhelming: willing, grateful, enthusiastic players. It was exhilarating, even intoxicating.

Tribe

Cédric Pontet , a #play14 founder, approached us, asking if we Brits would like to lead the marketplace the next day. Of course, we said yes, and we did. We probably made a mess of it, but #play14’s culture embraces that, and it was grand. Day 2 was created, and it too was terrific. I had an epiphany—I had found my tribe, and I wasn’t even looking! I loved this culture and the people within it. We shared passions and ethos. We didn’t want to wait a year for more, so we asked if we could bring this to London—they were open to it, and so we did. Others followed, and #play14 began to spread across the world.

Impact

#play14 has radically shaped both my personal and professional life. Through it, I’ve become better in every way that truly matters. I’ve learned, practised, created, and formed lifelong friendships. The decision to attend in 2015 marked the beginning of a new, profoundly impactful chapter in my career. I am deeply grateful to Cédric Pontet , Yann Gensollen , Pierre E. NEIS , and everyone in the #play14 tribe for this incredible journey, and this is just the beginning! <3