Most leaders focus on what employees do but overlook how they feel while doing it. That oversight creates a ripple effect that eventually reaches customers and erodes trust, loyalty, and brand strength.

In this talk, Stephen Baer connects the science of engagement with the mechanics of game design. Drawing from his experience in the video game industry and three decades studying motivation and performance, he reveals why the world’s most successful games are built on elements many workplaces unintentionally strip away. Audiences will discover how to redesign work environments to build deeper trust, stronger retention, and more resilient performance.

Audiences Will Leave With:

• A new lens on disengagement - Most leaders treat disengagement as a motivation issue. This session reframes it as a design issue. Attendees will understand why capable, well-intentioned people disengage and how leadership decisions shape how employees show up for customers and the brand.

• Practical design principles for everyday leadership - By translating core game mechanics such as exploration, social connection, feedback, and meaningful challenge into business applications, audiences will gain practical tools to redesign meetings, projects, and team dynamics so work feels purposeful, collaborative, and energizing.

• A framework for building connection that lasts - Organizations often feel fragile during change, growth, or crisis. Attendees will leave with a clear framework for building trust and commitment that holds under pressure, ensuring employees and customers remain engaged when it matters most.

Attendees walk away with a copy of my book, Stickology, which includes 30 paired company case studies contrasting organizations that build lasting loyalty with those that rely on superficial engagement tactics. The book also includes self-assessments and team exercises that leaders can immediately deploy to strengthen employee engagement and customer trust.