Mateusz Walaszczyk, CEO of MindLab, psychologist and experienced manager, talks with Błażej Płaczynta-Brudnik — long-time trainer and MindLab board member — who discusses organizational change and how training games can support it. He explains how games influence employees during change processes, why metaphors work well in conversations on difficult topics, and why “smart people do foolish things.” Enjoy the conversation!

❓ In this episode:

◾ Games as a language for discussing difficult topics
◾ Games as catalysts for processes
◾ Training games vs. reality simulations
◾ Games and raising awareness of pseudorationality
◾ How training games support change
◾ Games as a tool for managing resistance

📚 Recommended reading:

Our Iceberg is Melting. – John Kotter
Grywalizacja – Paweł Tkaczyk

Speakers:

👨‍💻 Mateusz Walaszczyk:
Co-founder of MindLab. Psychologist and experienced manager — he led MindLab’s sales team for 10 years. He specializes in training programs focused on enhancing sales, customer service, and managerial competencies. He holds a degree in Applied Psychology from Jagiellonian University and completed the trainer course at SKiTZ MATRIK.

👨‍💻 Błażej Płaczynta-Brudnik:
Board member at MindLab and trainer. He specializes in training and onboarding employees in industrial companies, designing and implementing programs to develop managerial and communication skills. He holds degrees in Psychology from Jagiellonian University and Environmental Geophysics from AGH University of Science and Technology. He completed the BAZA trainer course under PTP supervision and is a certified Change Management Practitioner by APMG International.