June 17, 2025
Episode 142: How Creativity and Curiosity Drive Team Growth with Van Lai-DuMone
In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld sits down with Van Lai-DuMone, founder and CEO of worksmart Advantage and author of What If Pigs Can Fly? to explore how creativity can transform the workplace. Dane and Van explore the power of divergent and convergent thinking, how to build psychological safety through play, and why the “worst idea ever” might be the best place to start.
Van shares her powerful origin story as a Vietnamese refugee and how her parents’ resilience, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit shaped her journey. Together, Dane and Van challenge outdated learning models and make the case for experiential, in-the-moment learning that’s rooted in curiosity and flow. Van shares how tapping into creativity boosts team morale, builds connection across generations, and fosters psychological safety.
Finally, Van shares the story behind her new book, What If Pigs Can Fly?, which provides a simple yet powerful framework to help individuals and teams follow their curiosity: pause and pay attention, ask powerful questions, and take one small step.
How Creativity and Curiosity Drive Team Growth with Van Lai-DuMone
Guest Bio
Van is the founder of Worksmart Advantage, a progressive team development and leadership training consultancy that leverages creativity, play, and experiential learning to evolve mindsets, skill sets, and behaviors in the workplace. Her work is grounded in the belief that everyone is creative, great ideas can come from any level of an organization, and when teams are empowered to share their ideas, culture, performance, and innovation can thrive.
She has shared her approach in her TEDx Talk, “What if? The Life-Changing Power of Curiosity,” and her book What If Pigs Can Fly? A Practical Guide to Follow Your Curiosity.
Van studied Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and earned her MBA from Pepperdine University. With over 15 years of experience across corporate, startup, and nonprofit sectors, Van is rewriting the way creativity is applied in the workplace. She invites clients to think with their hands and use creative tools to challenge traditional training methods. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and forward-thinking organizations across industries.
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast
01:47 Meet the Guest: Van Lai-DuMone Background and Journey
04:07 The Birth of worksmart Advantage
07:34 Creativity in the Workplace: Tools and Techniques
11:28 The Power of Divergent and Convergent Thinking
12:42 Building Trust and Psychological Safety
17:14 The Role of Creativity in Team Development
24:38 The Importance of Creative Tools
25:14 Embracing Creative Chaos
26:15 Creativity in Everyday Work
27:04 Creative Exercises for Meetings
28:09 The Value of Process Over Results
28:34 Creativity Across Different Functions
29:41 Transitioning with Creativity
31:09 Introducing the Book: What If Pigs Can Fly?
31:45 Framework for Following Curiosity
39:37 Applying Creativity in Personal Life
42:42 Final Thoughts on Creativity and Curiosity
Resources
- Find Van’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/What-Pigs-Can-Fly-Possibilities/dp/1953183433
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