When cultural diversity meets psychological safety

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A Designfulness™ workshop at KPMG Ignition exploring how diverse perspectives can fuel innovation when people feel safe enough to contribute.
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On World Day for Cultural Diversity in May 2026, I was invited by Kerry Harmer to facilitate a workshop at KPMG Ignition at Platform Calgary as part of the Ignition Thursday series.

The session brought together the themes of cultural diversity, psychological safety, and innovation, exploring what it takes for people to feel safe enough to contribute their perspectives, challenge assumptions, and collaborate more openly.

From presence to collective creativity

Through the Designfulness™ approach, we combined an embodied alignment practice with LEGO® Serious Play® to explore how we show up individually and collectively before we begin creating together.

Rather than jumping straight into problem-solving, we started by slowing down, becoming present, and connecting with the space and one another.

Participants then used LEGO® Serious Play® to build and share stories about moments when they had held back at work, when an idea, concern, or perspective had remained unspoken.

By making these experiences tangible, we opened up a different kind of conversation about the dynamics that shape collaboration and the conditions that allow people to contribute more fully.
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What makes innovation possible?

One of the things that stayed with me was how familiar these experiences were across the room. What can feel like an individual struggle to speak up is often connected to the wider environment we create together.

For me, this is where innovation begins: not simply by bringing different people and ideas together, but by intentionally creating the conditions in which people can listen, express themselves, and build on each other's perspectives.

This is at the heart of Designfulness™, bringing embodied presence, design thinking, and LEGO® Serious Play® together to support more meaningful collaboration and human-centred innovation.
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A shared reflection

A big thank you to Kerry Harmer for the invitation, to KPMG Ignition for hosting the session, and to everyone who brought their curiosity and openness to the experience.

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Explore the conversation further:

‍Psychological Safety: A Strategic Condition for Innovation, an article co-written with Kerry Harmer reflecting on the session and the role psychological safety plays in innovation.