About Van Lai-DuMone
Van Lai-DuMone mobilizes companies to discover and utilize creativity at every level of their organization. She inspires people and teams to follow curiosity, ask ‘What if’, and take small steps to accomplish big goals; and uniquely engages audiences with hands-on activities.
Creativity cultivates idea sharing, and gives everyone a chance to have their voice heard. This is the foundation of Van Lai-DuMone’s work as the founder of worksmart, a progressive team and leadership development consultancy that activates creativity and experiential learning to enrich company culture and skyrocket performance.
Born in Vietnam and raised in Southern California, after her family fled Vietnam as war refugees, Van saw resilience in action as she watched her parents pave a new life for themselves. She saw first-hand how creative thinking, innovation, and curiosity can help people overcome their circumstances. Van shares this story in her TEDx Talk titled, ‘What if? The Life Changing Power of Curiosity’.
What differentiates Van, is that she doesn’t deliver talks ... she delivers experiences. Which means, get ready to participate with some of the following tools Van brings: LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Methods, Creative Problem Solving, & Creative Artifacts (Arts and Crafts)
Featured topics
‘What if?: The Life Changing Power of Curiosity
This inspiring talk is a call to action for each of us to follow our curiosities to create possibilities seen and unforeseeable. Van shares the story of how her mom and 19 other Vietnamese refugee women, with the help of a movie star – followed their curiosity to trail blaze what is now the $8.3 billion dollar manicure industry in the United States. She then shares her innovative framework to help others follow their curiosity by asking ‘What if?’, and taking small steps – making us stronger together by the sum of our unique contributions.
Integrate Creativity to Transform Your Work
Companies have historically used creativity as a break from work, for team building or improving morale. This interactive talk shows you tools to start incorporating creativity directly into the work you do, to have an immediate impact on business outcomes and workplace engagement. In addition, you will have the chance to experience how creativity is good for business through LEGO® Serious Play® methods and creative problem-solving tools.
Stronger Together… By The Sum of Our Differences
What sets us apart, and the sum of our differences, not our similarities - makes us stronger together. Through interactive & creative exercises, uncover your unique qualities and talents. Then learn to apply your natural character strengths with intentionality to make any team and organization stronger by asking ‘How might I?’.
What People Are Saying…
MPISCC Board Member
"Your session and talk were so inspiring! Thank you for sharing your story. It moved me to tears. And your thought provoking ideas on creative play are relevant to any profession and business."
Illumina
"Van spoke at our Global Events Council and her session re-energized the group! Van is a pleasure to work with along every step of the way. Her style is unique, authentic and inspirational."
Pandora
"My team and I brought Van in to give a talk/workshop on creativity in the workplace to our Revenue Organization. Van was an absolute delight to work with; and delivered one of the most highly-rated sessions in the series we were running."
"By incorporating creativity into the workplace, you tap into a capacity that everyone in the room has. In doing so, you provide space for curiosity, ideas, and solutions to emerge. Creativity has the capacity to turn complexity and challenge into possibilities."
- Van Lai-DuMone
