In September 2024, as I was closing in on four years as a wellbeing consultant, I found myself reflecting on how we could design learning journeys for partner organisations that were not only meaningful but also engaging.

I thought back to my time as a workplace campaigns manager in the development sector. While combing through an old employee engagement catalogue, I stumbled across an activity called “Workplace Kaun Banega Crorepati.” That’s when an idea began to spark: what if we gamified our learning experiences? What if a game show format could be used to drive high-value workplace learning — on subjects people often find heavy or “mandatory”?

Fast forward a year, and that experiment has turned into a core part of our work. We’ve now conducted scores of gamified sessions — on cultural sensitivity, gender sensitisation, POSH learning, employee wellbeing, mental health, and more. And the results have been beyond encouraging:

• – 99% employees found the interaction fun & engaging
• – 90% said the subject matter was relevant and easy to understand
• – 94% agreed the expertise shared was useful
• – 100% felt the session contributed positively to their growth and learning

The qualitative shifts were even more exciting:

• – Employees showed improved attitudes towards complex and sensitive topics
• – Engagement levels and on-video participation in virtual sessions rose significantly
• – HR teams reported stronger appreciation for innovative wellbeing initiatives
• – Managers reflected more deeply on workplace wellbeing and inclusivity after sessions
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So, what’s the takeaway?

Gamification isn’t about trivialising serious subjects. It’s about recognising that adults, just like children, learn best when they are engaged, challenged, and emotionally invested. By weaving play into workplace learning, we lower barriers, spark curiosity, and make difficult conversations easier to enter.

At Sthir, this approach has shown us one clear truth: when learning is playful, it sticks. Employees don’t just absorb information; they remember it, reflect on it, and are more likely to apply it in their daily behaviours.

Sometimes, the most effective way to shift mindsets is to invite people to play.

🎲 A Sthir Reflection

Ask yourself:

1. 1. How am I making space for play and curiosity in workplace learning?
2. 2. Do my team’s learning sessions spark genuine excitement — or just compliance?
3. 3. What’s one heavy subject in my workplace that could benefit from a lighter, gamified approach?