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Hi! Nice to meet you!

             Let's start with the basics.

(But you can flip the balls to learn a bit more.)

See?

I'm a keynote speaker.

(I share useful stuff, but I also do ridiculous stunts on stage.)

And I write.

(Books and stuff...)

Basically, I remind people of something fairly simple...

(...simple, but rarely-practiced)

Having FUN
​gets more stuff DONE.

Seriously.
​Fun at work (done right) makes people more productive!
(& creative & collaborative & courageous & ...
​the list goes on...)

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My story?

I studied engineering.
​So I got good at solving problems.

Engineering Physics.
(lots of math)

​Then a Master's in Environmental Engineering.
(less math-y,
​more people-y)

But I wanted to solve problems to help people.

I was influenced by Engineers Without Borders (& other folks) who were inspired to tackle BIG problems.

I was curious.
Why are some organizations so inspired & inspiring?

(And why do some SEEMINGLY amazing teams struggle?)

So I researched creativity, collaboration, & culture...
(well, I still do...)

Spoiler alert:
Culture matters a lot.
​Productivity...
Talent...
Innovation...
And there's LOTS of room for improvement.

And, I was an entertainer.

A juggler, mostly, but a student of "all-things-entertaining".

And I was an educator.

They even let me teach at a university...
​A whole decade!

So I put it all together...

(combining odd skills and interests is actually how many people find unique careers...)

And now I help leaders create awesome culture.
More fun...
More meaningful...
​It's good stuff.

(Amazing, eh?! People can actually LEARN to make things more fun!
​And that makes basically everything else better too.)

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My Official "I still want to know more" Bio

Joel is an ideas guy. His gift seems to stem from a strange combination of observation, ​insight, and blatant disregard for conventional thinking.

He's also a juggler (literally and figuratively). In addition to leading the Beanstalk Creative team as Executive Producer & CEO, he maintains a busy schedule as a keynote speaker, creating unforgettable spectacles on stage. 

He's the father of 3 kids, 2 of whom co-habitated a uterus, and he attempts to be a good husband. Joel has authored 3 books, (2 of them with Brandon Love), and he taught engineering for over a decade at McMaster University, where he was named one of the Top 150+ Alumni. 
​
He’s a seasoned barbershop quartet singer, he formerly chaired the board of the world-renowned Hamilton Children’s Choir, and he's a semi-competitive joggler (that's right... juggling whilst jogging). ​

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Stats & Fancy Letters

Certified Speaking Professional
​(CSP™)

Proud Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS)

Top 150+ McMaster Engineering Alumni

2000+ Presentations

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