In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Mo Fitzgerald — former NWSL player, strategist, facilitator, and founder of Play Street Studio — to explore why play is not a distraction from performance, but a catalyst for it.We unpack the loss of identity athletes experience after sport, the isolation of leadership and entrepreneurship, and why modern workplaces are starving for connection, creativity, and presence. Mo breaks down how play functions as a love language, a leadership practice, and a competitive advantage — not fluff, not recreation, but a disciplined way to build culture, trust, and innovation.

Key Takeaways

1) Play is wired into human biology and is essential for connection, creativity, and adaptation

2) The best leaders facilitate wisdom already inside their teams instead of extracting answers

3) Creativity is a practice — if teams don’t train it, they can’t access it under pressure

4) Seriousness is often mistaken for rigor, but play and excellence are not opposites

5) In-person connection creates exponential impact that technology cannot replace

Quotes

• “Play isn’t juvenile — it’s how humans connect, adapt, and create.”

• “If you don’t practice creativity, it won’t show up when you need it.”

• “Leadership isn’t about engagement — it’s about who you choose to lead for.”

• “We haven’t updated how we work to match how people actually learn.”

• “Play creates culture. Culture creates performance.”

Connect with Mo Fitzgerald

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mofitzgerald

• Website: https://playstreetstudio.com

• Instagram: @momofits

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