Meet Dr. Joe Lasley

“Dr. Joe” Lasley is an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Organizational Studies at the University of Southern Maine and the CEO/Founder of Gamenamic Leadership, where he merges academic rigor with the imaginative power of tabletop role-playing games to transform how individuals and teams learn to lead in the real world. He is an International Coaching Federation certified Leadership Coach, has a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, and degrees in Organizational Psychology, Higher Education Administration, and Organizational Communication.

In academia, Joe designs and teaches courses on leadership development, systems thinking, organizational and group dynamics, with a focus on experiential and transformational learning. He has published peer-reviewed research on leadership development through role-playing games, leads action research projects, and regularly presents at national and international conferences including the International Leadership Association, National Communication Association, and North American Simulation And Gaming Association.

As a consultant, Dr. Joe created LeadRPG, an innovative method that blends leadership development with tabletop role-playing games to build emotionally intelligent, adaptive leaders and creative teams. With the LeadRPG Team, he has developed immersive retreats, facilitated custom programs for mission-driven organizations and tech leaders, and produced game-based toolkits used for leadership coaching, team development, and reflective practice.

With expertise spanning group dynamics, adaptive leadership, and game-based learning, Dr. Joe is committed to helping people unlock their potential, co-design shared experiences, and navigate complexity with creativity, purpose, and play.