In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we’re joined by Kristin Bryce, founder and CEO of Managed Chaos Innovations, whose bold, human-centered approach has helped transform burnt-out teams into engaged innovators. Drawing on a background in engineering, logistics, and government operations, Kristin blends lean methodology, storytelling, emotional intelligence, and gamification to solve the toughest cultural and operational problems.

Her journey—from childhood resilience to leading a lean transformation in local government—shows how even the most rigid systems can be reimagined when you address both people and process.

Key Lessons Covered in This Episode:

Turning Trauma into Strategy: Kristin reveals how she drew from personal trauma work to design business frameworks that address hidden burnout and disengagement—without ever naming them as such.

Monsters at Work: Discover how naming shared frustrations as “monsters”—like the Bureaucratic Banshee and Time Vampire—sparked 94% voluntary participation in a lean transformation that had previously stalled for years.

Playful Systems Thinking: Hear how game design and World War II blitz tactics helped Kristin break down massive goals into five-minute missions that delivered real results without overwhelming teams.

From Blame Game to Shared Mission: Learn how transparency and humor helped eliminate finger-pointing and replace it with shared purpose, improved cross-team communication, and psychological safety.

Government Innovation Without Authority or Budget: Find out how Kristin helped roll out a lean transformation across 3,700 people—with no budget, no title-based authority, and only two team members.

Sustainable Innovation Starts with Clarity: Why even the most creative, future-forward organizations will fail at innovation if their foundation—like operations, priorities, and contingency plans—isn’t solid.

The Hidden Cost of Workforce Trauma: Explore the real toll of workplace disconnection, confusion, and burnout—and how play, voice, and shared meaning can restore team resilience.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Innovation fails when goals are unclear and operations are unstable.

✅ Playful design and storytelling can unlock deep team engagement.

✅ Workforce trauma is real—and needs to be addressed without shame.

✅ Government teams are passionate and intelligent, but often stuck in systems that don't serve them.

✅ Making change fun doesn’t mean it’s not serious—it means it’s human.

Links And Resources:

• Connect with Kristin Bryce on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristin-bryce-6b5a7a26
• Website: www.managedchaosinnovations.com (Company)