We tend to think of learning as a formal, often exhausting exercise - something that happens in structured environments, at set times, with a PowerPoint and a facilitator standing up front.

What’s more, for many professionals today, learning has been parked. They tell themselves they're too busy. That they've already done the degrees. That professional development is a 'nice-to-have' once the real work is done.

That mindset? It's expired.

In a world where generative AI is rewriting jobs and quantum computing is on the horizon, professionals can't afford to rely on outdated knowledge frameworks. What was cutting-edge last year is baseline this year and potentially obsolete the next.

In 2025, learning isn’t optional. It’s key to survival and "play" could be the key to unlocking its full power.

Why grown-ups need to play again

At academyEX, we do a lot of thinking about what truly effective learning looks like - especially for people who are already in the thick of their careers. What we’ve seen time and time again is that the people who thrive aren’t necessarily the most technical; but they are the most curious.

And the most direct pathway to curiosity is play.

Play isn’t childish. It’s cognitively essential and activates parts of the brain that routine work doesn’t. It makes us better problem-solvers; boosts memory, lowers stress and opens us up to new possibilities.

But here's what matters most: play creates a safe space to experiment without fear of real-world failure. This is something that’s in short supply in many workplaces today. In a professional setting, structured play becomes a powerful testing ground where abstract ideas turn into practical skills.

Not a classroom; a catalyst

This is the thinking behind The Play Lab, a new hands-on learning space in Auckland designed specifically for adults ready to lead change. It’s not about beanbags or buzzwords - it’s about serious play for serious minds in a more human, more exploratory way. Inside the lab, teams don’t sit through lectures. They build. They prototype. They tinker with robotics, AI, sensors, 3D printers and digital tools by actually using them. They have the opportunity to solve problems using new technologies they may have been too intimidated to try elsewhere.

Importantly, in the process, something shifts: confidence builds, awareness expands and perspective sharpens. That’s the magic of play-based learning - it meets you where you are, and gets you where you are meant to go.

We don’t need more information — we need more imagination

Most professionals today aren't starved of content. They're starved of space. Space to think, to reflect and to imagine what else is possible and how their work might need to evolve in response.

The Play Lab is not about more information; we’re about more room for insight. It gives people permission to unplug from the constant stream of tasks and reconnect with the ‘What if?’ mindset they may not have used in years. Because when the world is shifting fast, the most valuable skill isn’t knowing everything - it’s knowing how to learn, unlearn and relearn.

Technology won’t wait

Let’s be honest: the pace of change isn’t slowing down. Generative AI, automation, digital regulation - these aren’t trends; they’re tectonic shifts. And yes, kids may be growing up immersed in tech, but it's adults who now need help catching up. And catching fire again.

It’s about making a conscious choice to step into the unknown and be a beginner again.

Imagine that feeling you once had, the one that made you smile as you learnt something new. The sense of joy that comes from stepping into the unknown. The endorphin rush from accomplishing something that is experimental and unscripted.

Building on the pioneering work of The Mind Lab, The Play Lab represents the next evolution in experiential learning for professionals, a space where theory meets practice and curiosity becomes capability.

This isn't just about staying relevant in your career. It's about developing the adaptive intelligence to navigate a world in flux, where climate urgency, technological acceleration, and economic restructuring are converging to create unprecedented challenges and opportunities.

As we head into another year of rapid change, you've got a choice:

You can wait for the disruption. Or you can start experimenting inside it.

At academyEX, we believe the future belongs to the curious.

And curiosity thrives in spaces where we're free to explore, connect, and yes — play.

So let’s stop asking why play belongs in professional life, and start asking: why did we ever take it out?