Stale training events. Rusty delivery methods. "That’s the way we’ve always done it" mindsets. Sound familiar?

Inspired by Hulu’s Emmy-winning series The Bear and the transformative philosophy in Unreasonable Hospitality, this session is a behind-the-scenes look at how we challenged conventional thinking and reshaped every element of our gamified training event—from agenda design to the language we use with participants.

Discover how to infuse hospitality, intentionality, and emotional impact into your courses and events to create meaningful, memorable experiences your learners will never forget.

In this dynamic session, you will:

• Explore how Unreasonable Hospitality can reframe the way you approach learning design and event planning
• Identify opportunities to turn routine touchpoints into powerful moments of connection
• Learn strategies for building culture, engagement, and generosity into the learner journey
• See real examples of how these principles were used to reimagine both an online event, and how we’re applying them now to create an unforgettable in-person experience at GamiCon NOLA, co-located with Training Magazine’s TechLearn 2025

Monica Cornetti, a celebrated gamification expert, leads Sententia, Inc., specializing in game-based learning for corporate training and adult education. Renowned as a top gamification speaker and strategist, Monica held the #1 spot in the “Gamification Gurus Power 100” from 2015-2020 and was named the #1 Most Influential Woman in Gamification in 2021 and 2022. She co-authored "Deliberate Fun: A Purposeful Application of Game Mechanics to Learning Experiences" and orchestrates the annual GamiCon International Conference for the Gamification of Adult Learning.

Monica holds a BA in Psychology and a Master's in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. When she is not busy changing learning with gamification, Monica can be found “researching” gameplay with her grandsons.

Leah Carrubba is a collaborative servant leader known for designing immersive, high- impact learning experiences that align with business goals and empower global teams. As Senior Director of VAS Sales Training at Visa, she oversees worldwide training initiatives that integrate solution selling, product fluency, and innovative instructional design. With deep expertise in enablement, onboarding, and leadership development, Leah combines storytelling, research, and real-world insight to create learning programs that are not only practical, but also memorable and results-driven. 

She is currently pursuing her Level 3 Gamification Master Certification with Sententia, bringing game-based strategy into every corner of her work.