Peter Williamson: Pro Golfer Turned Game Designer for Social Good

Oct 2

Peter Williamson: Pro Golfer Turned Game Designer for Social Good

While every PFP guest is PlayFull, we occasionally get the chance to talk to someone who plays full-time! And in the case of Peter Williamson, this has been true since he made a living swinging a club. Now, as a philanthropist, game designer, and play coach, he’s putting these skills to use making the world a better place.

In this provocative episode about how fun and games can be used for serious purposes, the CEO of Game Genius shares how he transforms play into a catalyst for learning, connection, and systems change. Listeners are invited to discover how games can open new ways of seeing, strengthen communities, and bring joy into even the most serious work. It’s a great reminder that play is not just a pastime, but a powerful force for change.

Key Takeaways:

Peter Williamson shifted from a professional golf career to founding Game Genius and Barometer XP, building a mission around play for good.
He draws from his background in family philanthropy, education, and systems thinking to design games that create real-world impact.
His work demonstrates how play can act as a bridge, fostering connection and resilience even in times of social division.
Treat play as philanthropy by bringing joy, awareness, and connection into your community work.
Start with existing games—adapt classics like Bridge, Scrabble, or Monopoly, “re-skin” a game everyone knows, instead of reinventing from scratch. This increases options and access.
Focus on transferable skills when using play (like communication, adaptability, collaboration) rather than only teaching content.
Apply a systems lens through play—expose yourself and your teams to different games as a way to recognize, question, and improve the systems you live and work in.

"I’ve always thought of play as another form of philanthropy—how can you give fun, awareness-building moments and play to a community to help them understand why best connection is important." — Peter Williamson

"There’s a kind of magical moment with play where when people have that light bulb flip, and I’ve had that enough times myself, where I’m like, oh, if I can do that for other people, that would be really fun." — Peter Williamson

"You could create the greatest game in the world, but if a nonprofit doesn’t know how to use it, then it kind of sits on the shelf behind them as maybe a tool they bring out once a year." — Peter Williamson

More about Peter Williamson:

Peter Williamson is a professional golfer turned entrepreneur who uses his deep knowledge of games, design, and philanthropy to catalyze change in communities. He co-founded a venture called Barometer XP, which leverages the power of play to help people thrive at work. He also leads a creative capacity nonprofit called Game Genius, co-founded a local giving circle for early to mid-career professionals, and participates on several nonprofit boards, including a 6-generation family foundation. Peter has a BA in Studio Art and Geography from Dartmouth College. He lives in Ellicott City, MD, with his wife and 15-month-old son.

Connect with Peter:
Website: https://www.gamegenius.org & https://www.barometerxp.com

Email: peter@gamegenius.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwilliamson23 & https://www.linkedin.com/company/gamegenius & https://www.linkedin.com/company/barometerxp

Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/