Project Poker | Teaching poker in the corporate world

In addition to being a professional poker player, a father, and a member of Team Pro, I have increasingly taken on another role over the last year. Every once in a while, I would get an invitation to speak about poker at a business conference. These companies are not so much interested in hearing me speak about the intricacies of the game, but rather how poker concepts can be applied to the decision-making process. In the beginning I didn’t really know what to make of it, but now that I’ve given a few talks I’m really enjoying these conferences.
My speeches can take a couple of different forms. One could have me speak for 45 minutes about poker, the market around the game and the tournament scene. More often, I will break down specific game concepts and show the audience how to apply them in a business context. I have spoken to groups of consultants, portfolio managers, and more recently, over 500 people at an online marketing conference in Berlin. At this point I’m used to speaking in front of people, but I have to admit, 500 was a big number!
I am also working on a series of seminars I hope to give at a continued learning institution for a conglomerate of German banks. All the local branches send their management teams and new employees there to improve their skills. It is located in a big villa and they hold a variety of lectures and seminars with leaders in the financial world. I am preparing a small-group course that will not only cover concepts like position, tight-aggressive strategy and reading opponents, but we’ll actually get to sit down at a table and play some hands. I can’t teach them how to be better bankers–that’s their area of expertise, not mine. However, I can show them how to transfer the skills they learn at the poker table to their daily business lives.
In a way, poker and business offer unparalleled profit opportunities for those who are positioned to capitalize on them. By applying the teachings of the poker table to the boardroom table, people can navigate these challenging economic times and position their businesses for success for years to come.
The EPT Barcelona was my last live tournament for a while because I have another important commitment. My wife is due to give birth to our third child in the middle of September. We already have two daughters and in only a few weeks, we’ll welcome a son to our family. I plan on staying home for a while after he’s born and then we’ll take a break from the baby-production business. Luckily I’ll have the WCOOP to keep me busy during those first long nights! Jan Heitmann