In this series, WeWork’s director of digital community selects a WeWork member to get to know better, sharing her fun findings with the rest of the community.
It was through my WeWork Boston colleagues Dave McLaughlin and Casey Barrett that I first learned about Phillip McKee. Playing fun, classic board games isn’t just a way for this WeWork Fort Point member to unwind—it helps him raise funds for a great cause. Read on to learn all about McKee’s favorite games, supporting coders in need, and finding the best bites in Boston.
You’re coordinating a fun event for fellow WeWorkers to help raise funds for charity—specifically, a Board Game Night that started at WeWork Fort Point in Boston that’s grown so much that WeWork South Station has to accommodate all of the attendees, with donations going to Resilient Coders who teach young people in underserved communities how to code. What inspired you to get that started?
My CEO is in love with board games. And he’s also the technical advisor for Resilient Coders. And I love going to events, so it was all three points meeting at one central idea. How can we make networking events better and also make a difference? So that’s where Board Game Night started. We wanted to have a cool new way to have organic relationships start over fun games. And if we can help raise money for Resilient Coder, even better.
When you’re not planning amazing board game nights for fellow WeWork members, you work at East Coast Product. What’s that like?
It’s a lot of fun. So a little background on East Coast Product: we are a digital product agency that works to enhance existing teams with the app development cycle—everything from strategy, to design, to user testing, to development. And it’s a lot of fun because I get to work with companies of all shapes and sizes and help them realize their dreams! I get to work with new ideas every month. I can’t stress enough how awesome my job is.
If you were stuck in an elevator with a handful of your favorite people, and could only bring three board games, what games would you bring?
Oh, boy! That’s a tough one. I really like the games that have some sort of level of intrigue: at a previous job, we used to play Werewolf every single day. So Werewolf, definitely. And I like games that inspire creativity, so I’d bring a game called Telestrations. And I can’t deny a classic, like Settlers of Catan. I think there’s a reason why it’s been so successful for so long!
What are some of your favorite hidden gems around Boston?
By far, my favorite place to get cocktails is a place called Drink. It’s a real speakeasy-type place, where they have no drink menu at all. You go in, tell the bartender what you’re in the mood for, and they try to accommodate you. I’m also a big fan of seafood and oysters, and Row 34 is just really fantastic seafood—some of the best oysters I’ve ever had. And both of these places are within a block of WeWork Fort Point!
If Ideas by We readers want to join in Board Game Night, can they?
Yeah! Anyone in Boston is definitely invited. We’re always looking for both attendees who are cool and want to play board games, and we also like spotlighting young startups at our events as well.
Photos: Pretty Instant