We often meet people through their professional surface.

The roles they've held. The companies they've built. The neat story their CV tells. It's efficient. It helps us place each other quickly. But it also skips a more interesting question.

Who are you when the career story goes quiet?

That question sits at the heart of a this conversation Morgan Duta had with Jakob Knutzen. Not as a quote machine or a success case, but as a mirror for something many of us recognize, often uncomfortably.

Because Jakob talks very openly about a moment that I've seen again and again in leaders, founders, and senior professionals. The moment where you suddenly realize you can see your entire future.

And it scares you.

Jakob describes leaving a consulting path not because it was failing, but because it was too clear. The promotions, the rhythm, the outcomes. Everything made sense. And that was precisely the problem.

It wasn't risk that pushed him away. It was boredom disguised as safety.

That resonates deeply. Not because everyone should leave their job or move across the world, but because that moment of clarity is information. When the future becomes entirely predictable, the question is no longer "is this good enough?" but "is this alive enough for me?"

Many people misread that feeling as restlessness or lack of gratitude. Jakob frames it differently. He treats it as a signal that experience, challenge, and growth matter more to him than optimizing for certainty.

One of Jakob's sharper observations is how badly we assess risk, especially in hindsight.

From the outside, his choices look dramatic. Moving countries. Switching domains. Building companies without ticking all the expected boxes first. But from the inside, the downside was limited. He knew he had a safety net. He knew what "failure" would actually look like in concrete terms.

And this is where the conversation becomes uncomfortable in a useful way.

Jakob is explicit about privilege. If you come from stability, if you have a solid base, some financial or social safety, then constantly holding yourself back "just to be safe" can become a form of self-deception.

Not everyone has that room to move. But if you do, maybe the question isn't whether you're allowed to take risks. Maybe it's why you're not using the space you've been given.

That's not a moral judgement. It's an invitation to be honest.

Another thing Jakob reframes beautifully is the idea of adventure.

It's easy to confuse adventure with travel. With geography. With movement on a map. But for him, adventure is much broader. It's about experience. Attention. Staying open to being changed by what you're doing.

Interestingly, becoming a father didn't reduce that sense of adventure. It deepened it. He talks about experiencing the world through the eyes of his son, about how everyday life suddenly becomes intense, surprising, and meaningful in new ways.

That matters, because it expands how we think about ambition.

Ambition doesn't have to mean more scale, more speed, more visibility. It can also mean more presence. More learning. More lived experience. A bigger internal life, not just a bigger external footprint.

Jakob doesn't describe himself as a "creative genius". In fact, he's quite explicit that creativity isn't central to his identity.

What he is good at is something else. Channeling creative energy. Removing obstacles. Creating the conditions in which others can do the best work of their lives.

That's a subtle but important shift in how we think about leadership.

In his work with facilitation, product building, and teams, leadership isn't about having the best ideas. It's about helping a group move from point A to point B without collapsing into noise, politics, or safe mediocrity.

That's facilitation in its purest form. And it's increasingly relevant in a world where tools, processes, and AI can easily overwhelm human attention.

One of Jakob's strongest points is also one of the most confronting.

Most teams don't fail because they lack talent. They fail because they converge. They aim for what everyone can agree on. They smooth out edges. They optimize for comfort.

And that's how generic work gets made.

He's blunt about it. Convergence to the mean is how bland products, forgettable strategies, and soulless experiences are created. Especially now, when AI makes it easier than ever to generate "acceptable" output.

What cuts through that isn't more ideas. It's taste.

Jakob talks about taste as the ability to say what is good and what is not, and to stand behind that judgement. Taste is opinion. Opinion requires courage. And courage only matters if you can communicate it clearly.

This is where his thinking becomes particularly relevant in the age of AI.

As generating content becomes easier, expressing meaning becomes rarer. Writing, speaking, and structuring thought clearly are no longer "nice to have" skills. They are differentiators.

You can feel how much Jakob values this. He prefers writing over slides. He cares about structure. About first principles. About meeting people where they are and choosing the right medium, not just the right message.

It's not about sounding smart. It's about making thinking visible.

What I appreciate most about Jakob's reflections is that they don't push a lifestyle. They push awareness.

Where in your own life are you staying safe out of habit, not necessity? And if you're honest with yourself, does predictability currently feel like comfort, or like a warning sign?

You don't need to blow up your life to answer that. But you do need to stop ignoring the signal.

That, to me, is where creative leadership actually starts.

Every now and then you meet someone who comes from a world so far from your own that you expect the conversation to be polite, distant, and maybe a bit abstract. That's what I thought when Warren Yu joined us for Creative Leaders Unplugged. He carries decades of experience inside one of the most rigid and hierarchical systems imaginable, the U.S. military and government. I come from design, creativity, messy entrepreneurship. Two planets, right?

But from the very first minute, something unexpected happened. We didn't meet as a military officer and a designer. We met as humans. He told stories about family, heritage, loss, identity, the same stories we all carry whether we come from Shanghai, Hungary, New York or Haarlem.

That's when I realised: the starting point for creative leadership is always the same. Strip away the titles, the roles, the armour. Ask someone who they are. And then simply listen.

What unfolded after that was like watching a movie. Warren is one of those natural storytellers who pulls you straight into the world he's lived in, from his grandfather's assassination to CIA front companies to being accused of "witchcraft and black magic" on a Navy ship because he dared to bring a new idea into a rigid system.

And still, somehow, everything he said resonated deeply with what we talk about in design thinking. The power of culture over technology. The need to make it safe to fail. The importance of "yes, and…". The courage to hold space for others. The leader's job of clearing obstacles so people can run freely.

At one point he describes his design studio, a simple conference room he quietly transformed into a kind of pirate ship inside the system. A place where people could bring fragile ideas, experiment, fail, recover, collaborate across ranks and cultures. A NICU for innovation, he called it. And I thought: yes, this is creative leadership in its purest form.

Not the shiny version. The subversive version. The courageous, slightly rebellious, meaningful version.

What struck me most is how his whole journey mirrors something many creative leaders recognise:

being an outsider, navigating contradictions, learning to adapt, holding multiple perspectives, and seeing what others miss. The pirate who doesn't disrupt for ego, but for the greater good.

We ended our conversation with one simple question:

What are you looking forward to?

His answer was surprisingly soft and human, to help people, to create meaning, to help organisations rediscover their purpose when they've drifted away from it.

That's the thing about pirates.

They're not trying to burn the ship.

They're trying to remind everyone why they're sailing in the first place.

This episode is full of stories, insights, emotion, humour and hard-earned wisdom. Honestly, we could have talked for hours. But I hope the part we captured inspires anyone who feels stuck in a system, anyone wondering how to make change from the inside.

Maybe the answer isn't to break the system.

Maybe it's to create a small space where new possibilities can breathe.

A place where people feel safe to bring their ideas, their doubts, their scars.

A place where stories can be told.

A place where pirates are welcome.

Enjoy the episode.

And Warren, go write that book. The world needs it.

Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of Future Skills Academy Podcast with a Column by Arne van oosterom:

I'm really excited to share something that's been on my mind for a while. We've all heard how technology—and more specifically AI—seems to be creeping into every corner of our lives. I mean, it's not just about writing blog posts or crunching numbers anymore. AI is creating art, music, film scripts, and sometimes it's even doing it better or faster than humans can. Which is both amazing and, let's be honest, a little unsettling.

Now, of course, there's a lot of worry out there: "Are we losing our jobs to robots?" "Will we still need human writers, painters, directors, or composers?" And I totally get it. There's a sense that we're on the brink of something major, something that might leave a lot of us feeling redundant. But here's the twist: I actually think this shift is going to make real human creativity even more precious.

Why? Because, at the end of the day, it's our lived experiences that make what we create truly meaningful. Look, if one day we were to find out that Van Gogh, for instance, was never a real person—that all the stories about his struggles and triumphs were just some elaborate AI fabrication—do you think his paintings would still hold the same weight? Probably not. The beauty of Van Gogh's art isn't just in the swirls of paint on the canvas. It's in knowing he was this real, troubled, passionate individual who poured his heart out in every brushstroke.

That's the kind of depth that comes from having a mother you've loved and lost, or from breaking your leg and spending a miserable six weeks on crutches. It's from the late-night talks with friends that shift your perspective on the world, and from growing up in a certain neighborhood at a certain time. All of that seeps into your art—your words, your melodies, your films, your sculptures—and it resonates with people, because they can sense the realness.

AI, for all its brilliance, doesn't have that. It doesn't have a mother. It doesn't know grief, or heartbreak, or the joy you feel when a friend drops by unexpectedly. AI might emulate these feelings, but that's all it is—an emulation. It can piece together a scene of heartbreak, add some atmospheric music, and calculate the perfect angle for a shot in a film, but it's doing that from data points and patterns, not from actual tears or heartbreak.

This is why I believe the stories and creations that come from human hands—from the sweat and tears, the late nights and the real mistakes—are only going to become more valuable. When everything around us is generated by a machine, we'll crave the tangible evidence of a human life lived and poured into art. It will stand out. People will look for that spark that says, "Someone was actually here. They felt this. They went through something and this is what came out."

Yes, AI can replace many tasks that human beings do. It can do so quickly, often efficiently. And I don't doubt we'll see entire films or albums generated by code. Some might be popular or go viral. But at the same time, the more AI can do, the more we'll care about the things it can't. The more we'll want to see that authentic brushstroke or hear the raw crack in a singer's voice that came from a real heartbreak.

So am I worried? Not really. I think it's going to force us to be clearer and more deliberate about what we bring to the table. We'll need to dig deeper into our experiences—our pains, our joys, our perspectives—and figure out how to translate them into something that matters to other people. That's the true essence of creativity, isn't it? You live, you learn, and you turn that into something that might resonate with someone else down the road. AI can do a lot, but it simply can't live.

That's it from me for today. Thanks for tuning in to Creative Leaders Unplugged. Remember, the real magic isn't just in the final painting or the perfectly crafted track—it's in who we are and what we've gone through to make it. And that's something no robot will ever replicate.

Wired Differently: A Conversation with Annika Madejska on AI, Neurodiversity, and Ethical Debt

When we spoke with Annika Madejska for our podcast, it was one of those conversations that lingered long after we hit stop on the recording. Thoughtful, sharp, and honest—Annika shared stories and insights that connected the personal and the professional in a way that just made sense. Especially when it comes to living with ADHD, and how that overlaps with creativity, identity, and our evolving relationship with technology and AI.

Neuro-spicy and Never Quite Fitting In
Annika calls herself "neuro-spicy." It's her way of naming something many of us feel but don't always know how to explain: the constant dance of fitting in and not fitting in. She's been successful—really successful—but says she's always felt like an outsider. A misfit who learned to mask her differences, play the game, and still quietly question the rules… well, maybe not so quietly.

For Annika, growing up meant constantly sensing that something was "off"—not in a bad way, but in a way that made her feel slightly outside the group. She talks about being deeply insecure, a people pleaser, even while coming across as strong and fearless. It wasn't until later in life that she was diagnosed with ADHD, and suddenly all those quirks, all those intensities and obsessions, started to make more sense.

And maybe that's the paradox. You can be thriving in a system and still not feel like you belong in it. You can be high-functioning, even exceptional, and still feel like you're not doing things the "right" way.

Wired for Justice
One of the things that stood out in our talk was Annika's deep sense of justice—a drive she now knows is common in people with ADHD. That strong inner compass, that feeling of "this isn't right," has shaped her entire career. From journalism to design to her current focus on AI ethics, Annika has always followed the impulse to fix, to understand, to make things better. Even when it wasn't easy. Even when it got her into trouble.

She's the kind of person who raises her hand and says, "Sure, I'll do it," and then figures it out along the way. That mix of impulsiveness and hyper-focus, as she describes it, has helped her jump into the deep end again and again—especially in chaotic, high-stakes environments. Where most people panic, she's calm. It's not that she's fearless. It's that she's used to navigating the unknown.

The Ethical Debt of AI
And that brings us to AI. Anika has spent the last few years knee-deep in conversations about ethics and technology. She coined the term "ethical debt," and it's brilliant. Just like technical debt in software—where shortcuts come back to bite you—ethical debt builds up when we ignore the long-term moral consequences of what we build.

She points out that the data we use to train AI is full of bias, because history is full of bias. And when we build systems on top of that data, without thinking critically about what we're amplifying, we're creating technology that might work—technically—but could be harming people in real ways.

And we don't see it. That's the problem. The harm is often invisible. It's like climate change or depression: easy to ignore until it hits close to home.

So… What Do We Do?
Annika doesn't claim to have all the answers, but she does have a wish. She wants us to teach people—especially the next generation—critical thinking. She wants us to stop taking convenience for granted. To understand the cost of the tech we use, not just in money or energy or data, but in values. In choices. In trade-offs.

She reminds us that technology isn't neutral. It's always designed by someone, for someone, with certain outcomes in mind. So we have to ask: Who gets to decide? What are we optimizing for? And who benefits?

The Bigger Picture
What I appreciated most about our conversation is how personal it was. Annika isn't talking about ethics in some abstract, academic way. She's lived it. Her work is shaped by her experiences as someone who feels deeply, thinks fast, and questions everything.

She's someone who has learned to stop hiding parts of herself. To show up fully, neuro-spicy and all. And in doing so, she gives others permission to do the same.

So yeah, this episode is about AI. It's about bias, and regulation, and privacy, and the need to rethink our systems. But it's also about being human in a world that often asks us to be machines.

It's about creativity, empathy, identity, and the power of asking better questions.

Welcome to this week's Editorial. I'm thrilled you're joining me today. I want to dive into a topic that's central to how we innovate, lead, and navigate our constantly changing world. And the metaphor I love using for this is the image of a tightrope walker.

So, picture yourself on a tightrope, arms stretched out, wobbling just enough to keep your balance. It's a little scary, but it's also exhilarating, right? Because you're not frozen in place—you're in motion, you're making micro-adjustments, constantly shifting between the pull of order on one side and the lure of chaos on the other. That's the sweet spot where the magic happens. Today, we're going to explore why it's so powerful to hang out at this "edge of chaos", what change blindness is and how it can trip us up if we're not careful, and how all of this helps us become better leaders and innovators.

Balancing on the Edge of Chaos

Let's start with this idea of the edge of chaos. I love how complexity science describes it as a sweet spot between rigid order and total mayhem. On one side, if things are too structured—like an organization with layers upon layers of bureaucracy—creativity gets stifled. People get stuck following the same old processes, or they're terrified of breaking the rules. On the other side, if there's too much chaos, everything becomes so scattered that no real progress is made. It's like everyone's running around in different directions without a shared purpose.

But right at the edge? That's where we get both innovation and stability. There's enough structure to keep us moving together, but enough freedom to experiment and try bold ideas. Nature offers plenty of examples: there's a well-known concept called the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, which basically shows that ecosystems hit peak biodiversity—peak life—when there's a moderate amount of disruption. Too little disturbance, and the system gets stale. Too much, and it collapses.

The same logic applies to businesses and teams. Think of a company like Google. They famously gave employees "20% time" to explore big, wild ideas. That was a bit of chaos sprinkled into their daily work. But they also had a framework in place—enough organization to decide which of these ideas would move forward. It wasn't anarchy, but it wasn't stifling order, either. It was a dynamic balance, right on that edge.

When Order Becomes a Straightjacket

Now, I want to be clear: order by itself isn't a bad thing. We need some structure to keep us grounded and consistent. The problem is when order turns into a straightjacket, when people say, "We've always done it this way," and shut down new ideas.

In some organizations, there's a heavy reliance on rules, processes, and top-down directives. That can create efficiency in the short run, but it can also kill spontaneity and discourage experimentation. Leaders who micromanage end up with teams that follow the script but don't bother to innovate. Everyone's so busy coloring inside the lines that no one asks, "Hey, can we draw something completely different?"

I'm guessing you've seen this or felt this before—times when rigid policies or endless approvals made it feel impossible to introduce new thinking. So yes, order is useful—until it drains our ability to adapt.

When Chaos Becomes… Well, Chaos

On the flip side, we have chaos. In small doses, chaos is amazing for creativity because it lets us wander off the beaten path. But when everything is "anything goes," we can get stuck spinning our wheels.

For example, you might have a startup where there are zero rules—everyone's always prototyping the next big thing, but no one's thinking about actually implementing. That's fun for a while, but eventually, the team burns out or runs out of cash because there's no strategy. I like to remind people: Innovation without a framework can lead to a lack of follow-through. You need some structure to ensure your brilliant ideas don't end up collecting dust.

Nature also shows us this danger. If storms or fires are too frequent, even the hardiest species can't survive. There has to be enough calm between disruptions to stabilize and grow.

Understanding Change Blindness

So, we know we need to walk that tightrope, balancing between too much structure and too much chaos. But here's a twist: what if we don't even see the rope changing beneath our feet? That's where a concept called change blindness comes in.

Change blindness is this fascinating phenomenon where we fail to notice slow, subtle shifts happening right in front of us. If something changes slowly or in small increments, it can sneak by us undetected. Psychologists have run experiments showing that people can miss huge alterations in a scene if those alterations happen gradually.

Translate that to the business or leadership world: you might be so focused on day-to-day tasks that you miss a major shift in customer behavior, technology, or even in your own team's morale. Think about Kodak: they invented the first digital camera but didn't quite act on that technology. By the time they realized how big digital would become, other players had seized the opportunity. Or Blockbuster—yes, they saw Netflix coming, but they didn't move quickly enough to adapt because the change felt gradual… until it wasn't.

We often say, "In hindsight, it was so obvious." But it's only obvious later. In the moment, we're often blind to the slow creep of change—like the proverbial frog in slowly heating water.

Leading on the Tightrope

So how do we get better at walking the tightrope, staying on that edge of chaos while also combating change blindness? Here are a few practices that come to mind:

1. Stay Curious and Keep Scanning the Horizon

Make it a habit to look beyond immediate tasks. Ask yourself and your team, "What's changing around us, even if it's subtle? Is there a shift in customer tastes? Is there a new technology lurking in the background?" The more we train ourselves to notice small shifts, the more likely we'll adapt before a crisis hits.

2. Create a Culture of Experimentation

Give people space to try new things—but put some parameters in place. Let's say you have a monthly "innovation sprint" where teams can tackle any challenge they want. At the end of the sprint, they share results. That's enough structure to keep it focused, but enough freedom that people can run wild with ideas.

3. Beware of Red Tape

If you find yourself or your organization saying, "This is how we do it, period," that's a red flag. Question whether certain processes might be outdated. Does every little decision really need six levels of approval?

4. Don't Fear Course Corrections

A tightrope walker is constantly shifting. Likewise, leaders should be comfortable saying, "We tried it; it didn't work. Let's adjust." Admitting mistakes or pivoting isn't a sign of weakness; it's how you avoid the extremes of order or chaos.

5. Invite Diverse Perspectives

One of the best ways to beat change blindness is to surround yourself with people who see things differently. Encourage your teams—and even your customers or external partners—to challenge your assumptions. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can catch that slow-moving shift you've overlooked.

Why This Matters for Your Future

We're in a period where massive shifts are happening globally—technology, climate change, social values, you name it. Traditional hierarchies that we inherited from the Industrial Revolution are slowly fading. We're seeing more small, interconnected teams and ecosystems of small companies working together, rather than one big monolith controlling everything. Technology now allows even a tiny startup to have a global impact.

In this world, being flexible, perceptive, and collaborative isn't just nice—it's non-negotiable.

Thanks so much for tuning in. I hope this editorial has sparked some new ideas or at least given you a fresh perspective on how to navigate our crazy, ever-evolving world. Next time you feel the wobble under your feet, remind yourself: it's not about standing still—it's about making those micro-adjustments, staying curious, and leaning just enough into both order and chaos to keep moving forward.

Until next week, remember to keep that creative energy flowing—and I'll catch you on the next episode of the Creative Leadership Podcast.

Take care, everyone!

In this episode, we explore the concept of "conceptual dyslexia" with Samuel West, the founder of the Museum of Failure. We discuss how this term illuminates the cognitive processes of creative thinkers who connect diverse concepts, enhancing our understanding of the world. Samuel shares insights on navigating creativity amidst uncertainty, emphasizing the delicate balance between comfort and critical thinking. Our conversation delves into the influence of context on identity and behavior, revealing how we adapt in different environments. One standout moment is Samuel's introduction of "Failure No. 5," a perfume that embodies failure, celebrating the creative potential found in setbacks. We also challenge contemporary marketing norms, contemplating the possibility of launching products without social media's influence. This episode invites listeners to embrace resilience and curiosity, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of creativity and personal growth.

Jim Kalbach is the Chief Evangelist at Mural

00:00:08 Intro / Chatting / Holiday Reflections
00:02:40 Introducing Jim Kalbach
00:04:20 The Influence of Jazz 
00:04:25 Comfort with Uncertainty
00:07:26 The Role of Language
00:09:48 The Nature of Truth
00:10:20 The Importance of Art
00:13:42 Jim's Journey to Mural
00:14:43 Defining Creativity
00:18:28 Music as a Creative Process
00:21:13 Embracing Nonlinearity
00:22:50 The Future of Organizations
00:26:54 Managing Uncertainty in Business
00:33:11 Neurodiversity in the Workplace
00:36:31 The Shift Towards Imagination
00:42:04 The Impact of AI
00:50:38 The Need for Balance
00:57:49 Navigating Change
01:01:57 Personal Growth and Change
01:17:44 Rethinking Business Structures
01:23:26 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

With Duncan Wardle, the former head of innovation and creativity at Disney, we delve into the essence of creative leadership. Duncan shares insights on unlocking creativity in everyone, emphasizing the importance of playfulness and personal narratives.

We explore interactive exercises that highlight the relationship between lived experiences and creativity, while discussing his newly published book that offers practical tools for nurturing creative potential.

Duncan challenges traditional education paradigms and advocates for a mindset that embraces empathy, curiosity, and intuition. This engaging discussion promises inspiration for anyone eager to enhance their creative abilities and rethink leadership in today's evolving landscape.

The Flower Analogy: Lessons in Leadership and Design from Anderson Gomes da Silva

In the recent episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, Anderson Gomes da Silva, Head of Product Design at Bol.com, shared his thoughts on leadership, design, and innovation. Among the many insights he offered, one stood out as a profound metaphor for organizations and systems: the "Flower Analogy."

Anderson described how managers often strive to organize their teams or systems into neat, labeled categories. He likened this to taking a flower and meticulously separating its petals, stems, and leaves into individual boxes, labeling and arranging them perfectly. The result? While the parts are now cataloged and visually satisfying, the flower itself is no longer alive.

This analogy captures a fundamental tension in leadership: the urge to impose structure and control versus the need to nurture living, interconnected systems that thrive on complexity and adaptability.

The Dangers of Over-Organization

Anderson's flower analogy is a reminder of the risks associated with over-managing or siloing teams within an organization. While structure and order are essential for clarity and efficiency, excessive compartmentalization can kill the very creativity and dynamism that make teams effective. A company isn't a collection of isolated parts—it's a living organism. When we forget this, we risk stifling growth and innovation.

This challenge is especially relevant in today's fast-changing world, where agility and collaboration are key to staying competitive. As Anderson pointed out, many organizations are tempted to box their teams into rigid roles or processes to create a sense of predictability. But true innovation happens when teams interact across boundaries, share ideas, and tackle problems together.

Design Thinking as a Holistic Practice

In the interview, Anderson emphasized the value of seeing problems systemically—a key tenet of design thinking. Just as a designer must consider multiple perspectives (user experience, market viability, technical feasibility), leaders must take a holistic view of their organizations. By rotating the "flower" and examining it from different angles, leaders can understand how various parts contribute to the whole.

Anderson's leadership philosophy extends beyond design. He applies design principles to his own role, mapping stakeholders, visualizing team dynamics, and prototyping better systems. This iterative and exploratory approach ensures that the "flower" of his organization remains vibrant and alive.

Balancing Chaos and Order

Anderson also spoke about the delicate balance between chaos and order. He acknowledged the need for systems and tools to bring stability to repetitive tasks—an area where he excels through automation. However, he stressed the importance of leaving room for creative exploration and serendipitous connections.

Creativity thrives at the intersection of chaos and order. Leaders who can navigate this space—like a gardener tending to a living, growing flower—foster teams that adapt, innovate, and flourish.

A Call to Leaders: Keep the Flower Alive

The flower analogy is a poignant reminder for leaders: don't let the need for control suffocate the life out of your organization. Instead, focus on nurturing connections, embracing complexity, and fostering a culture where creativity and collaboration can thrive.

As Anderson said, "Organized things are chaos; natural things are prosperity." The best leaders understand that their role is not to impose rigidity but to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem where innovation blooms.

Curiosity and Authenticity: Foundations of Modern Leadership

leaders are increasingly challenged to balance innovation with empathy. Ewelina Polińska Nadra, an innovation manager and mother, exemplifies how curiosity and authenticity can serve as the cornerstones of effective leadership. Her journey offers valuable insights into integrating personal values with professional practices.

Curiosity: The Catalyst for Growth

Ewelina's life is a testament to the transformative power of curiosity. From exploring the depths of marketing to spontaneously diving into triathlons, her inquisitive nature propels her forward. For leaders, this relentless drive to ask questions, explore new avenues, and embrace the unknown fosters creativity and adaptability—qualities essential in industries undergoing constant change.

Authenticity in Leadership

Equally central to Ewelina's philosophy is authenticity. She believes in bringing her whole self to work, acknowledging the inseparable link between personal and professional lives. By sharing her vulnerabilities—whether admitting to a bad day or drawing parallels between parenting and management—she creates an environment where others feel safe to be themselves. This approach humanizes leadership and fosters trust and openness among team members.

Lessons from Parenting

Ewelina's experiences as a mother deeply influence her leadership style. She has learned to adapt her communication, offer tailored support, and respect individual differences—skills directly transferable to managing a diverse team. Her emphasis on creating a "brave space" encourages team members to take risks, voice dissenting opinions, and grow.

The Future of Leadership

As workplaces evolve, leaders must embrace a more holistic approach. Curiosity drives innovation, while authenticity builds connection and trust. Together, they form a powerful combination that enables leaders to navigate complexity while empowering their teams.

Ewelina's story reminds us that leadership is not about perfection but about presence, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning—both about the world and oneself. As she succinctly puts it, "You can't be authentic if you don't know yourself." In a world that demands both innovation and empathy, her insights offer a roadmap for leaders seeking to inspire and lead with integrity.

Serious Attention to Touch

When screens often mediate our interactions, the profound significance of touch in our lives can easily be overlooked. Ari Elefterin, a transdisciplinary designer and somatic researcher, is passionately exploring this very terrain. Through their project "Touch Starved," Ari delves into our intrinsic need for tactile connection, aiming to reintegrate touch into our daily experiences.

"Touch Starved" isn't just a project; it's a movement. It encompasses workshops like "Being in Touch" and introduces innovative tools such as the "SAT: Serious Attention to Touch" seating device. These initiatives offer designers and technologists a framework to recognize and address their physiological needs, encouraging them to become "body innovators."

At the heart of Ari's work lies the concept of embodied cognition—the idea that our thoughts and behaviors are deeply influenced by our physical experiences and interactions with the environment. This perspective challenges the traditional separation of mind and body, suggesting that our cognition is not just housed in our brains but is a dynamic interplay between our bodies and surroundings.

Ari's approach resonates with themes from Annie Murphy Paul's "The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain," which explores how tools, environments, and social interactions extend our cognitive processes beyond the confines of our brains. By emphasizing touch and bodily engagement, "Touch Starved" exemplifies how design can harness embodied cognition to create more holistic and human-centered experiences.

Incorporating touch into design practices addresses the sensory deprivation prevalent in modern workplaces and promotes well-being and creativity. By acknowledging and integrating our innate human needs, initiatives like "Touch Starved" pave the way for environments that are more responsive to the full spectrum of human experience.

Ari's work serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of touch in our lives. By reconnecting with this fundamental sense, we can foster deeper connections with ourselves and others, leading to more meaningful and fulfilling experiences.

In the latest episode of the Creative Leaders Unplugged Podcast, we explored an inspiring concept for fostering creativity: the "brave space." Unlike a "safe space," which aims to protect participants, a brave space encourages individuals to bring forward their unique perspectives and unconventional ideas. This kind of environment is critical, especially for highly creative people, who often find themselves navigating a world that doesn't fully accommodate their varied interests or unique ways of thinking.

Creativity often comes with a wiring that's, as our guest Rachel Davis put it, a bit "neuro-spicy." Many creative professionals resonate with having diverse hobbies, passionate interests, and, sometimes, neurodiverse characteristics like ADHD. While this wiring can feel out of place in structured, traditional environments, it can thrive in a brave space where differences are celebrated and collaboration is encouraged.

In the episode, we talk about how "making thoughts visible" plays a central role in creative work. For creatives, turning ideas into tangible forms allows them to better communicate with others and refine their concepts. This brave space environment nurtures self-acceptance and continuous curiosity, which allows these individuals to do their best work. When creative thinkers have the freedom to explore their interests without pressure to conform, the result is often powerful, transformative innovation.

The brave space is not only a mindset but a culture that creative organizations can build. It's a reminder that fostering an atmosphere of openness, acceptance, and courage to express "weirdness" could be the secret ingredient to groundbreaking ideas.

The Real Work of Building Community

Talking with Todd Nilson reminded us how misunderstood community building still is. We often treat it like marketing: launch a platform, create some content, hope people show up. But the way Todd talks about community is much closer to psychology, art, and human behavior than to funnels or metrics.

What stood out most is his idea of the "woolly mammoth factor."

People don't gather around your product. They gather around something essential to them, identity, purpose, survival, pride, belonging. If the only thing a company offers is "join our platform," nothing happens. If you speak to something bigger, activism at Patagonia, financial peace or job-seekers supporting each other in Todd's Job Camp, it moves people. They feel part of something that matters.

And once they're there, a community is never a self-driving machine.

It needs someone tending the garden, creating safety, giving direction, setting norms, but doing it lightly and humanely. Todd's frame is simple: a community is not an audience. If the chairs all face the stage, it's a performance. If the chairs face each other, it's a community. And if one person stands in the middle of that circle… that's a cult.

The other important shift is honesty about the lifecycle.

Communities don't last forever. They begin, grow, plateau, and end. The Wednesday Web Jam is a good example, we built it in the early pandemic when we all needed connection, learning, and support. When the mammoth changed shape, we gave it a funeral, not because it failed, but because it had done its job. Marking endings is part of community leadership.

And leadership is the right word.

Community building is creative leadership. It's creating a space where people feel safe, seen, and able to contribute. It's not about control, but about intention. Not about influence, but about care.

Right now, that work is more important than ever.

Social media feels like a casino run by robots, loud, distracting, and increasingly flooded with content no one can trust. AI will only amplify that. The result is predictable: people start craving smaller rooms, softer voices, lived experience, and real stories. Not noise. Not performance. Not scale.

Connection.

Maybe that's the future Todd is pointing toward:

More intimate communities, built around real purpose, shaped by people who understand how to create belonging. And eventually, blended with new forms, VR, AR, social presence, where digital spaces feel more human again.

But the heart of it won't change.

It's still about people.

It's still about stories.

It's still about the courage to bring strangers into a circle and say: "Let's make something together."

Join hosts Morgan and Arne in this episode of *Creative Leaders Unplugged* as Alan Moore explores beauty as a transformative force. He emphasizes personal responsibility and regenerative practices, inspiring listeners to enhance beauty in their lives. A quick yet impactful conversation on redefining creativity awaits!

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, we converse with Karen Hold about her unique journey connecting design and business. We explore how her husband's grandfather influenced her perspective on innovation through empathy-driven problem-solving during World War II. Karen discusses the barriers to learning within organizations and the importance of embracing uncertainty and experimentation. She introduces a framework of behaviors that foster vital innovation skills, encouraging teams to navigate challenges confidently. Finally, we draw parallels between personal growth in hiking and the innovation process, emphasizing the transformative power of design, empathy, and narrative.

In this episode, we dive deep into a conversation with Alizée Bollen, a socially conscious designer and the founder of Crampy, a project centered around menstrual equity and the importance of community in fostering open conversations about uncomfortable topics. Alize's background is richly woven with her multicultural upbringing—half Congolese and half Belgian—and an upbringing in Tanzania, which shape her perspective and approach to design and social issues. 

In this episode, we speak with facilitator, innovator and philosopher Miikka Leinonen about using AI in workshops, his book "The Intangible Future," and community building. We discuss evolving education roles, challenges in translating physical interactions to digital spaces, and redefining productivity and fulfillment in a changing professional landscape. Our conversation concludes with reflections on simplicity, harmony, and optimism in designing a future based on intentional actions and forward-looking perspectives.

00:00:00 Introduction to Miikka Leinonen

00:00:53 AI Facilitation Workshops

00:02:39 The Intangible Future Book 00:09:09 Student Enthusiasm vs. Vulnerability

00:11:52 Student Responsibility in Education

00:18:04 Importance of Social Learning

00:21:29 Building Communities through Open Space

00:24:16 Defining a Functional Community

00:28:50 Value of Community Experiences

00:30:09 Integrating Communities in Corporations

00:33:39 The Intangible vs. Tangible in Business

00:35:38 Audience vs. Community

00:36:56 Work in the Intangible Realm

00:39:24 Digital Tools Replicating Physical Tools

00:40:48 The Future of Communication

01:01:30 Embracing the Role of the Outsider

01:12:12 Recognizing Harmony and Beauty

01:15:59 Directing Companies Towards Intangible Value

01:18:27 Navigating an Optimistic Future

01:20:40 Reimagining the Structures of Society

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Victor Udoewa. Victor's exploration of distinguishing between worlds and worldviews challenges our perspectives, urging us to reconsider our understanding of the complexities of identity and culture. 

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, we engage with John Bielenberg, delving into his journey as a creative leader and designer. We explore his unique approach to decision-making, emphasizing authenticity and resisting societal pressures. From defying conventional design norms in college to championing sustainability, John's experiences highlight the importance of following personal values over expectations. Raised in a creative environment, his early exposure to unconventional design shaped his evolving perspective on creativity. 

Myriam is Facilitation Evangelist, Podcaster, PhD in Behavioural Economics and is building an ecosystem for facilitators to leverage the impact of their work. 

Check out her Podcast 'Workshops Work'.

In this freeflowing episode, we discuss the accidental expertise leading to unexpected career paths, highlighting the significance of facilitation skills and AI tools like ChatGPT for enhancing communication. We explore leadership styles, focusing on trust and empowerment in organizational culture, and stress the importance of vulnerability and trust in fostering positive work environments. Touching on psychological safety and vulnerability in workshops, we emphasize the role of facilitators in sparking innovation and community growth. The conversation delves into the future of facilitation, creativity, and problem-solving, advocating for facilitative leadership as a transformative approach

Stephen offers a refreshing perspective on sales by focusing on facilitating engaging narratives that resonate with customers instead of resorting to aggressive tactics. Central to his approach is the emphasis on providing value, fostering genuine connections, and engaging with the right audience authentically. Storytelling in sales is underscored as a powerful tool for eliciting audience identification, fostering trust, and nurturing relationships based on shared values.

Jeanne Liedtka is on the show! She's an author and has been involved in the corporate strategy field for over 30 years. As a professor at the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia, she teaches both MBAs and executives and consults on innovation, organic growth and design thinking. 

In this episode we are treated to a thought-provoking conversation with the talented artist Junko Mori, who sheds light on the intricate relationship between art, science, and human nature. Through our dialogue, we explore how seemingly mundane actions and minor errors can pave the way for groundbreaking artistic discoveries, blurring the boundaries between different creative processes. Junko challenges traditional perceptions of artistic success by discussing the delicate balance between commercial viability and staying true to one's artistic vision, prompting us to reconsider the essence of being an artist. 

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, Morgan Duta and Arne van Oosterom speak with Dara Douglas, who leads the Co-Design Lab at PwC in the UK. Dara describes her work as a kind of corporate therapy, helping senior leaders align, make decisions, and connect beyond their roles. Listening to her, it's clear this comes from somewhere deeper: growing up as one of nine siblings, learning early how to mediate, listen, and bring people together.

What stands out most is her view on stories. Dara reminds us that stories are not just how we communicate, they're how we connect, learn, and reframe the world around us. Science shows that when we listen to stories, our brains sync with the storyteller's; we literally align. It's what makes empathy possible. In a time when technology is everywhere, she believes real lived experiences and authentic stories are what separate us from machines.

We also spoke about learning, creativity, and the importance of making the process enjoyable. Dara told us how she's learning piano with her father—not for perfection, but for the joy of learning together. It's a reminder that growth happens when we slow down, make space for curiosity, and find meaning in the process, not just the outcome.

Finally, we explored bravery in conversation, especially in today's polarized world. Dara shared her approach to diversity and inclusion: be curious, be forgiving, be brave. These simple principles open the door to understanding perspectives that challenge our own, and they're just as vital in design, leadership, and everyday life.

If there's one thread through all of this, it's that creativity and empathy begin with stories, our own and those of others. As Dara puts it, "We can't always change what happened, but we can change the story we tell about it."

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, we are joined by Tiz Creel, an undisciplined artist challenging traditional art world norms by embodying the essence of a maker and a breaker. Tiz encourages individuals to question norms, engaging with creativity through unconventional means. 

We discuss how Marc's book, "This is Service Design Thinking," has affected us and the wider service design movement. We also have thoughtful conversations about our experiences and how they have shaped our viewpoints and how we see the future.

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, we have a captivating conversation with Adam Lawrence, a facilitator and influential figure in the service design movement. We start by discussing Adam's background in psychology, theater, and zoology, all of which contribute to his understanding of collaboration and teamwork.

In this episode, we speak with Clive Grinyer, an highly experienced and influential voice in the world of design and service design. Clive shares his ambition to make the world a better place through design and his passion for inspiring creativity. 

Sarah Drummond represents a modern-day Renaissance person. In the podcast, she shared insights into her varied pursuits, ranging from design, music and film to renovating a farmhouse and developing a vegan meats production farm. This tapestry of interests highlights a critical message for our times: the value of multidisciplinary approaches in solving today's complex problems and enriching our personal and professional lives.

In this episode, we dive into Christof Zürn's background in Music and belief in the interconnection between Music and Design Thinking, the Missing Element: Craftsmanship in Our Time, The power of Listening and the Power of Music Thinking as an Analogy

David Kester is the Managing Director of DK&A, Design Thinkers Academy London and the former CEO of the British Design Council. 

In this episode, David reflect on the lessons learned through mentorship and allyship. He highlights the role of a supportive mentor and the importance of fostering a collaborative work environment. We discuss responsible product development and the power of surrounding oneself with exceptional individuals. Overall, he emphasizes the transformative impact of valuing and learning from those around us.

Do check out The Experimentation Field Book, a book David co-wrote with Jeanne Liedtka, Elizabeth Chen and Natalie Foley.

A thought-provoking and inspiring conversation about the power of human connections, personal growth, and the importance of empowering future generations. Marc Bolick joins us as a guest, and we are struck by his ability to connect with others and his insights on leadership. 

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, we have a conversation with Lee Kim, an inspiring guest who shares her reflections on identity and experiences. Lee introduces us to her fascinating creations called Tracys, wearable hats made of pipe cleaners. As we delve into the story behind these unique pieces, we are captivated by the impact, creativity and imagination that went into making them. Lee also discusses her journey from being an island girl in South Korea to embracing a life filled with curiosity and exploration in the USA. This resonates deeply with Morgan, as she too have experienced the transformative power of moving to new countries. 

This is a Future Skills Academy Podcast.

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, we have the pleasure of speaking to Colin Skelton, a traveler and creative who works with theater and embodied design. Colin's unique perspective emphasizes the importance of embodiment and taking your whole self into consideration. 

In this episode, we chat with Creativity Strategist Natalie Nixon about the connections between dance, creativity, and personal growth. She shares transformative insights from her experiences in ballet, modern dance, and open water swimming, emphasizing the importance of embracing vulnerability and imperfection.

We discuss her upcoming book, "Move, Think, Rest," which advocates for a cyclical approach to productivity and the value of daydreaming in fostering innovation.

Natalie also explores how organizations can cultivate curiosity and well-being, envisioning workplaces as collaborative ecosystems. This conversation highlights the need to merge personal experiences with professional pursuits, celebrating the richness of human experience.

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged Andy Polain is our guest. He's a Design Leadership Coach, Service Designer, Educator, Writer, Podcaster and Speaker.

We discuss navigating the leadership dip, the changing landscape of work, the importance of coaching and safe spaces for conversation, and the need for authentic leadership.

We also touch on the concept of imposter syndrome, performative leadership, and the importance of aligning with one's true self.

Stefanie is working as a trend analyst & innovation strategist since more than 18 years. Three years ago she started GOOD GRIEF, focusing on new trends and perspectives around death, grief and remembrance, breathing new life into a space that hasn't changed in a century. We talk about her profesional experience, but also about living in East Germany before the wall came down and how this, and other events, shaped her in the person she is now.  

Ekaterina Solomeina is the Founder of Future London Academy. We talk about Design Leadership, Neuro Diversity, Curiosity, Lifelong Learning and so much more.

Megan Davis is an explorer, artist, actor and has ten years of experience building stories for businesses. In this podcast we talk about how the best stories are circular, storytelling in different cultures and how she got into an fight with a Nun... and more. 

Payal is the Vice President - Innovation, Strategy & Design at frog. In this podcast we talk about her career, vision on design, leadership, India and how she grew up.

Satu Miettinen is the professor of Service Design and Dean of the University of Lapland. She is one of the most influencel people in the world of Service Design.

Morgan Duta is my guest and we have a lot to talk about. E.g. when are you alowed to call yourself an Artist and what if you are wired differently and trying to fit in gives you anxiety?

Sam is the Founder & Quest Leader at Channel Twelve. We talk about creativity, life as a work of art, the space-in-between, our shared dislike for the word Hobby and much more...

Ingrid Geeraedts works for AI Sweden, Future of Democracy and is a talented singer in the Swedish band The Gay Strators. She's is someone that makes me hopeful for the future.

Cristina Andersson is one of the best examples of a true Creative Leader. I talk to her about life, dropping out of school, robotics, AI, quantum computing, being a life-long-learning and how informal education is changing education.

This episode centers around the concept of "the hook," a transformative idea that has the potential to enhance participant engagement and foster meaningful connections during workshops and meetings.

Sabine Oertelt-Prigione is Professor of sex- and gender-sensitive medicine. She is a born change maker and a migrant.  

Alwin Put is the author of Captains of Leadership, a practical guide and deeply personal book about facilitative leadership. He's an experienced facilitator and leaders. We talk about his live, work, feeling like an outsider and being in the back of the classroom. Check out his book on www.Captainsofleadership.com

Fieke Sluijs is a talented designer, graphic facilitator, teacher... and so much more. In this podcast she shares her exceptional story; a journey with many ups and down and a wonderful ending.