Series 7/Episode 1: Conversation with Jose Pereira

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Jose Pereira. Who knew that container shipping could offer opportunities for creative thinking? In a regulated, transactional environment, continuous flow is key, particularly where the goods are perishable. The question "What would happen if?" is a great question to find ways to improve the flow of operations. Jose tells us that moonshots or crazy ideas can sometimes have merit. For example, during one of his brainstorming meetings someone asked, " What about using a drone to bring tools and repair kits to workers who ordinarily would walk long distances across the depot?" This was an idea that immediately took flight.

Series 7/Episode 2: Conversation with Sabrina Malter

It was so nice to talk with Sabrina Malter about her view of what it takes to give yourself permission to be creative. According to Sabrina, you need to feel connected or inspired by other people, confident that they will be there for you, and a feeling that there is nothing holding you back. These are the same conditions that you need for learning, an essential component of creativity. She also talked about her own adventures in entrepreneurship, a journey steeped in learning and creativity. She takes the Kata approach to her own creativity, an approach that enables her to adopt an attitude of openness and to move through small learning stages.

Series 7/Episode 3: Conversation with Hala Hawa

It was wonderful to explore with Hala Hawa what a life-long creative habit looks like. For Hala, her expertise in Industrial Design was an extension of her interest in drawing and finding creative ways to help people. As we talked, we agreed that for some, creativity is life, an expression of self that is undeniable; for others, creativity is something that has to be teased out. We understood that creativity can manifest in both our personal and professional lives, simultaneously or in succession. What is important is finding our own creative path, one that can have many forms as we move through life.

Series 7/Episode 4: Conversation with Federico Fioretto

My conversation with Federico Fioretto was a delight and brought me back to my sustainable development roots. We talked about the circular economy and the need for building new types of relationships. In the circular economy, he says, we have to break boxes, break boundaries and suspend our linear thinking. You can't be circular on your own, you have to be part of your web. To take action together, you have to share ideas honestly and build trust. It is essentially a creative process, one that responds to our shared humanity.

Series 7/Episode 5: Conversation with Nilufer Erdebil

It was so nice to talk with Nilufer Erdebil about the role of emotions in creativity and innovation. " Design thinking is about looking at things from a people-centred perspective", she says. The first step in the creative process is empathy. This means seeking an understanding of the user's needs and identifying the problem that they need to solve. At the same time, innovators need to be able to feel a sense of purpose, one that aligns the organization's vision, the team and the user's perspective. It is this alignment and a positive environment that fosters the trust needed to put forward new ideas. and new ways of doing things.

Series 7/Episode 6: Conversation with Carmen Garro

It was a delight to talk with Carmen Garro about storytelling and data analysis. "Everything produces information. When you bring it together, you can identify patterns", she says. Data analysis is connected to creativity because the information can be so broad that you say, "Ok. Where do I start?" Creativity can be about the choices you make to create a story. It is the story that can push people to think differently, make policy decisions or follow a different path.