"Great empires sit at the crossroads of trade and ideas."

Innovation thrives at intersections—where diverse perspectives meet and transform. This wisdom from David Brooks applies directly to organisational leadership today.

The most innovative organisations deliberately create their own "crossroads" by establishing permeable boundaries, curating diverse talent, fostering psychological safety, and building networks beyond their industry.

As a leader, ask yourself: Have you designed spaces where different parts of your organisation meaningfully interact? How effectively do you bring external perspectives into your team? What mechanisms exist for sharing insights from beyond your boundaries?

The most successful leaders don't just manage processes—they architect spaces where diverse ideas collide and transform into breakthroughs.

From Caution to Confidence: How Public Sector Leaders can embrace risk AND innovate.

Innovation has never been optional—it has always been essential but seems interest often flares up and dies away.   Over the years, I have a few great business and public sectors leaders not only innovate but create lasting innovation engines.

Yet for many public sector leaders, risk aversion remains a barrier to change. In New Zealand, our Minister for the Public Service highlighted the challenge of innovating, embracing a culture of action and managing risk. Our new Public Services Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche, reinforced this by stating that true leadership requires the courage to act despite uncertainty—waiting for perfect conditions often means missing opportunities. So how can government leaders move beyond hesitation and drive meaningful innovation?