Thoughts on Thought Leadership

I have a complicated relationship with the idea of “thought leadership.” Honestly, I don’t really like it. Too often it feels like a vacuum for people to rant about how things are—and yes, I know I’m doing exactly that here.

Of course, there’s value in sharing perspectives and having conversations about how our industry is changing. But I can’t help wondering: why is my thought more valid or interesting just because I choose to publish it online? Does putting it out there give it weight—or does it just put me at risk?

I come from an era of pitching, and it was brutal. Thought leadership feels similar. You pitch the concept in your head, release it into the world, and then watch it get pulled apart.

Maybe there’s a better way. Instead of broadcasting our theories, why not sit down over coffee and work them through in conversation? Or even better—try them out in the real world with a team. That way, your ideas don’t just exist as words online; they’re tested, proven (or disproven), and actually move something forward.

Thoughts on Design Today

Design in product feels like it’s at a strange intersection. On one hand, we’re being asked to deliver at pace - consistently, accessibly, on brand, and with the user in mind. On the other, we’re expected to innovate, to bring forward new ideas in a landscape that increasingly feels homogenised. Familiarity benefits users in many ways, but it also raises the question: how do we create space for the new?

For me, the answer lies in craft. In giving designers the time and space to reflect on their impact and focus on what’s specific to their role. It’s in the detail - the pixels, the hierarchy, the choices that build taste. These things are hard to articulate in a business setting, and they always have been, but they’re the difference between “good enough” and work that truly elevates.

We need to empower our teams to show and make space for this. To talk about the miniature, the subtleties, the decisions that shift the quality bar upwards. Because it’s often in those quiet details - not just the big, shiny launches -where the real change happens.