Nadeem Ahmad believes that mindset is everything. He's a testament to how shedding limiting beliefs can unlock our true potential and provides powerful insights into how we can create a growth mindset. Nadeem is a visionary tech leader who has taken his extensive experience as a CTO and pivoted to helping entrepreneurs and start-ups to embrace innovation and technology. He shares his leadership journey, from burnout to bouncing back, and insights from his fantastic book, Becoming an Innovation Navigator. We explore how innovation isn't just for products or services – it's for personal growth too.
So, are you ready to foster a culture of innovation, embrace a growth mindset, and navigate the exciting journey of curiosity and learning?
No leadership journey is a straight line
Why you should listen: leadership strategies for developing an innovation mindset
Leveraging data, ideas and people to make change happen
We explore self-limiting leadership beliefs
How ‘yet’ can be a powerful leadership tool
Unleashing the inner leader and embracing humanness
Reframing leadership mistakes as masterclasses in what not to do next
Take action
Grade your innovation. Is it a level one as in just a little process tweak or is it a level five which is transformation, or somewhere in between?
Adopt the mantra of ‘I can't do it YET’ - give yourself permission to value progress over perfection.
Tip of the week
Sign up to the Monthly newsletter and get my award winning eBook People Stuff for free - then head to the section (p91) on the Guardian archetype as discussed in this episode. Understanding the Guardian will help you balance innovation and progress with tradition.
Never miss an episode. Get the BONUS SECRET RECORDING from People Stuff and
all the latest episodes delivered weekly when you subscribe.
About Nadeem Ahmad
Nadeem Ahmad is the author of #1 Amazon Best Selling book, “Become an Innovation Navigator”, as well as an executive coach and thought leader, who writes about and educates others around strategic leadership and innovation in business. This is informed by a three-decade long career as an executive within the CTO offices of two global consulting organisations dedicated to helping clients harness the power of innovation and translate the promise of emerging technology, like artificial intelligence, into commercial reality.
Nadeem is driven by the potential of technology to transform the way people work, live, and connect with one another and is on a mission to help business leaders navigate the world of innovation, become better leaders, make wiser decisions and drive better outcomes leveraging the power of peer advisory. Find out more: https://nadeemahmad.co/
Key moments
Planet Human: Democracies have been shrinking and authoritarianism has been on the rise - this is problematic because abuse of power is rife.
Planet Zoë: I’m on a writer’s retreat in Bali as my husband takes part in his company’s conference. A change of scene is so inspiring!
**Introduction to Nadeem Ahmad (00:03:29)**
Nadeem Ahmad, with three decades of experience in technology, discusses innovation and leadership, and his book "Becoming an Innovation Navigator."
**Nadeem's journey to innovation (00:04:33)**
Nadeem shares his career journey, burnout, and transition to the entrepreneurial world, offering insights into his personal and professional experiences.
**Challenges of embracing innovation (00:07:21)**
Leaders struggle with innovation due to limiting beliefs and the need for a growth mindset.
**Innovation as a personal journey (00:11:10)**
Nadeem emphasises that innovation is not just about business and technology; it's about personal growth and human interactions.
**Unlocking your inner leader (00:12:23)**
The importance of leadership in driving innovation, focusing on inspiring and understanding human needs to facilitate smoother innovation processes.
**Overcoming uncertainty in innovation (00:15:43)**
Nadeem discusses the need to balance innovation and uncertainty, emphasising the importance of a growth mindset, informed decisions, diversified projects, and a culture that embraces failure as a learning opportunity.
**Curiosity and innovation (00:18:53)**
Exploring the role of curiosity in innovation, drawing parallels with children's curiosity and its potential to alleviate uncertainty in the business context.
**The evolution of innovation (00:19:47)**
Discussion on fostering a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and rewarding failure in businesses.
**Understanding innovation (00:20:28)**
Comparison of large-scale organisational transformation and small-scale mindset-based innovation.
**Consolidation vs. constant improvement (00:23:32)**
Debate on the need for stability versus continuous improvement in organisations.
**AI's growth and impact (00:26:35)**
Explanation of the reasons behind the booming growth of AI, including Moore's Law, global data expansion, plummeting training costs, and increased global investments.
**Approach to AI and experimentation (00:28:51)**
Advice on approaching AI, understanding customer needs, aligning with business goals, and keeping up with trends.
**The guardian archetype (00:40:03)**
Explains the role of the guardian archetype in maintaining traditions and balancing innovation in leadership.
**The herald and threshold guardian (00:40:03)**
Describes the roles of the herald and threshold guardian in Joseph Campbell's hero's journey and their relevance in contemporary workplaces.
**Guardians as catalysts for achievements (00:42:19)**
Discusses how guardians can serve as catalysts for great achievements and the importance of preserving values whilst being cautious in innovation and progress.
👉🏼 Want to share your experience? Ask a question? Share a resource? Jump on our podcast Facebook page here.
Related episodes on: leadership innovation and mindsets
258 Leadership strategies for innovation with Bruno Pešec
158 How to work on your leadership mindset with Ian Taylor
278 Nina Simons shares a leadership mindset that challenges the system
About your host, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.