I recently had the opportunity to ride a historic relic. 

Invented in the 1860s, the Paternoster elevator was a marvel of continuous motion — a chain of open compartments looping endlessly up and down, with no doors and no waiting. You simply stepped in as it ascended or descended. Its name came from the Latin prayer “Pater Noster” (“Our Father”), because the compartments moved like beads on a rosary.

The Paternoster was once a symbol of bold European engineering, a model of operational efficiency and continuous flow. Today, only a few hundred still operate in Europe, mostly in Germany.

Getting to ride one is not only a thrilling moment of time travel.  It is also a point of inspiration, a reminder of the importance of continuous motion and innovation.  In our environment of unrelenting uncertainty and change, standing still is not an option. 

#Innovation#Technology#DigitalTransformation#Future#Management

They say laughter is the best medicine—but at INSEAD it was always more than that. During welcome week’s initial orientation, every incoming class was unknowingly enveloped in an elaborate, imaginatively configured practical joke – inclusive of weird events, fake clubs, and surreal challenges. These windups weren’t just rituals — they were rites of passage. They put students into situations of sheer absurdity, where the only option was to laugh, adapt, and bond.

Here was one of the world’s leading business universities fully embracing and cultivating an atmosphere of levity. The entire community, including students, faculty, and administration played their parts in creating a shared theater of the ridiculous. And because promotions overlapped, each student was first the subject of a prank, and then the orchestrator of one. Far from hazing, it was a bold, community-building initiative that alumni overwhelmingly cherished and one of that forged INSEAD’s special character.

Then, in 2018, after decades of continuously running, the tradition was suddenly banned amid a flurry of political correctness and an official investigation over student complaint. On paper, it was about mental health and well-being; in reality, something precious was lost. Because in stripping away absurdity, INSEAD tore down one of its most human, unique, and unifying experiences.

Sure, the tradition could have been tweaked to minimize possible embarrassment and discomfort on the part of any participant. But banned altogether? Which leads to the real question for alumni and educators: Do we value safety, conformity and polish so much that we need to renounce absurdity and laughter, qualities that teach adaptability, humility, and connectedness?

#INSEAD #HigherEducation #Leadership #Tradition #Community #Absurdity #Laughter

Who saw this coming? Albania has just appointed Diella, the world’s first AI-generated government minister, to oversee public procurement. But this isn’t just a gimmick. It’s a good illustration that AI application is not the end goal, but rather the means to achieve smart strategy.

Diella, meaning “Sun,” has been charged with running public tenders, with the aim to make them totally transparent, totally corruption-free, and objective. In this bold move, the Albanian government didn’t just proclaim “we want to use AI”. They said, “we want fair, clean, efficient procurement.” AI was then recognized as the optimal and creative way to make it happen, completely reframing what a public official can be.

This shift in focus—from being obsessed with adopting technology to leveraging it to provide breakthrough value —is key for businesses as well.  Many executives ask “What are we doing with AI?” when they should be asking “What new customer value can we unlock with AI?” Steve Jobs' great insight continues to be highly relevant in the age of AI:  "You've got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology, not the other way around".

#airevolution #aiminister #futureofwork #smartstrategy #futureofleadership 

Kris Carr — New York Times bestselling author, wellness activist, and the unstoppable force behind Crazy Sexy Cancer — shared with me on my Slingshot Living radio show how she turned a stage 4 cancer diagnosis into a platform for joy, vitality, and empowerment. Here are just a few of the  deeply meaningful observations she made during our conversation:

💬 “Health isn’t the absence of disease. It’s the presence of vitality.”

💬 “Infatuation is the match — it ignites the flame that leads to a much deeper love.”

💬 “We know the way home — how to feel well, be well, and take care of ourselves.”

Her story is a masterclass in re-imagining boundaries: redefining health, turning crisis into opportunity, and inspiring others to “make juice, not war.”

Emboldened by Kris' example, what can you re-imagine today?

#KrisCarr #CrazySexyLife #PersonalWellness #Transformation #Vitality #PersonalGrowth

What happens when I talk business and life lessons with a Grammy-winning rock legend?  Fascinating insights are sparked.

As part of my Slingshot Living Radio series, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician Dave Stewart dropped this gem during our chat:

 

“Most people shut off their imagination when they grow up. I never did. Now I use it in business to revitalize how people think.”

We talked childhood creativity, strategic daydreaming, and why time is killing innovation.

 

“People spend two months trying to solve what they could crack in 20 minutes… if they just stopped looking at the clock.”

And this beautiful insight:

 

“You’re looking through the other end of the telescope. That’s how you choose different projects. Most people stay obsessed with career paths—they just follow the obvious.”

Dave's insights perfectly capture the essence of The Slingshot Framework: Flip the lens. Break patterns. Reclaim imagination. Redefine what’s possible.  Which end of the telescope are you looking through?

#DaveStewart #CreativeLeadership #BusinessInnovation #FutureOfWork #StrategicThinking