Innovation rarely fails because the ideas aren’t there. It fails because teams don’t have time, safety, or a clear “why.” Here’s what I’ve learned about leadership from the people who actually make room for new things – and what that looks like on the inside.
Every time I talk to someone about “innovation,” the conversation eventually stops being about ideas at all.
Instead we talk about calendars, org charts, too many stakeholders and brand safety. In other words: the problem is almost never that teams are short on ideas. The problem is that leadership doesn’t create enough space for those ideas to turn into anything real.
From Chelsea’s “Return of the Rebel” and TAG Heuer’s revived Formula 1 watches to fans co‑creating future kits with AI, clubs and brands are using nostalgia to draw in fans, blending archive with the present day to offer continuity in a culture where the past is as valuable as the future.
Rich Hewes
Brands are falling over themselves to get into women’s sport, but too many still treat it like a bolt-on sponsorship. The real wins, however, can be found in telling richer stories, tapping into their wider passions, and committing to the game long after the final whistle.
Hannah Bowler
