Podcasts

Why Smart Ideas Fail—and How to Build Curious Teams (5 Skills)

In an AI era, the real competitive advantage won’t come from generating more ideas, but picking the right idea to take forward. Leaders who foster cultures of creativity and curiosity will build teams better able to sharpen focus, challenge assumptions, and execute in the most effective and compelling ways. Liberty Science Center CEO Paul Hoffman is a noted expert on connecting the public to the sciences. He’ll explain how that major cultural institution makes complex ideas clear and irresistible. The long-time science writer, puzzle maker, brainstorming expert and former head of the Encyclopaedia Britannica shares lessons from his eclectic background on how leaders can harness a team’s natural curiosity to drive fresh thinking and innovation. You’ll learn: - Why clarity matters in innovation - and why the audience is usually right - How to model the creative behaviors you want to see in your team - Which qualities creative, curious teams always have in common This episode was recorded at the Urban Transformation Summit, San Francisco (October 2025).