Fredrik Haren, a 'creativity explorer,' shares insights from his extensive global journey covering 75 countries, explaining how different cultures perceive and harness creativity. He highlights the importance of understanding one's personal creative process and environment, debunking the myth that creativity is facilitated solely through structured processes and techniques.

Instead, he emphasises the role of inspiration and the need to balance it with actual creative production. Frederick also discusses his upcoming book 'The World of Creativity,' which explores diverse perspectives on creativity across different cultures and professions.

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Meet Fredrik Haren: The Creativity Explorer

02:37 Defining Creativity: Perspectives and Insights

06:59 Global Exploration of Creativity

14:05 The Role of Environment in Creativity

16:47 Exploring Your Creative Process with AI

17:48 Creating a Culture of Innovation in Teams

18:36 Understanding Group Creative Processes

20:23 The Myth of Brainstorming

21:26 Unique Creative Journeys

22:30 Fredrik's Speaking Insights

25:15 The World of Creativity Book

26:28 The Essence of Curiosity

28:58 Connecting with Fredrik

30:22 Conclusion and Farewell

LinkedIn

* Connect with Fredrik Haren

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Dr. Maya Ackerman is a generative AI pioneer, CEO of WaveAI, and author of Creative Machines: AI, Art, and Us. In this episode, we dive deep into what it means for machines to be creative, how to build AI that empowers humans, and why the real threat isn’t AI itself, but how we choose to use it.

Takeaways

1. AI is Already Creative (Whether We Like It or Not)

2. “Humble Creative Machines” Should Be the Goal

3. ChatGPT Succeeded Because It Feels Like a Partner

4. The Real Bottleneck Isn’t Model Size, It’s Interaction

5. AI Music Creation Is Evolving Fast

6. We’re Underestimating Human Intelligence

7. Advice for Parents and Young Creatives

8. The Real Threat? Greed.

Resources & Links

* Maya’s book: Creative Machines: AI, Art, and Us

* WaveAI – Tools for songwriters

* LyricStudio

00:00 AI Art Shocks the World

01:38 Introducing Dr. Maya Ackerman

04:27 The Journey into Generative AI

08:49 The Rise of Creative Machines

24:00 Exploring AI in Music

26:53 AI and Music Diversity

28:41 AI's Commercial Focus vs. Creativity

29:58 The Future of AI and Human Roles

35:22 Advice for the Next Generation

40:37 The Importance of Adaptability

43:58 Challenges in AI Development

46:51 The Misuse of AI in Search Engines

50:17 Final Thoughts

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

John Gordon shares his journey from the military to launching his startup, Acelo, focusing on AI-driven automation in sales and marketing.

He demonstrates the practical applications of AI in building product requirement documents without any code, emphasising the importance of context engineering.

Key takeaways for product people include:

1) The importance of context engineering in AI to avoid hallucination.

2) Utilising low-code tools like n8n and make.com for automation.

3) The significant shift from code writing to mastering requirements documentation.

4) Emphasising the reduction of manual tasks, allowing more time for strategic product thinking and client interactions.

00:00 Introduction

00:57 Meet John Gordon: From Military to AI Innovator

03:17 The Rise of AI in Product Development

07:38 Understanding AI Agents and Context Engineering

09:13 Live Demo: Building a Requirements Document with AI

19:17 Practical Applications and Workflow Automation

29:22 Getting Started with AI Tools and Automation

35:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources mentioned in the episode:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheAIAutomators

https://www.youtube.com/@nateherk

https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGPope

https://www.youtube.com/@ColeMedin

Contact:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gordon-39135287/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-martin-3aa28490/

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Laura Ashley-Timms, COO of Notion and co-author of 'The Answer is a Question,' discusses the revolutionary impact of operational coaching.

Laura shares insights from a comprehensive study with the London School of Economics, revealing how operational coaching can significantly enhance productivity, collaboration, and job satisfaction.

Practical scenarios, such as dealing with urgent problems and delivering bad news, are explored to illustrate the effectiveness of the STAR model.

The episode also highlights the emotional and practical benefits of adopting this coaching style in personal and professional settings, emphasizing its universal applicability and potential to transform workplace cultures.

00:00 Introduction

03:06 Meet Laura Ashley-Timms: A Global Leader in Coaching

04:08 The Missing Superpower: Operational Coaching

13:15 The STAR Model: A Framework for Effective Management

18:41 Applying the STAR Model in Real Scenarios

23:04 Managing Overwhelm and Taking on Too Much

23:22 Delivering Bad News with Empathy

24:11 Preparing for Challenging Conversations

28:38 Surprising Research Findings on Coaching

33:27 Measuring the Impact of Coaching

36:34 AI's Role in Future Management

39:02 Applying Coaching Techniques in Personal Life

41:28 Abolishing the Line Manager Lottery

44:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Guest: Laura Ashley-Timms

Laura Ashley-Timms is recognised as one of the UK’s top Executive Coaches and is the co-creator of the STAR® model (2010) and the multi-award-winning STAR® Manager program (STARmanager.global).

She is an expert and thought leader on how to leverage Operational Coaching™ behaviors across organizations to drive commercial results and improve productivity and engagement levels.

As the co-founder and COO of Notion, a performance improvement consultancy established in 2000, Laura has led the team to win a string of awards for innovation, learning design and academic partnerships and for its work with FTSE and Fortune 500 clients, including Personnel Today magazine's prestigious Learning & Development Supplier of the Year award in 2021.

The Answer is a Question

LinkedIn

This week on the podcast I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr David Wood, Glenn D. Ardis Professor of Accounting at Brigham Young University, prolific author of over 200 publications, and the mind behind the new book Rewiring Your Mind for AI. David is not only an academic voice in accounting, but a leading thinker on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we learn, work, and create.

He discusses the concept of neuroplasticity, the growth of AI capabilities, and the importance of a transformational mindset in leveraging AI. The conversation highlights the rapid evolution of AI and its dual potential to enhance or disrupt various aspects of life and work.

00:00 Masako Wakamiya's Coding Journey

03:06 Meet Dr David Wood: Integrating AI in Education

04:26 The Role of AI in Modern Education

05:55 AI as a Superpower: Transforming Knowledge Access

07:48 Rewiring Your Mind for AI

14:04 The Future of Jobs in an AI-Driven World

18:25 Embracing AI: From Fear to Transformation

19:39 Mindset Shift: Embracing AI for Personal Growth

20:21 The Journey of Writing a Book with AI

23:31 AI's Rapid Advancement and Future Potential

26:53 Creative Uses of AI in Everyday Tasks

28:28 Feedback and Future Predictions for AI

34:13 Concluding Thoughts

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Guest: Dr. David A. Wood

Dr. David A. Wood is passionate about understanding new technologies and implementing them into the curriculum of Brigham Young University, where he works as the Glenn D. Ardis professor of accounting. He has published over 200 articles in a combination of respected academic and practitioner journals, monographs, books, and cases, including a recently released book on AI titled, “Rewiring your Mind for AI: How to Think, Work, and Thrive in the Age of Intelligence”. He has been awarded more than 30 awards for teaching, research, and service contributions. He has helped companies and organizations around the world learn about and implement GenAI and other tech topics. In 2023, he was named by Accounting Today one of the 100 most influential people in accounting. He is a cocreator of a free generative AI governance framework (see here), and of two companies related to GenAI training and reviewing Excel workpapers (http://skillabyte.com/ and https://hiddenhawkai.com).

Originally recorded for: Comparative Agility Podcast with Dee Rhoda

In this episode, Dee Rhoda chats with Superpowers School host Paddy Dhanda (yes, that's me!) about how Communities of Practice (CoPs) can go from being side projects to powerful tools for collaboration, culture, and learning.

Drawing from my experience of leading one of the UK's most vibrant visual thinking communities, and creating a new Communities of Practice Health Check with Comparative Agility, I share practical insights on what actually keeps communities alive, what causes them to fizzle out, and how community leaders can stop chasing vanity metrics and start focusing on real impact.

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Deep Dive into Communities of Practice

01:03 Comparative Agility and the Health Check Survey

05:43 Challenges and Solutions in Community Engagement

18:45 The 90-9-1 Rule of Participation

23:12 Virtual Communities and Visual Thinking

30:05 The Role of AI in Communities of Practice

34:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Try the Communities of Practice Health Check from Comparative Agility: Click Here

This episode was first recorded for the Comparative Agility Podcast, hosted by the brilliant Dee Rhoda.

Laura Brandenburg, an internationally recognised leader in business analysis, shares insights from her new book, 'Value-Driven Business Analyst,'

She discusses the importance of aligning business analysis with organisational outcomes. We delve into her eight-step business analysis process, the significance of being value-driven, and how to leverage AI in the field. Laura also talks about her journey into business analysis, her motivations for writing the book, and addresses how business analysts can future-proof their careers in an AI-driven world.

00:00 Introduction

01:35 The Role and Impact of Business Analysts

03:15 Laura's Journey and Insights into Business Analysis

05:36 The Value-Driven Business Analyst

23:11 The Eight-Step Business Analysis Process

26:01 Future-Proofing with AI in Business Analysis

31:13 Sustainability and Business Value

33:57 Conclusion and Farewell

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Guest: Laura Brandenburg

Laura Brandenburg, CBAP, is an internationally-recognized leader who helps mid-career professionals start and thrive in business analysis careers. She is the founder of Bridging the Gap, author of The Value-Driven Business Analyst and How to Start a Business Analyst Career, and creator of The Business Analyst Blueprint® training program. With over 20 years of experience, Laura is passionate about building the profession one business analyst at a time and empowering others to achieve confidence and success.

Book: https://www.bridging-the-gap.com/value/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BridgingtheGapBA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurabrandenburg/

Rishad Tobaccowala, a renowned author and futurist, shares insights from his latest book 'Rethinking Work' and provides actionable advice on how individuals can future-proof their careers. The episode also delves into the significance of creativity, continuous learning, and leveraging technology to enhance one's professional journey.

00:00 Introduction

03:08 The Importance of Physical Books

06:43 Rishad's Two Careers: Job vs. Work

14:42 The Future of Work: Key Changes and Predictions

17:40 The Role of AI and the Changing Ecosystem

21:13 Rethinking Office Culture and Collaboration

29:40 Future-Proofing Your Career: The Six Cs

30:39 Introduction to Creativity and AI

32:11 The Importance of Storytelling

32:48 Future-Proofing Skills

33:39 The Role of Writing and Speaking

34:31 The Book Writing Process

37:22 Investing in AI Tools

39:18 Taking Control of Your Career

41:12 The Connection Between Work and Well-being

42:38 Exploring the Future of Work

48:12 Advice for the Next Generation

55:20 Final Thoughts and Resources

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Guest: Rishad Tobaccowala

Author, futurist, and one of the most respected voices in business reinvention. With over 40 years of experience advising some of the world’s biggest brands, Rishad has been named by BusinessWeek as one of the top business leaders and by TIME magazine as a marketing innovator. He’s the author of the bestselling book Restoring the Soul of Business and his latest, Rethinking Work, challenges us to redesign work to be more human, more purposeful, and more future-ready. He also writes a brilliant weekly thought-letter, read by over 30,000 leaders worldwide, and hosts the podcast What Next?

Website: https://rishadtobaccowala.com/

In this episode, agile coach and creative facilitator Laura Re Turner shares how her neurodivergent traits have shaped her facilitation style—and what every product person should do to make workshops more inclusive, energising, and effective.

00:00 Introduction

02:19 Exploring Neurodivergence

03:54 Facilitation and Coaching Insights

05:24 Writing 'Becoming Agile' During the Pandemic

13:00 Impact of Neurodivergence on Work

25:11 Facilitation Techniques and Neurodiversity

31:34 Understanding Zoom Fatigue

32:04 The Impact of Resting Face

33:10 The Joy of In-Person Workshops

34:06 Exploring Creativity Through Sketching

37:56 Rediscovering a Passion for Art

43:19 Advice for Tech Newcomers

45:48 Fun and Serious Superpower Wishes

49:30 Connecting and Upcoming Events

Guest: Laura Re Turner

Laura Re Turner is an experienced coach and facilitator who blends professional coaching, expert facilitation, and Lean-Agile principles to support organisational change. As the founder of Future Focus Coaching, she helps leaders and teams thrive in complex environments through one-to-one coaching and dynamic group facilitation. Known for creating psychological safety and fostering deep collaboration, Laura draws on a wide range of approaches including systemic coaching, applied positive psychology, and Nancy Kline’s ‘Time to Think’. She is the author of Becoming Agile: Coaching Behavioural Change for Business Results and a regular speaker on the intersection of coaching and Agile.

Website: https://futurefocuscoaching.org/

Book: https://futurefocuscoaching.org/about-us/laura-re-turner/becoming-agile/

ISC25 Event: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/visualjam/1480999

Donna DuPont is a futurist, systems thinker, and Founder of Purple Compass. With 25+ years of experience in healthcare, defense, and emergency management, she helps leaders build future literacy and navigate uncertainty. Her work has earned 7 government awards and global recognition.

📌 What We Cover:

• Why boredom is a signal, not a flaw

• The “Futures Triangle” tool to map your future

• How belief systems shape opportunity

• Making peace with uncertainty

• Human skills AI can’t replace

• The mindset shift that can change your life

🛠️ Practical Takeaways:

• A simple tool to rethink your future
• Why imagination is the new strategy
• How to spot weak signals and ride emerging trends

• Daily habits to become future-ready

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Meet Donna DuPont

03:01 Understanding the Anticipatory Mindset

05:49 Donna's Journey into Futures and Foresight

08:08 Challenges in Adopting the Anticipatory Mindset

12:29 Practical Tools for Building the Mindset

23:02 The Role of AI in Anticipation

29:21 Final Thoughts and Personal Insights

36:06 Conclusion and Contact Information

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: [email protected]

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Guest: Donna Dupont

Donna Dupont, Founder and Chief Strategist of Purple Compass, is an award-winning designer and futurist with over 25 years of experience collaborating with leaders. She helps organizations build future literacy, navigate uncertainty, and drive impactful change. Combining systems thinking with strategic foresight, she empowers leaders to mitigate risks, enhance preparedness, and seize opportunities for innovation, transformation and resilience. Recognized with seven government awards, Donna’s work spans critical areas like climate change, health security, and emergency management, with her futures research earning accolades from the Canadian Defence and Security Network and the Association of Professional Futurists.

🌐 Learn more: purplecompass.ca