What if creativity isn’t a gift possessed by a few—but a skill every leader already has? In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden, co-authors of Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World. Drawing from their work at Stanford and Harvard, they share how innovation is less about genius and more about discipline, collaboration, and the willingness to see differently.

Forshaw and Braden dismantle the myth of the lone genius, showing how the best ideas rarely come from one person’s brilliance but from diverse teams willing to challenge each other’s assumptions. They unpack the concept of “cognitive caution”—that natural human tendency to play it safe—and explain how leaders can create the psychological conditions that make creativity thrive.

The conversation explores why traditional brainstorming often fails, why “innovation theater” gives the illusion of progress without impact, and what leaders can do to make innovation an everyday practice rather than a one-off event. From developing the muscles of divergent and convergent thinking to understanding how fear, hierarchy, and bias stifle creative problem-solving, this dialogue offers a roadmap for embedding innovation deeply into leadership and culture.

Braden and Forshaw also discuss the responsibility that comes with innovation—how thoughtful leaders must consider both the intended and unintended consequences of new ideas. And in a world reshaped by AI, they offer a refreshing reminder: technology can amplify human creativity, but it cannot replace the curiosity, humility, and judgment at the heart of real leadership.

This episode is a must-listen for CEOs and senior leaders who want to foster innovation that’s not performative, but practical—and who see creativity not as a department, but as a leadership imperative.

Actionable Takeaways

• You'll learn why everyone—not just “creative types”—is capable of breakthrough thinking, and how leaders can help teams rediscover that confidence.
  
• Hear how to replace “innovation theater” with daily practices that embed creativity into decision-making and culture.
  
• Discover the concept of cognitive caution—and how to reduce the fear and hesitation that quietly shut down new ideas in organizations.
  
• Explore the difference between divergent, convergent, and executive thinking—and how each contributes to effective innovation.
  
• Find out why the myth of the lone genius hurts innovation, and what truly collaborative creativity looks like inside high-performing teams.
  
• Learn how to ask better questions—the kind that expand perspective, reveal blind spots, and lead to better solutions.
  
• Hear why humility may be a leader’s most powerful innovation skill, enabling curiosity and openness across the organization.
  
• Understand why short-term performance pressures often block creative problem-solving—and what leaders can do to make space for exploration.

Connect with Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden

Innovationish Website

Innovationish Substack

Tessa Forshaw LinkedIn

Rich Braden LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website