From Inclusion to Innovation: Lessons from Jeddah to Oslo
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to work with two incredible groups of leaders in very different settings – one in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, focused on Leading with Inclusivity, and the other in Oslo, Norway, exploring Innovation for Results. While the locations, industries, and cultural contexts differed, a striking common thread emerged: the vital relationship between inclusivity and innovation.
At its core, inclusivity is the engine that drives innovation. When people feel heard, valued, and psychologically safe, they are far more likely to share ideas, challenge the status quo, and take risks — all essential ingredients for innovation.
Why Inclusivity Matters for Innovation
Research consistently shows that diverse teams outperform homogenous ones in problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability. But diversity alone isn’t enough — it’s inclusive leadership that activates the potential of a diverse team.
In Jeddah, our conversations centred around building inclusive leadership behaviours — listening deeply, addressing bias, embracing cultural and cognitive diversity, and creating safe spaces for contribution. These leaders recognised that inclusion isn't simply about representation — it’s about engagement, opportunity, and equity in how we lead, decide, and grow.
Then in Oslo, I saw this understanding come to life in a different way. Our focus was on design thinking, ideation, and innovation strategy, yet it became immediately clear that innovation only thrives in cultures where people feel empowered to speak up, experiment, and even fail.
The link was undeniable: Innovation without inclusion is performance theatre. It may look creative from the outside, but it lacks depth, sustainability, and genuine impact.
Creating the Conditions for Both
So what do inclusive, innovative cultures have in common?
Psychological Safety: As Amy Edmondson famously outlined, this is the bedrock of team learning and innovation.
Growth Mindset: Leaders who model curiosity, continuous learning, and openness to challenge set the tone for experimentation.
Distributed Leadership: Empowering others to lead from where they are unlocks latent creativity and motivation.
Cultural Intelligence: Especially in global contexts, understanding and adapting to difference is essential for both inclusive practice and innovation success.
Final Reflections
Whether I’m in Jeddah facilitating conversations on inclusive leadership or in Oslo guiding teams through innovation sprints, the underlying truth remains the same: Leadership is most powerful when it combines openness with action, and inclusion with imagination.
As organisations around the world seek to future-proof their strategies and energise their teams, I encourage every leader to ask:
How inclusive is your innovation?
And how innovative is your approach to inclusion?
Let’s continue to challenge ourselves — and our systems — to make space for every voice, and in doing so, unlock the kind of innovation that truly changes the game.
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Ready to lead with both inclusivity and innovation?
Whether you're building stronger teams, shaping new strategies, or creating cultures where bold ideas thrive — inclusive leadership is where it begins. Let’s start a conversation about how we can work together to create spaces where everyone contributes and innovation flourishes.
👉 Get in touch or book a call with me without any obligation. It would be great to hear from you!
