562: Steve Jobs' Former Colleague on How to Achieve Creative Velocity in the Age of Gen AI

562: Steve Jobs' Former Colleague on How to Achieve Creative Velocity in the Age of Gen AI

Leslie Grandy, a seasoned executive who has led global product teams at Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and T-Mobile, shares a deeply practical perspective on how leaders can activate creativity across functions, not just in design or strategy.



Drawing from her early years in the film industry and later executive roles in technology, Grandy explains how she developed three capabilities that proved critical in high-performance product environments:



"You've got to grind it out… and you have to have that intrinsic motivation to continue, even when it looks like failure is obvious."

"You have to be resilient and flexible… because you have so many people depending on the outcome."

"If I haven't seen the problem before, it doesn't seem daunting to me… It seems fun."

These capabilities (grit, adaptability, and creative problem solving) formed the foundation of her success in ambiguous, fast-moving, and high-stakes environments.

Grandy also speaks directly to what supports and undermines creative velocity inside organizations. She notes that the most adaptive cultures don't reserve creativity for a few select teams:

"They expect every role is going to show up with that same creative intention… that the status quo doesn't seep into the lower ranks."

But she also warns:

"Status quo as a cultural norm is dangerous."
"Consensus-driven thinking is equally problematic for creative velocity."

Her insights on Steve Jobs provide a rare look inside Apple's leadership culture. When asked about her interview with him, she explains:

"Your interview will be five minutes or it'll be 60 minutes. It's up to Steve."
"I didn't come in there acting like I was an equal… I just came in there with a confidence that I could answer whatever he asked."

When her team added preset engraving suggestions to iPods to help customers complete purchases, Jobs reacted immediately:

"He saw it, and within a day, it was pulled down."
"He had such a finite view of his brand… there were no blurry edges around the brand."

Grandy's new book, Creative Velocity, argues that creativity is not a fixed trait, but a capability that can be developed with intention.

She addresses how leaders should approach generative AI, not just as an efficiency tool, but as a creative partner:

"What's really transformative… is doing the exact opposite of prompt engineering."
"It's not about speed to answer. It's about using that time to evolve a thought into different tributaries of thought."

This episode raises a critical question for senior leaders:

"Are you designing your organization to perform or to invent?"

Get Leslie's book here: https://rb.gy/d5zr69

Creative Velocity: Propelling Breakthrough Ideas in the Age of Generative AI

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217: Period case studies (Strategy Skills classics)

217: Period case studies (Strategy Skills classics)

For this episode, let's revisit one of Strategy Skills classics where we discuss a special type of case study called a period case study which is significantly harder to do, but incredibly useful. Most consultants prefer case studying the latest and greatest fad, which is extremely misleading, as explained in this podcast. Click here to see the full study and here to see the merger study and market entry study. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

16 Helmi 202212min

216: The organizational design stream (Strategy Skills classics)

216: The organizational design stream (Strategy Skills classics)

For this episode, let's revisit one of Strategy Skills classics where we discuss the tough work being done by the Organizational Design team. We discuss the three tensions which drive all Organizational Design recommendations and the trade-offs required. We also spoke about the most important requirement to implement a new culture and structure at any company, and it is quite simple to do. As you will see, the Organizational Design stream is struggling in the study. Click here to see the full Corporate Strategy & Transformation study and here to see the merger study and market entry study. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

14 Helmi 202215min

215: Catherine Bell, How to awaken company's humanity

215: Catherine Bell, How to awaken company's humanity

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 215, an episode with an award-winning entrepreneur, business leader, and best-selling business author, Catherine Bell. Get Catherine's book here: https://amzn.to/3Gzdqvf   In this episode, Catherine spoke about the importance of humanity and trust in every organization. She highlighted that as a leader, we need to pause and understand where we are as a person, which allows us the discretionary space to make the best decisions. Mindful and self-aware leaders are higher performers compared to those who are not.   Catherine Bell focuses on awakening and sustaining the fire within as Founder of The Awakened Company with passion, purpose, and play. Catherine founded BluEra, a Profit 500 executive search firm. She now helps organizations develop healthy culture strategies and hosts webinars on leadership and the Enneagram.   She also started The Awakened Project, a jewelry line that helps females get out of poverty by starting their businesses with microloans. Catherine has also been a Board Member of the Distress Centre and Open to Grow. She is currently an Advisor to the Impact Society and Telus Spark. Catherine teaches at the Queen's (Smith) School of Business in their Masters of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. She has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Not for Profit Essentials Program, is Certified in the Enneagram and Yoga Teacher Training, and has an MBA from Queen's University.   The Awakened Company. Catherine Bell: https://amzn.to/3Gzdqvf Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

9 Helmi 202247min

214: Emily Bermes, How to thrive as a new generation executive

214: Emily Bermes, How to thrive as a new generation executive

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 214, an episode with CEO and executive coach, Emily Bermes. Get Emily's book here: " data-userid="751940007443001344" data-orgid="751940008097312768">https://amzn.to/3B2vZXD In this episode, Emily spoke about the challenges that new generation executives are facing, particularly during the trying times of the pandemic. She discussed how having no physical role model or person to look up to impacts how an executive behaves and performs, and how executives cope up with that. Emily Bermes is the CEO of a human capital consulting firm. She has devoted her career to helping executives—from Fortune 100 companies to industry-shifting startups—successfully assimilate into new roles, create strong teams, and develop cultures that attract and retain the best talent. Combining more than 20 years of experience as a partner-level management consultant and executive coach with her background as a quantitative researcher, Emily is a master at creating customized, elegant solutions for the toughest organizational and human capital challenges. She has successfully assimilated nearly 100 executives across multiple industries. Bombproof: A Field Proven Guide for the New-to-Role Executive. Emily Bermes: " data-userid="751940007443001344" data-orgid= "751940008097312768">https://amzn.to/3B2vZXD Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

7 Helmi 202237min

213: Avoiding the strategy echo chamber (Strategy Skills classics)

213: Avoiding the strategy echo chamber (Strategy Skills classics)

For this episode, let's revisit one of Strategy Skills classics where we discuss why you should avoid the strategy echo chamber. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

2 Helmi 202214min

212: What makes it a transformation study? (Strategy Skills classics)

212: What makes it a transformation study? (Strategy Skills classics)

For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills where we discuss what makes a study a "transformation study" and how to determine if an organization is going through a transformation or something else, such as restructuring. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

31 Tammi 202222min

211: How to complete logical case studies? (Strategy Skills classics)

211: How to complete logical case studies? (Strategy Skills classics)

For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills where we discuss how to complete logical case studies. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

26 Tammi 202210min

210: Three career path options for consulting partners (Strategy Skills classics)

210: Three career path options for consulting partners (Strategy Skills classics)

For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills where we discuss the 3 career path options that consultants face once they become partners. We discuss each career path and what it means for a consultant's career. These are differences that are crucial to know and understand because partner career paths that appear to be more attractive often lead to disappointing results. For example, did you know it is a really bad idea to emulate the career path of all the McKinsey and BCG partners who appear in the McKinsey Quarterly, BCG perspectives, and HBR? This counter-intuitive podcast will explain why. Many consultants don't spend enough time analyzing and considering the implications of following each career path. They take a superficial look at who are the partners most known and respected within the firm and try to emulate those partners. Yet, down the road, they often end up at a dead end. We further address which partner career path you should follow if your goal is to become a CEO one day. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

24 Tammi 202213min

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