Regenerative Business — Learning From Creativity

As a business coach, I'm committed to guiding organisations towards regenerative business models, and some of the richest lessons come from unlikely sources.

In this first of four blog posts in my series on what the future of leadership looks like, I explore what leadership can learn from creativity, music, taking inspiration from the extraordinary work of Jacob Collier.

Introduction

I first discovered something significant about myself in high school when I accidentally learned to play the saxophone. My best friend wanted to take lessons; I went along. Before I knew it, I was choosing a Yamaha alto sax in a music shop in South Croydon. One lesson stuck with me: my sax teacher asked me (with my back to the piano) to name a note she played. I said, “Middle C.” She told me I had perfect pitch.

Over time, I became less certain about whether my pitch was truly perfect. I can sometimes harmonise spontaneously, sometimes sing a note on request — though often I get it wrong. But I know, firmly, I don’t have “perfect pitch” in the absolute sense. Still, that moment planted something: the understanding that listening — without preconception — matters enormously.

This idea of listening, of openness, and creative risk is essential for the future of leadership in regenerative business: leaders who cultivate creativity, embrace uncertainty, and let authenticity lead.

Jacob Collier as a Model of Creative Leadership

When I think of someone pushing the boundaries of expression, Jacob Collier stands out. His work is not just musical; it's a practice in creativity, connection, and compelling vulnerability.

• Freedom of Expression: Collier blends genres, pushes harmonies, and experiments with surprising chord choices. In his work, we see someone who isn’t bound by convention. In The Guardian, he describes having so many ideas that he calls it “creative infinity syndrome”. The Guardian

• Comfort with Tension — Embracing Uncertainty: In interviews, Collier often says that he doesn’t always know where a song or album is going. For example, with Djesse Vol. 4, he enlisted 100,000 concertgoers to help with harmonies, knowing full well that improvisation and unpredictability would follow. AP News+1

• Sharing Processes Openly: He doesn’t hide his journey. His creative process, collaborations, and experiments are all part of his public narrative. In doing so, he invites others in — into the uncertainty, into the magic, into the risk.

These traits are deeply relevant to regenerative business. They point towards leadership that is alive, responsive, and rooted in authenticity.

Why Music Matters to Leadership

What does music have to do with business leadership, especially in the regenerative business arena?

• Emotional Resonance and Authenticity

  Regenerative businesses depend on trust, shared purpose, and genuine engagement. Authenticity in leadership creates that resonance. Music that moves us typically does so because it’s honest — including the slightly discordant moments. In leadership, those imperfect moments often build deeper trust than polished perfection.

  
  

• Harmony and Improvisation as Metaphors for Teams

  In a musical ensemble, harmony depends on listening, adapting, and giving space. Improvisation requires confidence, risk, and a shared understanding. A regenerative business needs teams that can adapt, innovate, and sometimes deviate with purpose — improvising solutions to complex challenges, together.

• Creativity as Performance and Process

  Research confirms that leadership and creativity are deeply intertwined. A recent paper, Leadership and Creativity – A Vital Skill for Individual and Organisational Performance, argues that creative leadership stimulates performance and well-being (ResearchGate). Similarly, The Role of Leadership in Collective Creativity and Innovation shows leaders influence their settings in ways that either enable or inhibit the creative capacities of their teams (PMC).

Actionable Insights for a Regenerative Business

Here are some practices drawn from my observations and from artists like Jacob Collier that can transform leadership style:

Encourage Experimentation

Make space for “trial without guarantee”. Let ideas be tried, even those that may fail. In regenerative models, failure can be fertile ground: it teaches what doesn’t work and often reveals what could.

Share Your Process and Thinking Openly

Transparency builds trust. When leaders show how they arrived at decisions, what doubts they had, what trade-offs they considered, it humanises leadership. It invites collaboration and co-ownership. (This is very much aligned with how I work with clients — you can find more about my approach and how we can work together on my Working Together page.)

Lead with Energy and Joy

Creativity thrives in environments where joy is allowed. Passion is contagious. If you, as a leader, show that you are inspired and alive in what you are doing, others will feel that too.

Embrace Tension as a Sign, Not a Threat

In music, dissonance can create beauty. In business, conflict, tension, or uncertainty can signal growth potential. Don’t shy away from them — learn to recognise when they may be fuel rather than enemy.

Cultivate Deep Listening Skills

Listening is more than hearing. It means understanding context, emotion, subtext. It means being attuned not just to what is said, but to what is left unsaid. It means creating safe spaces for voices that are often silent.

Conclusion

In the end, the future of leadership — especially within regenerative business — will feel different. It may feel uncomfortable. It may at first sound dissonant. But, like when I first heard Jacob Collier’s music and wasn’t sure what to make of certain chord choices, over time those tensions resolve into something beautiful.

To lead regeneratively means to lead with curiosity, with courage, with vulnerability. It asks us to open our ears, to share our heart, and to build systems that don’t just extract, but regenerate: communities, relationships, ecosystems.

If you'd like support in bringing these ideas into your organisation — experimenting with leadership that is more creative, more transparent, more regenerative — drop me a line.

You can see how I work with clients on my Working Together page, read what previous clients have said on my Testimonials page, and if you're ready to begin, contact me here.