What does it take to lead into the future? In the latest episode of On Point., our CEO Serhan sits down with Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, Stanford Adjunct Professor, and globally sought-after innovation coach.
🎧 Note: This On Point podcast episode with Frederik G. Pferdt is conducted in German. Insights shared below reflect the key takeaways from the original conversation.
Their conversation delves into why the next era of leadership depends not just on technology or strategy but on mindset, emotion, and a radically optimistic view of the future. As technology evolves at a rapid pace, it’s the human element — emotional intelligence, curiosity, and empathy — that will determine whether organizations thrive or fall behind.
Innovation Starts From Within: Cultivating a Growth Mindset
For Frederik, innovation isn’t just about launching a product or a solution. It’s about nurturing a mindset that supports continuous exploration and learning. He believes that innovation is a mindset that can be cultivated at all levels of an organization. It starts with fostering a culture of discovery where every team member feels safe to ask questions, experiment, and embrace failures as stepping stones to greater breakthroughs.
True innovation is driven by curiosity and a culture that embraces failure as part of the learning process.
“True innovation is driven by curiosity and a culture that embraces failure as part of the learning process,” says Pferdt. This is a mindset that recognizes frustration and challenges as the perfect environments for curiosity to grow. By embracing these moments, teams can drive forward with new perspectives and ideas.
At the heart of this approach is the concept of emotional leadership. Leaders, according to Frederik, must move beyond the traditional role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to become Chief Emotional Officers (CEOs) within their organizations. By actively shaping emotions such as curiosity, safety, and belonging, they create an environment where teams feel empowered to innovate.
The “Yes Day”: How Radical Optimism Fuels Creativity
One of the most powerful tools Frederik introduces in his approach to fostering innovation is the “Yes Day”, a concept that challenges leaders to embrace every new idea, no matter how unconventional it may seem. On this day, leaders commit to saying “yes” to all ideas presented to them, instead of immediately dismissing them due to perceived limitations such as cost or feasibility.
This practice shifts the conversation from “Why won’t this work?” to “How could this work?” It encourages creativity by removing the barriers that often stifle new ideas. The objective is not just to generate ideas, but to create a culture of possibility where every team member feels heard and valued.
At Google, rituals like the “Day of the Dead” (where the company celebrates the letting go of ideas that didn’t succeed) help reinforce the understanding that innovation isn’t solely about success. It’s also about knowing when to move on and pivot from ideas that no longer serve the greater vision.
This culture of optimism, where even failures are seen as opportunities for growth, is key to maintaining momentum and encouraging continuous innovation.
Future Mindset: How Small Shifts Can Spark Major Change
In addition to fostering emotional intelligence, Frederik emphasizes the importance of deliberately practicing a future mindset. Innovation doesn’t just happen spontaneously: it’s the result of consistent, intentional practices that nurture resilience, adaptability, and an openness to change.
Pferdt suggests that leaders and teams can create a future mindset by making small yet impactful changes to daily routines. For instance, he recommends limiting exposure to negative media, as it can dampen creativity and focus. Instead, cultivating a habit of consuming positive, inspiring content can help train the mind to stay open to opportunities, even in the face of uncertainty.
This mindset is particularly critical in times of global disruption. As organizations face mounting pressures, it is the ones that cultivate a future mindset—those that see challenges as opportunities—that will emerge stronger and more innovative. Frederik’s advice? “Every day is an opportunity to build habits that shape the way we approach innovation.”
3 Key Takeaways from the Conversation
- Train Your Future Mindset: Innovation doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of consistent practice. Build your future mindset through small daily experiments that encourage adaptability and resilience. The more open you are to disruption, the more likely you’ll find innovative solutions in the long run.
- Lead with Emotion: Emotional leadership is about more than just empathy—it’s about intentionally shaping how people feel within your organization. By creating cultures of curiosity, safety, and trust, leaders can inspire their teams to engage in the creative process and overcome challenges with optimism.
- Act First. Think Later: Overthinking can paralyze progress. Frederik stresses the importance of action—prototype, experiment, and iterate. It’s only through doing that you will uncover new insights and opportunities for growth.
Why Emotional Leadership is the Future of Innovation
Frederik’s perspective on emotional leadership is revolutionary: leadership is no longer just about directing and managing—it’s about emotionally connecting with people. Leaders need to prioritize emotional intelligence, not just technical skills, in order to create environments where creativity can flourish.
The future of leadership lies in the ability to understand and cultivate emotions within teams. When leaders can tap into the emotional core of their teams, they unlock a wealth of untapped potential. It’s this combination of human-centered leadership and innovative thinking that will help organizations stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.
Frederik’s thoughts on emotional leadership and innovation extend far beyond just Google. His message is a reminder to all leaders that they can create more human-centered, innovative workplaces through mindful attention to emotion, curiosity, and belonging.
Ready to Think Radically Better?
This episode is a powerful reminder that innovation isn’t just reserved for Silicon Valley giants—it’s accessible to any leader, team, or organization willing to embrace change, lead with empathy, and think radically better. By focusing on emotional intelligence and the mindset we cultivate, we can unlock new pathways for growth and transformation.
Tune in now and ignite your own future mindset
Subscribe to our Podcast On Point.
- Spotify ⇲
- Apple Podcast ⇲
- Youtube ⇲
