Creative leadership presents unique challenges, but the ability to foster innovation and think differently has never been more critical for organizational success.

Many leaders struggle to effectively manage creative teams, often misunderstanding what drives creative professionals or how to balance creative freedom with business objectives.

But creativity isn’t just for “creative types” – it’s a mindset that can be cultivated and leveraged across all areas of leadership and business.

Gayle Lantz speaks with Vincent Wanga, a dynamic international design thought leader, award-winning creative executive, and serial entrepreneur. Vincent is a Kenyan-American immigrant with a rare combination of creative talent and analytical thinking.

As former Vice President and Head of Creative for one of the fastest-growing technology startups in North America, Vincent oversaw corporate brand strategy and creative during unprecedented growth that led the company to over $1 billion in valuation. 

His new book is “The Art of Direction: Personal Perspectives on the Path to Creative Leadership.”

Vincent shares insights on managing multidisciplinary creative teams, the essential soft skills leaders need to develop, and why entrepreneurship can be one of the most powerful learning experiences for any leader.

Whether you manage artists, analysts, or any team that needs to innovate, this episode reveals how leadership itself is fundamentally a creative act.

This episode covers: 

• What makes leading creative teams unique and why they thrive on constraints 
• The essential soft skills every leader needs to develop for effective creative leadership
• How to balance creative freedom with business objectives and accountability 
• Why vision comes from the top down but innovation should come from the bottom up 
• The myth that creativity is something you either have or don’t have 
• How entrepreneurship accelerates leadership development and builds essential skills 
• Why creative teams are strategic partners, not just support functions 
• Practical advice for leaders who want to better leverage their creative talent

This episode challenges leaders to recognize creativity as an essential business skill and offers actionable insights for unlocking innovation in any organization.

LINKS:

https://www.vincentwanga.com

Previous CEO on the Go episodes:

Never Lead Alone: Shifting from Leadership to Teamship with Keith Ferrazzi (#260)

A Huge Tree Fell on My House, and 10 Essential Life Lessons Landed with It (#259)