Shaping Purpose newsletter

There’s a narrative we’ve been sold about AI That it’s borderless. That it lives in the cloud. That it scales infinitely. But what we’re seeing unfolding right now tells a different story and most organisations are not paying attention to it. While boardrooms debate AI strategy, productivity tools and governance frameworks, a conflict thousands of miles away is quietly threatening the physical foundations that the entire AI economy depends on. Because AI isn’t abstract. It ru

Why leadership, values and people matter now more than ever The past few weeks in the AI world have been revealing. Not simply because of new capabilities emerging from research labs, but because of how people are responding to them. On one side, AI systems are advancing at extraordinary pace. Recent research shows autonomous agents increasingly capable of working independently for extended periods, performing complex tasks across areas such as software engineering, cybersecu

There is a wealth divide forming that hasn't announced itself loudly. It isn't arriving with one dramatic event or a single technological breakthrough. Instead, it's emerging slowly, almost politely, while we are busy getting on with our lives. On one side will be those with access: to adaptable skills, evolving knowledge, supportive networks, and the confidence to navigate uncertainty. On the other, will be those who were told that stability would come from doing the right t

It's already 2026 and there’s a particular kind of tiredness showing up in organisations right now. Not burnout exactly. More like saturation. Too many options. Too many priorities. Too many “next big things” competing for attention at the same time. AI, yes, but also new markets, new operating models, ESG demands, platform migrations, product sprawl, policy shifts, workforce pressures. Everything feels urgent. Everything feels important. And yet, very little feels settled. T

The conversation around AI is everywhere. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it’s often urgent. In boardrooms and backchannels, AI is being adopted at pace—integrated, piloted, invested in. Headlines tell us it’s the future. Founders feel the pressure. Teams roll out tools. And yet... for many, the question no one’s stopping long enough to ask is: to what end? What we’re seeing isn’t a lack of effort, it’s a lack of clarity. That’s what “shaping purpose” means to us. It’s not about c

That’s what “ shaping purpose ” means to me. It’s not about grand mission statements or brand slogans. Instead, it’s about doing work...