Lessons from an Unconventional Leadership Off-Site at the Prado

When one stands before Fra Angelico’s Annunciation at the Prado Museum, it's hard not to be captivated by the scene unfolding on the canvas. The angel Gabriel, bathed in soft light, delivers divine news to the Virgin Mary, who receives the message with quiet grace. This is no ordinary depiction—it is a masterpiece of both spiritual and artistic depth. Yet, what makes this 1426 painting truly remarkable is its innovation. Fra Angelico, deeply rooted in religious tradition, reimagined how such sacred stories could be told, introducing a perspective that was groundbreaking for its time.

I stood in front of this very painting with a group of senior leaders from Teva Pharmaceuticals , a large multinational pharmaceutical company, observing as they, too, were drawn into the intricate details of the work. At first, they commented on the obvious beauty—the soft colors, the interplay of light and shadow. But as the moments passed, something more profound began to happen. They leaned in closer, pointing out details they hadn’t initially noticed: the pigeon bathed in sunlight, the hands of God, the delicate expression on Mary’s face, the glow surrounding the angel, and the intricate architecture in the background.

This was exactly the kind of moment I had designed the off-site to evoke. I wanted them to experience firsthand how innovation isn’t limited to technology or modern design—it can emerge even from something as ancient as a 15th-century painting. I chose this artwork, and others on our tour, deliberately to show how leadership, innovation, and creativity intersect. Fra Angelico, the Dominican friar and Early Renaissance painter, teaches us that true leaders balance tradition with progress, preserving what works while also pushing boundaries in new and creative ways.

Leadership Lessons Inspired by Masterpieces

While walking through the museum, we explored how the timeless lessons embedded in these masterpieces could apply to modern business challenges. Seeing works by Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch—all true innovators—naturally shifted the conversation from artistic creativity to leadership and innovation. But this wasn’t just about appreciating art; it was about how leaders can apply these insights to foster creativity and innovation within their own organizations.

Later, back at the hotel, we delved deeper into how leaders can create environments where innovation thrives. Even in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, leaders can and should encourage experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration. This idea gained momentum during the Q&A session, where the leaders’ reflections reminded me of key principles driving success at companies known for their creative cultures, like Braun, Apple, and Pixar. These reflections underscored important lessons worth mentioning.

Innovation in Not About Products

It's easy to focus solely on product innovation, but a critical reminder is that innovation isn’t confined to one area of the business—it can happen anywhere. Whether rethinking the business model, enhancing customer experience, revolutionizing marketing, or streamlining operations, innovation often involves finding new ways of working or collaborating that lead to sustained growth and success. Leaders need to reinforce that innovation isn’t just the responsibility of R&D or product teams; it should permeate every part of the organization. But equally, it’s the responsibility of teams to take the initiative and seek out opportunities to innovate.

Take Apple’s unibody construction, for example. As I’ve discussed in a previous article, this wasn’t just about creating better-looking products—it transformed how Apple approached manufacturing. The shift to a single-piece aluminum design made their devices lighter, stronger, and more durable. But this innovation didn’t just affect the end products like the MacBook Air, iPads, or iPhones—it reshaped Apple’s entire production process.?

This example illustrates that innovation can happen not only in product design but also in processes, manufacturing, branding, or even how services are delivered. It’s not about what you innovate but how you approach innovation.

Creativity is Everyone’s Responsibility

Many organizations talk about innovation constantly, but they miss a crucial step: you can’t achieve innovation without first creating an environment that fosters creativity. Innovation is the outcome of a culture that invites experimentation, nurtures fresh ideas, and allows employees to take risks without fear of failure. Rather than focusing solely on innovation as a goal, companies need to focus on building a creative culture. When creativity thrives, innovation will follow naturally. Leaders must prioritize this by making creativity everyone’s job, from the frontlines to the executive suite.

To achieve true innovation, creativity needs to be the responsibility of everyone in the organization. It can’t be limited to a select group or department, like design or R&D—it must come from every corner of the company. When employees at every level feel empowered to think creatively, you create the conditions where innovation has a chance to emerge. It doesn’t mean every idea will succeed, but it ensures that ideas aren’t stifled or dismissed before they even have a chance to surface.

Encouraging employees to approach their work with curiosity, to ask questions, and to challenge the status quo is where change begins. That’s why building a creative environment is critical to long-term success.

Great Ideas Can Come from Anywhere

If creativity is everyone’s responsibility, leaders must recognize that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. As Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar (who I met a couple of months ago), famously said, "When it comes to creative inspiration, job titles and hierarchy are meaningless." Many of the most innovative ideas don’t originate from the top—they come from unexpected places. Whether it’s a frontline employee offering a fresh way to serve customers, or someone in operations suggesting a process improvement, leaders must remain open to ideas from all levels.

The most successful companies—like Pixar and Braun—understand the value of input from across the board.?

The key for leaders is to create an atmosphere where people feel safe to share their ideas and where hierarchy doesn’t stifle creativity. When this happens, innovation can flourish across all parts of the business.

In essence, fostering a truly innovative culture requires leaders to recognize that innovation isn’t confined to products alone—it can happen in every aspect of the business. Creativity must be everyone’s responsibility, with employees at all levels empowered to contribute their ideas. And finally, leaders must embrace the fact that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization, ensuring that hierarchies don’t stifle creativity. By cultivating an environment where creativity thrives, leaders open the door for innovation to emerge from even the most unexpected places.

Towards the end of our day, one manager posed a thought-provoking question: “As a manager, is my role to seek out creative people, or to unlock the creativity within my team?”

That, as they say, is an excellent question.

Rather than rushing to hire external creative profiles, I believe managers should first focus on unlocking the potential already within their teams. Too often, I’ve seen organizations bring in outside talent, only to see them leave when the environment fails to nurture creativity. If the culture doesn’t support creative thinking, or if the manager unintentionally stifles innovation, bringing in new talent won’t solve the underlying problem.

Leaders must focus on creating an environment where creativity can thrive by fostering curiosity and leading with questions. Like artists driven by the questions they seek to answer, leaders should use inquiry to encourage exploration and innovation within their teams. While there are times when delivering clear directives is necessary, the most impactful leadership often comes from asking the right questions that guide teams to discover their own solutions.

If, after fostering this environment, you still find that external expertise is needed, then by all means bring in fresh talent. But first, reflect on your own leadership. Are you building a culture where creativity can thrive, where your teams feel trusted and supported? Are you asking the right questions and setting up the right processes to spark innovation at every level?

The day at the Prado served as a powerful reminder of the intersection between art and business. Art is not just something to be admired—it’s a way of thinking, a source of inspiration for approaching challenges in new and unexpected ways. The experience highlighted that innovation and creativity are not siloed responsibilities—they are collective efforts that can (and should) be nurtured across the entire organization.

As you think about your own leadership, ask yourself: how can you apply innovation not just to your products but to your processes and culture? How are you unlocking the potential of team members who may not yet see themselves as “creative”? By fostering creativity at every level, you may just uncover a new path forward in how you lead, manage, and inspire innovation within your organization.

If you're interested in designing your own leadership off-site to spark creativity and innovation within your team, contact us to learn how we can help.

Before I leave you, there is another story Fra Angelico teaches us—one that shows the practical side of creativity. Beyond his mastery of religious art, Fra Angelico also played a pivotal role in shaping Florence’s booming textile industry during the Renaissance. His influence extended beyond the canvas—his innovative designs and patterns were adopted by weavers, who integrated his artistic vision into the luxurious fabrics that helped drive Florence's economy.

Angelico’s work reminds us that creativity doesn’t just enhance art—it can inspire innovation in business and industry. His collaboration with textile makers pushed the boundaries of craftsmanship, elevating both the quality and reputation of Florentine fabrics across Europe.

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