Lessons in Leadership: Thinking Up, Balancing Focus, and Embracing Bold Innovation

I recently had the privilege of listening to Peter Bauer , the South African entrepreneur and founder of Mimecast , share his incredible journey and insights. As the former CEO of a company that grew from two South Africans in London to a global leader with 40,000 customers and over $750 million in annual revenue, Peter’s story is a masterclass in vision, resilience, and innovation.

Two of his ideas stood out to me as game-changers, offering practical lessons for any entrepreneur or leader navigating today’s fast-changing landscape.

1. The Power of the "Think-Up" Phase

Peter emphasized the often-overlooked stage before a business even begins—the think-up phase. This is where you observe small but significant shifts in the world and imagine how they might intersect to create new opportunities.

For Peter, the spark came from observing three key trends in the early 2000s:

Cloud-based software delivery: Inspired by Salesforce’s groundbreaking subscription model and delivery through the internet, Peter realised this could radically simplify software adoption for businesses.

Scalable, cost-efficient computing: They borrowed architectural ideas from Google, which was using large clusters of low-cost hardware to achieve unprecedented scale and efficiency.

Email’s growing importance: Email was transforming from a secondary tool to the backbone of business communication, but it was riddled with risks like spam, outages, and security breaches.

Combining these insights, Mimecast set out to solve a massive problem: making email reliable, secure, and scalable for businesses of all sizes. They developed a unified email management system that replaced the need for multiple point solutions like security, archiving, and backup software.

But this isn’t just a story from two decades ago—it’s a process we can apply to today’s challenges.

Peter offered a powerful way to reframe how to think about the emerging disruption of AI.

He'd been asked by a friend whether she should do more to explore how her business could be impacted by AI?

She highlighted that no one in her company understood AI. She also highlighted that none of her clients were asking for AI. And she also said that she was at full capacity running her existing operations.

Peter’s response was a masterstroke of perspective:

?? Replace "AI" with "the internet" and imagine asking that question back in 2000.

I think she got her answer!

But it's frameworks like this that we all need to apply to help us breakthrough our own biases.

This simple exercise reframed AI as a transformational force, not a distant trend, and forced me to think beyond today’s realities. It’s a reminder that breakthrough ideas aren’t just about solving today’s problems—they’re about anticipating tomorrow’s possibilities.

The think-up phase requires imagination and observation. It’s about connecting the dots between trends and having the conviction to act on opportunities that seem crazy today but could define the future.

2. Balancing Focus and Innovation

Peter also shared how Mimecast’s success came from tackling the larger problem of complexity, cost, and risk in business email systems—not just one small function.

At the time, this approach was revolutionary. Many advised Peter to focus on a single aspect, like spam filtering or email continuity, but he saw the bigger opportunity in solving the entire system’s complexity. Mimecast’s solution wasn’t just software—it was a service that businesses could trust to handle a critical part of their operations with ease and affordability.

While many advised him to “focus” by picking a single solution, Peter and his team took a more audacious route. They designed a unified email management system that replaced the need for multiple point solutions like email security, backup, and continuity software.

Startups have a unique advantage in pursuing this kind of strategy: speed. Unlike large incumbents, which often struggle to pivot due to their size, established processes, and reliance on legacy systems, startups can move quickly to address a complete problem. Mimecast used this agility to outpace competitors who were too slow to adopt the architectural shifts that Peter and his team embraced.

Competing with established players in each of those areas, Mimecast had to prove it could deliver a better, simpler, and more cost-effective alternative. By focusing on the customer’s problem—making email management less complex, more affordable, and scalable—they turned their speed into a competitive edge.

This story resonated because it’s a reminder that focus doesn’t always mean narrowing your scope—it can mean thinking bigger. Peter’s approach was bold: don’t just solve one pain point; tackle the underlying system causing the pain.

Are Other Companies Doing This?

Absolutely.

Peter’s strategy aligns with how some of the world’s most innovative companies approach problems:

Apple: Apple doesn’t just build devices; it creates ecosystems. The iPhone wasn’t just a phone—it became the hub of a suite of services (App Store, iCloud, Apple Pay). By solving the broader problem of seamless digital experiences, Apple cemented its dominance.

Tesla: Tesla didn’t just build electric cars; it addressed the larger issue of sustainable energy with products like Powerwall batteries and solar roofs. Tesla’s innovation lies in solving the system-wide problem of energy consumption, not just transportation.

Amazon: Initially an online bookstore, Amazon didn’t stop at e-commerce. It identified logistical and technological bottlenecks and built solutions like AWS (cloud computing) and its vast logistics network, which now power not only its own operations but also those of thousands of other companies.

These examples mirror the thinking Peter described: solve the bigger problem, not just one piece of it, and you’ll unlock opportunities for sustained growth and innovation.

3. The Role of Facilitation in Unlocking Potential

One of Peter’s lesser-discussed insights was the critical role of facilitation in fostering innovation and alignment within organizations. He highlighted how leaders often need an external facilitator to guide discussions, challenge assumptions, and ensure teams remain focused on long-term goals rather than getting stuck in the day-to-day grind.

Facilitation creates the space for leaders and teams to step back, reflect, and reimagine their business. It’s particularly valuable when organizations are grappling with complex challenges or trying to identify their next big move. As Peter noted, even the best ideas can falter without the right conversations to bring them to life.

My advice?

Treat facilitation as a tool for clarity and momentum. Whether it’s a strategic offsite, a brainstorming session, or a decision-making workshop, having a skilled facilitator can be the difference between stagnation and breakthrough.

Closing Thoughts

Peter Bauer’s wisdom left me rethinking how I approach challenges in my own business. Are we taking enough time to “think up” the next opportunity?

Are we imagining the future boldly enough? Are we addressing the root problems, not just their symptoms?

A Huge thanks to South African College School , Andrew Finlayson and Tyson Properties South Africa for organizing this event in support of the Ithuba Trust, which provides financial support for 40 boys at SACS every year.

And of course thanks to Peter Bauer for taking the time to share his journey with SACS parents and old boys. A remarkable story of South African entrepreneurship, which reminds us that innovation, resilience, and bold thinking are timeless tools for success.

#Leadership #ThinkUp #OutsideIn #Trends #Futurism #Imagination

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