The Wild Heart of Innovation: Embracing a Career Break for Professional Growth

In March, I finished a contract as a Senior Service Designer with the British Red Cross and decided to take a short break from my usual work to focus on personal projects. This pause was an intentional choice to dive deep into self-development. Little did I know just how much this would affect my career.

During this time, I volunteered in communities both at home and abroad, walked the Camino de Santiago route from Portugal to Spain alone, started working on my own podcast, and launched a business as a yoga teacher.

These adventures were not just about exploring new terrains or launching new initiatives—they deepened my understanding of myself and what I bring to the table as an innovator and leader.

Through these experiences, I had the space to:

• Reflect on my values and goals: I reconnected with what truly drives me, both personally and professionally.
• Develop a daily meditation practice: This has become a cornerstone of my well-being and resilience.
• Dive into deep study: I explored topics that inspire and motivate me—a unique mix of organisational design, and the social dynamics of science and technology innovation, and spirituality.

One of the most significant insights from this period came from the organisations that I volunteered with (first, Refugee Community Kitchen, and then the Triratna Buddhist Community). Both experiences demonstrated the power of bringing your whole self to work and how transformative courageous communication can be in sensitive and dynamic environments. It was a powerful reminder of how essential authenticity and vulnerability are in leadership and effective delivery.

The lessons that I learned volunteering were reinforced when I picked up Brené Brown's book 'Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts'...

Returning to Work

This month, I’m back to business as usual (more on that soon!).

On my second day in the new job, I travelled from Bristol to the London office. As I meditated on my 7am train, I noticed how completely at ease I felt. In fact, I’ve never felt so at ease in my first week in a new role, let alone on a commute to London.

During my meditation, I 'scan' the layers of body, mind, and emotions. My back feels strong, my front feels soft and open, my heart feels wild. Brené Brown’s mantra, ‘strong back, soft front, wild heart’ has been a guiding principle for me lately, shaping how I approach both my personal and professional experiences.

Strong Back, Soft Front, Wild Heart: A Meditation

In my meditation on the train, I sat forward in my seat, using the support of my spine to sit up tall. I felt my backbone; supportive, strong.

The metaphor of 'having a backbone' suggests someone who is boundaried and confident. For me, this evokes the archetype of The Warrior. As a life coach puts it, "Warrior energy is based on determination, clarity about what’s needed, and the dedicated pursuit of an objective? guided by focus and intention."

The metaphor of 'growing a backbone' suggests someone who is overly compliant and won't stand up for what they believe in.

But what does too much backbone look like? This is when our clarity and will, our belief and actions become overpowering, and closed off from others' ideas or beliefs.

To check if the sense of my 'strong back' is out of balance, I then shifted my attention forward, to the front of my body.

The front of the body, which faces outwards towards the world, is soft and vulnerable. I ask myself, 'How receptive am I to listening, seeing, and receiving what lies outside of me? How open do I feel toward the world?'

As I sat there, I felt strong at the back and soft at the front. Energies in balance, I was dancing between these opposites. In this middle ground, I was drawn to remember what motivates me and who and what supports me. I felt curious and open to receiving the uncertainty that lay ahead, in my new office, and in my new role.

The Wild Heart of Innovation

Holding these opposites simultaneously is what Brené Brown calls the ‘wild heart’ of daring leadership. Strong back, soft front, wild heart.

She writes, "Daring leaders work to make sure people can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging." This means being willing to be vulnerable, to listen as you wish to be heard, to ‘stay with the trouble’ of a complex or messy problem, and to stay true to your values and boundaries.

This might sound like hippy talk from a yoga teacher. It’s true in a way—my yoga practice and the self-study and growth it brings have cultivated this awareness and practice. But this is serious business, too. Brené’s research is clear: a ‘wild heart’ is the key to innovation, creativity, and change.

Taking this time off from work hasn’t just been the best thing for me personally—it’s been transformative for me professionally. I feel more at ease within myself and, therefore, more open to testing ideas and learning from challenges. My experiences during this period have fortified my belief in the power of self-development and reflection as catalysts for courageous leadership and creative innovation.

Looking Forward

As I progress in my new role, I hope to embody this philosophy, allowing it to ripple out and inspire courageous innovation. I want to deliver innovation that is driven by curiosity about the problems that need solving, optimism about creating a better future, ambition to deliver high-quality work, and openness in how I work with others.

Brené Brown says it best: "Courage is contagious. Every time we choose courage, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver."

I want to deliver innovation that is driven by curiosity about the problems that need solving, optimism about creating a better future, ambition to deliver high-quality work, and openness in how I work with others.

As always, please get in touch if you have any tips and tricks or personal reflections on setting the foundations for best-in-class innovation - I'd love to hear from you!