This week’s 5 for Friday brings you key ideas shaping business and leadership right now, from the shifting geopolitics of multipolarity and supply chain stress, to what makes high-functioning teams tick, and the kind of leadership that truly earns trust.
Take a look and see what resonates with you.
🌍 Multipolarity, Supply Chains & Why Strategy Can’t Wait.
In our latest Elephants in the Boardroom episode, Graeme Codrington, Dean van Leeuwen, and guest Mar Bernal Conde unpack what “multipolarity” really means for your business, from shifting trade blocs and tariffs to supply chains under duress and the ethics baked into sustainable sourcing.
You’ll hear how compliance can become a competitive advantage, how scenario-planning helps you navigate deep uncertainty, and even a quiz that will challenge your assumptions. Listen now to gain actionable insights and see the stories in context.
🧩 Why Vulnerable, Purpose-Driven Leaders Earn Trust and Inspire Growth to Create a Lasting Impact.
True leaders are willing to be vulnerable, to trust their teams, to listen deeply, and to work openly on the areas where they can grow.
This is also one of the reasons why we love partnering with 1% for the Planet, and why we’re continually impressed with the leadership of their CEO, Kate Williams. At TomorrowToday, we believe this is exactly the kind of future-fit leadership the world needs. Read Kate’s recent LinkedIn post here.
This kind of leadership reflects Invitational Leadership – the ability to “empty” yourself of ego, control, and the need to always have the answers, so that space is created for others to thrive. It’s a leadership style that’s not just powerful but deeply human, and it’s one of the most important leadership skills for the future.
You can read more about our Invitational Leadership framework here.
🎯 The 10 Characteristics of High-Functioning Teams.
What makes some teams thrive while others struggle? In a recent conversation, Graeme Codrington sat down with Dr Justin Cohen and Tracy Elliott to explore their work on measuring “team intelligence.” They unpack the ten characteristics of high-functioning team’s insights that go beyond surface-level dynamics and get to the psychology of what makes people work brilliantly together. Watch the full discussion here and see how these ideas could shape your own teams.
And if this is an area you’re interested in investigating further – I’d be happy to chat through our various frameworks to best meet your teams where they are right now… Our Building Resilient Teams workshop could be a great option, or perhaps our Enneagram workshop which also always brings so many ‘aha’ moments for delegates.
🎤 Graeme Codrington at the Mancosa JacarandaFM Business Breakfast – 1 Oct 2025.
If you’re in Johannesburg on 1 October, don’t miss the Mancosa JacarandaFM Business Breakfast at Vodaworld in Midrand.
Graeme Codrington will be sharing the stage with an incredible lineup:
✨ Grace Harding (CEO of Ocean Basket)
✨ Jessica Motaung (Marketing & Commercial Director, Kaizer Chiefs)
✨ Patrick Lambie (Former Springbok & Property Developer)
✨ Mamokgethi Phakeng (Businesswoman & former VC of UCT)
Together, they’ll unpack what it takes to build a business and career that’s ready for the future. You can see more details and get tickets here.
⚡ Are We Living Through a New Great Transformation?
A century ago, invention and upheaval reshaped the world. Today, it feels like history is repeating itself, only faster and in more directions at once. In his latest LinkedIn post, Dean van Leeuwen unpacks the forces driving a “Great Transformation,” from AI and quantum computing to multipolar geopolitics, longevity science, programmable biology, and climate tipping points. None of these shifts move alone; they interlock, creating feedback loops that defy linear forecasts.
Read the full post to see how these forces are colliding and what they mean for leaders ready to shape the future and explore more in our Grey Elephants keynote, where we help teams stress-test their strategy against these very disruptions.
We’d love to hear what resonated with you most. Get in touch with us and share your thoughts.