From “No Achievement” to the World’s Largest EV Company

Your people are smart and committed, but they’re stretched, stressed, and change weary.

McKinsey and Bain both report that 70–88 % of change efforts fail, costing trillions each year. Even a small shift in that success rate would be game-changing.

Here’s the paradox: humans are the most adaptable species on Earth, yet organisations – made up of humans – struggle to ignite change.

After studying hundreds of companies, Dean van Leeuwen, co-founder of TomorrowToday Consulting, has decoded four sparks that separate leaders who ignite real change from the many who stall:

1. Endgame A clear, unambiguous destination that focuses effort.
2. Ambition A radical stretch that scares and excites.
3. Impact Change that matters to the people who matter most.
4. Alignment When timing, capability, and trends move as one, action feels inevitable.

When these sparks connect, change ignites.

Each week Dean shares a short Ignite Change story or video and draft chapter from his upcoming book IGNITE – Why Some Strategies Spark and Others Backfire.

 

This week’s story is that of Wang Chuanfu. Orphaned at 15 and raised in poverty, his journey from a modest 2,000 m² workshop in Shenzhen to founding BYD – now the world’s largest electric vehicle company.

A real-life tale of sense and synchronisation, clear endgame, radical ambition and meaningful impact.

• Read today’s story here. (You can subscribe to his LinkedIn newsletter to receive these weekly updates.)
• Read the draft chapters of his book here.

Contact us if you would like to book Dean, or any of our team at TomorrowToday, for a keynote for your upcoming conference or a facilitated workshop for a team event or leadership workshop, as you prepare to ignite change in 2026.

TomorrowToday empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

We invite you to connect with Graeme Codrington and Dean van Leeuwen, two of our lead futurists, or if you would prefer, I’d be happy to schedule a meeting to connect you with them to chat about the biggest Grey Elephant you’re seeing in your industry right now.