#33- Vaughn Tan : Why Uncertainty Creates Innovation

Dr. Vaughn Tan is a strategy consultant, advisor, and researcher. He currently leads Southeast Asia executive education for University College London, where he was part of the founding strategy faculty in the School of Management. He is the author of The Uncertainty Mindset (Columbia Univ. Press, 2020), a book about using uncertainty as a strategic tool for designing high-performing innovation organizations.Vaughn works with the leadership teams of corporations, startups, governments, and NGOS to develop their innovation capacity and ability to manage uncertainty. His executive education practice focuses on building programmes that develop participants’ leadership capacity, strategic vision, and innovation ability. He speaks regularly at conferences and for leadership teams on uncertainty, strategy, innovation, and the future of work in a time of AI.He is currently a Fellow of the Singapore Government’s Centre for Strategic Futures, an Rethink Food Executive Board member, and an advisor on diversity and inclusion matters to Wellcome.CHAPTERS: 00:00 TRAILER00:53 Understanding Risk vs. Uncertainty03:30 Navigating Uncertainty in Decision Making09:05 The Importance of Embracing Uncertainty14:46 Learning from High-End Cuisine 17:06 Vaughn's Favourite Example22:07 Designing for Productive Discomfort28:58 How Desperation By Design Works35:11 Singapore As An Innovator39:07 Should Singapore Re-Invent Its Education System? 45:37 Beyond Credentialism In Adult Learning52:23 Reframing Singapore's Economic Strategy57:53 Closing Questions