Strategic By Design: Rethinking How We Solve Complex Problems

How does strategy get smarter when it’s designed? In a world of accelerating complexity, traditional strategy alone isn’t enough. Enter design thinking - a mindset and methodology that’s reshaping how we solve problems, lead innovation, and build resilient organisations. Joining Think: Business Futures for a dynamic conversation about design, systems thinking, and strategic leadership are Leanne Sobel and Selwyn D’Souza. Leanne is Director of Strategic Design at Snow Melt, where she helps organisations reimagine strategy through collaborative, artefact-driven processes. She’s also a PhD candidate at UTS Business School, exploring how design transforms strategic thinking. Selwyn is Director of SIM Lab, a strategic advisory practice that partners with boards and executive teams to navigate uncertainty through experimentation, simulation, and systems-based thinking. Together, they explore what it really means to integrate design and strategy, why co-design and collaboration are essential to strategic success, and how organisations can use design thinking to make smarter, more informed choices. Discover how design thinking can spark new ways of thinking, planning, and acting - unlocking deeper insights and building strategies that are ready for the future. Hosted and produced by Ali Aitken