It’s April. Already.

Blame it on the tech-fuelled world we live in - but doesn’t it feel like time is speeding up? You’re not imagining it. Neurologists call it temporal compression: when your brain is overloaded with micro-events, it literally squashes your perception of time.

So while we’re racing through another month, here’s the key: Transformation isn’t optional anymore.

In a world of AI disruption, shifting markets and infinite noise, innovation isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a neccesity. So this week, we need to understand the challenges we face when setting out to transform and how to overcome them.

Alas no relation to the theme, however I am moving and this jumped out at me. He’s LA based. The piece is called: Modem, router, plants, toy record player, and dog figure (So what’s the WiFi password?)

Here’s What We’re Talking About Today:

Audience Insights & Future Trends: The Execution Gap - Innovation Without Follow-Through

Everyone’s talking about transformation—AI this, agile that, new platforms, new playbooks.

But here’s the truth: strategy without execution is just theatre.
And right now? Most companies are stuck acting like they’re innovating… without actually doing it.

Let’s look at what’s really going on:

• A growing number of companies are starting transformation projects - but only 35% hit their goals (McKinsey, 2024)

• 92% of leadership teams say innovation is a top priority, yet only 8% consistently deliver on strategy (Forbes, 2024)

• 70% of high-performing businesses show strong adaptability and higher employee and customer engagement

The winners? They’re not the ones with the flashiest pitch decks.
They’re the ones who build cultures of adaptability, trust and follow-through.

The trend we’re seeing?

A shift from “big ideas” to “bold follow-through.”

The next frontier of innovation isn’t ideation; it’s collaboration. Can you embed change into your people, your processes and your priorities and can the people you choose to work with truly carry through to the final ambition?

The leading companies are doing three things:

1. Getting uncomfortable – They treat friction as a sign that something real is happening

2. Focusing on the human layer – Tech gets the headlines, but culture delivers the results

3. Committing to less, delivering more – Not chasing trends. Just picking the right ones and seeing them through
   

💡 Takeaway: The trend isn’t just innovation. It’s transformation through collaboration.
Want real change? Don’t just launch ideas. Build the culture, systems and accountability to land them.

Case Study of the Week: Monzo – Innovation by Radical Transparency 

Why it’s interesting:

UK-based digital bank Monzo turned a commoditised industry into a cult brand by doing what most legacy banks feared: showing everything. From real-time transaction tracking to publicly admitting downtime, they built emotional trust through radical honesty.

Innovation in action:

• Pioneered “emotional UX” in fintech - notifications that feel like conversations

• Published their product roadmap publicly on Trello - Take a look for yourself

• Created group budgeting and shared tabs long before others caught on

The risk/discomfort:

They exposed flaws most brands hide.
And the result? Fanatical loyalty - even when things went wrong.

💡Takeaway: In a space built on trust, Monzo proved that transparency is innovation.
It’s not about the tech; it’s about the guts to use it differently.

In 2024, Monzo launched their first brand campaign in five years, increasing marketing spend by 167%. With so much riding on it, they worked with System1 to test every element of emotional resonance - from their hot coral card to their logo and tone of voice - ensuring each asset hit with clarity and consistency.

🎧 Listen to the full story on the Uncensored CMO podcast with Monzo’s VP of Marketing A J Coyne

🎟️ PS: Want more like this?
Register for a VIP pass to our next Connected Festival, where System1’s SVP Vanessa Chin will be one of our six featured guests.

Behind the Scenes: Encouragement is All We Need

Over the last 5 working days, I’ve had four online chats; with one common thread:

• Brilliant people struggling with navigating what’s ahead.

• Overwhelmed. No time. Not sure what to do next.

Here’s the magic: in three out of four of those chats, we made time to talk. And that changed everything.

The outcomes?

• We shared meaningful contacts

• We gave each other practical advice

• We both walked away more energised, more focused

And for me?

That 5-day stretch led to:

• A partnership with an AI product, I believed I was going to have to pay to get built, saving months of R&D and a lot of money

• A crash course in content monetisation that’s reshaping my Creator strategy

• An intro to a top-tier investor, who’s going to speak at Connected Festival on May 1st

• A new client opportunity

All from 3 real time conversations.

The fourth person? Too busy to talk. Nothing came of it.
No spark. No outcome. Just a missed opportunity.

Mood Board: What Our Community Is Sharing

📣 Your Turn

How are you going to overcome the doubters, the tradtionalists and the darn right boring. I am always on the look our for cool stuff to feature in this newsletter, or just people who would like to chat.

🔜Coming Next Week…

We’re staying on theme with Innovation in Action—plus a few surprises from our community experiments and a breakdown of emotional UX done right.