August 2025
begin to consciously create new thoughts. That is where creative strategy and the audacity to take action are born. Without this shift, the pace of change will outpace our ability to pivot.
The Five Roles of the Futuremaker
To move the industry from Timber to Tech, Kyle outlined five specific leadership characteristics we must adopt. These aren't just roles; they are the architectural tools for our evolution:
The Navigator: This is about future-solving. The Navigator focuses on a "North Star" that is timeless and bold, often taking 10 to 30 years to achieve. They don't look at the next quarter; they look at the next decade.
The Transformer: The Transformer is assumption-challenging. They move our business from transactional interactions to meaningful strategy, shifting the mindset from a 10% optimization to a 10X reimagination of what we can deliver.
The Sage: A Sage focuses on unlearning. In a world of exponential change, a fixed mindset is a liability. The Sage replaces it with continuous growth, understanding that what worked yesterday may be the very thing holding us back tomorrow.
The Builder: The Builder practices ambidextrous creativity. They manage the day-to-day operations with excellence while intentionally creating the space to experiment, fail, and "find the edge" where new value is created.
The Protector: Finally, the Protector focuses on values and ethics. They create the psychological safety and moral grounding necessary to combat fear. They ensure that even in hostile conditions, the team feels safe enough to innovate.
Beyond the Hype: Intelligence as the New Base Layer
While the hype around AI is constant, what it is truly bringing to our yards is intelligence. In a world where basic intelligence is becoming almost free and infinite, where do we, as humans, thrive? In "The Last Economy by Emad Mostaque," intelligence is no longer just a human labor input; it has become a form of capital that can be copied infinitely and improved recursively.
The most successful companies, like Amazon, don’t just react to the present. They build businesses and services that they know their customers will move to years before the market even realizes it. They solve for the present from the future. This is how you build the ultimate moat—not by working harder in the same commodity game, but by designing a "North Star" that makes the existing model obsolete.
Enough Thinking: Winning the Day
The excitement in Palm Springs was vibrant, but excitement alone doesn't build a moat. Kyle left us with a directive that I want to enforce: If you don’t schedule making time for this, you’re never going to do it.
The difference between a strong leader and a "big idea" leader is the calendar. The best in the world don't just dream of a "BHAG" (Big Hairy Audacious Goal); they put time in the calendar every single day to execute on it. Winning the day accumulates. Consistency over time compounds into the "Ripple Effect"—where your choices today eventually impact millions of people across the supply chain.
Don’t wait for Monday. Identify your "vital few," put them in your calendar on a weekly or, better yet, daily basis. Winning the day, every day, will accumulate.
As Kyle Hermans states, "Courage is the fuel for innovation."
Until next time, keep unlearning the old, keep leading with courage, and keep bridging the gap!
February 2026