Zooming Out in Leadership: Lessons from Design with Emma Wood

What can leaders learn from interior design? More than you might think.

In this week’s episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with my friend and inspirational businesswoman, Emma Wood. Emma is the founder of Emma Wood Interiors and is about to launch Emma Wood Home — a new brand that blends her incredible eye for detail with her sharp business instinct.

What struck me most about this conversation is how much of Emma’s wisdom applies far beyond interiors. Her process of being a visual detective, her insistence on executional excellence, and her focus on curiosity and kindness are powerful lessons for every leader.

We talk about:

• Why being curious is the secret to unlocking energy and creativity in teams.

• How to balance “burning buildings” (execution) with balcony views (strategy).

• Why processes and detail are actually an act of kindness.

• The danger of “doing it all yourself” — and how to truly scale.

• The role of gut instinct in building a loyal, high-performing team.

Emma’s story is a reminder that leadership is about seeing differently, zooming out when needed, and creating the conditions for others to thrive.

Listen to the full episode now and, if you’d like to dive deeper into my leadership philosophy, you’ll find it in my book The extra-Ordinary Leader.