As the year winds down, we asked 20 friends of IDEO including IDEO U instructors, Creative Confidence Podcast guests, and partners of IDEO to share honest leadership advice for leaders heading into 2026. In part one, hear reflections on uncertainty, creativity, and momentum. Host Mina Seetharaman and IDEO Partner Ilya Prokopoff share reactions and builds on each leader's advice.

Find more episodes of the Creative Confidence Podcast at ideou.com/podcast. Take online courses in human-centered design, AI, leadership, and more at ideou.com.

Many of the leaders featured on this episode have been guests on the podcast. Find links to their episodes at ideou.com/blogs/inspiration.

Guests on this episode:

Michael Hendrix - Managing Director, Invisible Notes; former IDEO Partner

Kate Schnippering - Polar Expedition Crew Member, IDEO U Instructor: Creative Thinking for Complex Problem Solving

Catherine Connors - Co-founder, StoryQuo

Jennifer Lo - Futurist in Residence and Senior Director of Organizational Design, IDEO

Suzanne Gibbs Howard - Founder, IDEO U; Leadership and Learning Advisor; IDEO U Instructor: Unlocking Creativity

Wardah Malik - CEO, BEworks

Kim Scott - Author & Founder, Radical Candor

Mollie West Duffy - Co-author, No Hard Feelings; Big Feelings

Bonnie Wan - Author & Founder, The Life Brief

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