We explore the power of systems thinking and strategic foresight with futurist Donna Dupont, as we challenge assumptions about leadership, innovation, and our collective future. Zoë shares an exciting update on her new book Power Games launching on Kickstarter, and we dive into the emerging vision of a moon-based data centre and what it means for the future of digital infrastructure.

In this episode, Donna brings clarity to the often-misunderstood world of foresight work. She breaks down how mapping complexity, anticipatory thinking, and systems framing can shift the way leaders respond to crises, craft policy, and design for change. From Arctic policy to leadership development, this conversation unpacks how to lead with deeper awareness in an increasingly unpredictable world.

SHOWNOTES are here:
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/regenerating-teams-from-inside-out

Planet Human:
LoneStar’s moonshot: Data centres on the lunar surface by 2025
https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/lonestars-moonshot-firm-aims-place-data-center-lunar-surface-2025-01-21/

Power Games Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zoerouth/power-games-stop-toxic-power-in-the-workplace

Key Quotes:
"Strategic foresight isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about preparing to act in it with intelligence and compassion." – Donna Dupont
"When we slow down to map the system, we see possibilities we couldn’t before." – Zoë Routh
"Every assumption is a doorframe some keep us safe, some keep us stuck." – Donna Dupont

Questions Asked:

1. What is strategic foresight, and why is it critical for future-ready leadership?

2. How can leaders build the capacity to map complex systems in times of uncertainty?

3. What role does anticipatory thinking play in solving today’s wicked problems?

4. How do we challenge deeply held assumptions that limit innovation and inclusive decision-making?

Take Action:

• Identify one system you’re part of (team, community, organisation) and begin mapping its inputs, outputs, and actors.

• Use Donna’s approach: define the system’s boundaries, identify the stakeholders, and uncover any blind spots.

• Bring this framework into your next strategic conversation and notice what shifts.
  
  

Tip of the Week:
Host a “Future Now” workshop: Gather your team and spend 60 minutes exploring trends, weak signals, and strategic responses using foresight tools. Even one hour can unlock radically different insights.

We explore the vital intersection of organisational design, leadership culture, and power dynamics with special guest Susannah Robinson, author of Beyond the Boxes and Lines.

Zoë kicks off the episode with exciting updates on the Power Games Kickstarter campaign and a groundbreaking Planet Human segment on brain-computer interfaces that enable near real-time speech interpretation for paralysed individuals.

Then we dive into the conversation with Susannah, who brings over 30 years of HR and organisational design experience. She shares practical frameworks for rethinking job roles, enhancing collaboration, and resolving structural friction in organisations.

Together, we unpack what causes cultural breakdowns, the consequences of poorly implemented matrix structures, and why flatter hierarchies may not be the magic bullet many leaders believe they are.

SHOWNOTES are here:
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/organisational-design

Planet Human:
Brain implant enables a paralysed woman’s thoughts to be streamed into speech
https://singularityhub.com/2025/03/31/brain-implant-streams-a-paralyzed-womans-thoughts-as-if-shes-speaking-in-near-real-time

Kickstarter Campaign:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zoerouth/power-games-stop-toxic-power-in-the-workplace

"When the person leaves the role, we finally take the lid off the pot and discover everything they were actually doing." – Susannah Robinson

"Leadership today isn’t just about giving direction, it's about managing your impact." – Susannah Robinson

"Collaboration needs good structure. Culture is the bridge." – Zoë Routh

1. What triggers the need for a redesign of organisational structures?

2. How can job design improve retention and employee engagement?

3. What are the common friction points in team handoffs and collaboration?

4. How do flatter hierarchies shift leadership expectations?

5. What structural patterns lead to power struggles and office politics?

6. How should leaders handle stonewalling behaviour in the workplace?
   
   

Take Action

• Audit your structure. When someone leaves, resist the urge to simply refill the role. Ask: could we do this differently?

• Map job design. Identify overlaps, friction points, and gaps in role clarity especially where handoffs occur.

• Assess your collaboration culture. Are your incentive systems and tools aligned with teamwork, or unintentionally rewarding lone wolves?

• Educate your teams. Use visual tools (like “five guys, one piano” teamwork analogy or org charts) to demystify structure and process.

• Normalise discomfort. Have the hard conversations about misalignment, underperformance, or mismatched roles with compassion and clarity.

Before you flatten your hierarchy or shift to team-based models, first ensure your systems (incentives, tools, contracts) are designed to support that culture. Otherwise, you’re simply rearranging the dysfunction.

Key Moments

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Question

00:16 Exciting Advances in Brain-Computer Interfaces

01:41 Introducing 'Power Games' Book Launch

04:11 Strategies for High-Performing Teams

06:21 Interview with Susanna Robinson on Organisational Design

19:42 Exploring Organisational Structures

20:16 The Concept of Hollow Organisations

21:27 Visualizing Organisational Models

23:00 Flattening Hierarchies: Pros and Cons

25:32 Encouraging Team-Based Environments

28:06 Barriers to Collaboration

29:44 Office Politics and Power Games

31:52 Quickfire Leadership Insights

33:15 Handling Employee Stonewalling

35:35 Conclusion and Resources

We explore the future of ownership, wealth, and rewriting the rules of capitalism with Elle Griffin, founder of The Elysian and author of the upcoming book We Should Own the Economy. Zoë shares updates on her recent bushwalking adventure and the exciting Kickstarter launch for her new book Power Games. Then, she welcomes Elle, a visionary writer reshaping the conversation on who truly benefits from economic systems.

Elle shares her journey from journalist to entrepreneurial writer, how she built multiple revenue streams on Substack, and why she believes ownership—not employment—is the real source of power. We unpack the risks and rewards of decentralising ownership, how employee-owned companies could transform wealth distribution, and what fiction can do to help us imagine better futures. This conversation dives deep into economic systems, leadership identity, and why utopian thinking is more urgent than ever.

SHOWNOTES are here:
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/utopian-concepts

Planet Human:
China enters the era of flying taxis with certified passenger drones.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/1jojjqq/china_has_officially_entered_the_era_of_flying

Kickstarter Campaign:
Power Games: Stop Toxic Power in the Workplace – Live now on Kickstarter!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zoerouth/power-games-stop-toxic-power-in-the-workplace

Key Quotes:

“Ownership is power. If you own a business, you hold the levers of wealth creation.” - Elle Griffin

“We need stories that give us hope, not just warn us of collapse.” - Elle Griffin

“Leadership requires humility and curiosity—the antidote to hubris and manipulation.” - Zoë Routh

- What inspired Elle to move from journalism to entrepreneurial writing?
- How do employee-owned companies shift the wealth equation?
- Why are we so drawn to dystopian narratives, and what role does fiction play in shaping the future?
- What are the practical steps to decentralise power and create more economic inclusion?

Take Action:

- Reflect on your own business or organisation: Who holds the power, and who shares in the rewards?

- Explore models of employee ownership or equity participation as part of your leadership strategy.

- Join conversations that imagine better futures—whether in your workplace or your community.

Start your own Future of Work conversation with your team:

-What could a more equitable and collaborative model look like for us?
-How might we experiment with shared ownership, decision-making, or profit-sharing in small ways today?

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:20 Flying Taxis in China

00:55 Bush Walk Adventures

01:53 Power Games Book Launch

03:06 Collaboration Challenges

07:37 Interview with Elle Griffin

09:16 Elle Griffin's Writing Journey

15:00 The Future of Capitalism

31:18 The Role of Influence in Politics and Wealth

32:24 Addressing Wealth Inequality

33:34 Employee Ownership and Regulatory Hurdles

38:13 Power Dynamics in Decentralized Systems

42:12 Fast Three: Quickfire Questions

43:56 Utopian vs. Dystopian Visions

51:04 Innovative Book Publishing Model

54:26 Book Recommendations and Closing Remarks