In this solo episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington builds on last week's conversation about inclusion and diversity and brings it firmly into the world of practical, everyday business.
Rather than treating inclusion as a tick-box exercise, Anna explores why cognitive diversity and different ways of thinking are one of the most powerful tools a business can have. Drawing on examples from marketing, innovation, leadership and her own career, she explains why businesses that encourage diverse perspectives tend to make better decisions, spot opportunities earlier, and avoid costly mistakes.
From homogenous teams that agree too easily, to marketing campaigns that miss the mark because no one challenged them, this episode looks at the real business impact of not listening widely enough. Anna also shares practical ways founders and small teams can bring in broader perspectives, even if they are working solo, through community, customer feedback, structured meetings and thoughtful use of AI.
In this episode, Anna covers:
• What cognitive diversity really means, and why it matters more than job titles or background alone
• How diverse thinking leads to better innovation, marketing and commercial outcomes
• Why teams that agree on everything can actually be a risk
• Practical ways to hear quieter voices and avoid "same voice, same ideas" meetings
• How solopreneurs and small teams can sense-check ideas using communities, customers and feedback
• Why inclusion is a business advantage, not a compliance exercise
This episode is a practical, founder-focused reminder that inclusion is not about being politically correct. It is about building stronger teams, making better decisions, and creating businesses that truly understand their audiences.
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