Leadership Lessons from Theatre

Session Overview

Exploring how the boardroom can benefit greatly from the study of theatre.

In this creative and engaging session, Parul Bhargava, Agile Transformation Coach at Thoughtworks, draws parallels between the stage and the corporate world. She explores the journey from script to final performance, highlighting how direction, casting, and rehearsals mirror organizational leadership and teamwork.

Parul shares how creating a "safe space" in theatre—where mistakes are allowed and innovation is encouraged—is essential for any high-performing team. She emphasizes that a play is only successful when every part works together, breaking down the silos that often hinder corporate success.

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Key Takeaways & Concepts

• Vision and Purpose: How a director's interpretation provides a unifying factor and a shared drive to achieve collective goals.
• Trust and Teamwork: Understanding theatre as a live medium with no retakes, requiring absolute reliance on cross-functional collaboration.
• Emotional Intelligence: Leading with empathy and EQ to improve work culture, increase engagement, and drive high-performance results.

Presentation Deck

Follow along with the slides used in the session:

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