Mubanga rtuneLeader
“
True entrepreneurs see beyond what exists and create what the world needs.
Editors Insights
Welcome to The Fortune Leader’s special edi on,
Top 10 Visionary Leaders Redefining Their Industries.
In this exclusive issue, we take great pride in featuring leaders who have gone beyond tradi onal boundaries to create las ng impact in their fields. At the forefront of this edi on, we are privileged to present Liliane Mubanga, Partner & Senior Execu ve at Thambwe-Mwamba & Associates, as our cover personality.
From her earliest days as an aspiring lawyer, Liliane’s journey has been defined by a deep passion for jus ce, discipline, and an unyielding drive to grow. Her path reflects not only professional success but also the courage to embrace leadership when it was most needed. Transi oning from the prac ce of law into a leadership role, she mastered the complexi es of human resource management, business development, and client engagement, transforming her firm into a benchmark of excellence.
What makes Liliane’s story remarkable is her ability to combine legal exper se with strategic vision. Guided by her father’s wisdom, she ventured into real estate and commercial law, fields where she con nues to shape opportuni es and provide clarity for businesses and individuals alike. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that lawyers must remain lifelong learners, adap ve to change, and empathe c to the needs of clients.
As the legal landscape con nues to evolve, Liliane stands as a visionary leader—balancing competence with humanity, and professionalism with innova on. Her story is not just about legal victories but about building trust, empowering entrepreneurs, and contribu ng to a more just and func onal society
Through this feature, we celebrate Liliane Mubanga’s extraordinary journey, her unwavering commitment to excellence, and her role in redefining what it means to be a leader in today’s world. We are honored to share her inspiring legacy with our readers.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Editor-in-chief
Sco Edward
Sales & Marke ng Manager
Lily Hayler
Business Development Manager
Lauren Green, Millie Butler, Rosie Jonas
Business Development Execu ve
Victoria Ma hews, Ashley Tucker
Art and Design Director
Paul Brown
Research Analyst
Robert Smith
Editor-in-Chief The Fortune Leader
Mubanga
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Erika Jordan Jill Christensen Myles Bates
Mubanga Mu
Fromtheverybeginningofacademicjourney,LilianeMubangavisionwasclear tobecomealawyer Thesparkwasignitedthemomentshesteppedintolaw school,drivenbyadeeppassionforjusticeandadvocacy.Uponcompleting heruniversitystudies,Lilianewastednotime.Determinedtopursuetheprofession thatresonatedmostwithhervaluesandambitions,shetookthenecessarystepsto registerwiththeBar.
AsLilianeimmersedherselfinthelegalworld,certainareasoflawbegantofascinate hermorethanothers.Thisgrowinginterestgraduallyshapedthedirectionofher career,leadingLilianetowardthehighlyspecializedpathsshefollowstoday
ASuddenTurnintoLeadership
In2005,apivotalmomentarrivedwhenthefounderof Thambwe-Mwamba &associateslaw firmentrustedherwithitsmanagement.Steppingintothis leadershiproledemandedmorethanlegalexpertiseitrequiredmasteringnewskillsin humanresourcestobuildateamofthebesttalents,capableofmeetingthehigh expectationsoftheirclients.
Equally,Lilianeunderstoodtheimportanceofmarketingthefirm'simage.Liliane refineditspositioning,sharpeneditsfocus,andensureditsserviceswerealignedwith evolvingclientneeds.Thisperiodmarkedthebeginningofhertransformationfroma practicinglawyertoavisionaryleader,balancingprofessionalexcellencewith strategicgrowth.
TheInfluenceofHerFather'sWords
Lilianecareerfocusonrealestatedevelopmentandcommerciallawwasnotarandom choiceitwasdeeplypersonal.Theguidingwordsofherfather,“Thebestinvestmentis inrealestate,”stayedwithLilianeandshapedhercareerpath.Evenwithoutan architecturalbackground,sheimmersedherselfinunderstandingtheindustry,drivento supportthosewhobroughtphysicalspacesandprojectstolife.
Atthesametime,Lilianeinterestinbusinesslawledhertospecializeincreating companieswithdifferentlegalstructures.Lilianerecognizedthathelpingentrepreneurs setuptheirbusinesseswhileprotectingtheirprivateassetswasthefoundationfor long-termsuccess.
Nevercontenttorestonexistingknowledge,Lilianepursuedadvancedtrainingin financialanalysis,withcertificationnowwithinhergrasp.Sheacknowledgesthat instinctandintuitionplayalargeroleinherprofessionaldecision-making,always listeningcloselytoherinnercompass.
AdaptingtoChangeinLawandBusiness
Inthelegalprofession,changeisaconstant.Legislationevolves,industrypractices shift,andclientdemandsgrowmorecomplex.Lilianebelievesthatlawyersmustnot onlykeepupwiththesedevelopmentsbutanticipatethem.
Thefirm'sstrategy,whichshepromotes,consistsofidentifyingnicheareasinwhich eachlawyercandeepentheirknowledgeandstrengthentheirexpertisewhile
www.cabinetthambwe.cd
remaininginstepwithlegalandcommercialdevelopments. Evenwhencircumstancesforcethemtofallbehind,the firm'scultureofcontinuouslearningenablesthemto quicklycatchup.“LearningisinourDNA,”sheoftensays, summinguptheircommitmenttostayingattheforefront.
OvercomingFierceCompetitionandPolitical Challenges
Leadershipinthelegalfieldcomeswithitschallenges,and Lilianehasfacedthemhead-on.Fiercecompetitionisan expectedreality,butpoliticalinterferenceinclient relationshipspresentsamoredelicatechallenge.
Therehavebeenmomentswhenpoliticalactorsswayed clientsawayfromthefirm.Yet,timeandagain,someof thoseclientsreturned,realizingtheycouldnotfindthesame levelofcompetenceanddedicationelsewhere.Through perseverance,dignity,andanunwaveringcommitmentto excellence,Lilianeandherteamhavebuiltareputationfor trulyunderstandingclientneedsanddeliveringresultsthat inspireloyalty
StayingCompetitiveinaRapidlyChangingWorld
ForLiliane,thekeytoremainingcompetitiveliesinan insatiablethirstforlearning.Lilianeandherteamactively engageintrainingprograms,seminars,andprofessional debates,usingtheseopportunitiestoexplorenewareasand refineexistingstrengths.
Sheembraceschallengesthatdemanddeepreflectionand innovativesolutions,believingtheynotonlyimproveclient servicebutalsokeepthefirmdynamicandforwardthinking.Thisapproachallowsthefirmtoadaptquicklyto changeswhilestayingtruetotheprinciplesthathavefueled itssuccess.
GuidancefortheNextGenerationofLawyers
Whenadvisingyoungprofessionalsenteringthecorporate andrealestatelawsectors,Lilianeemphasizesthe importanceofbeingalifelonglearner.“Knowledgeis acquiredeveryday,”shenotes,encouragingnewcomersto cultivatecuriosityandself-reflection.
Lilianeremindsthemthatalawyer'sbestadvertisementisa satisfiedclientandtheirharshestcriticisadissatisfiedone. Thisdualtruthshouldinspireaconstantdrivetoimprove. Aboveall,sheurgesyounglawyerstoapproachthe professionwithhumility,discipline,andareadinessto evolve.
SkillsThatDefineModernLegalExcellence
InLilianeview,successintoday'slegalprofessiondemands morethantechnicalskill.Lawyersmustbeserious, disciplined,andopentoquestioningeventheirmost establishedknowledge.Stronginterpersonalrelationships, empathy,andtheabilitytotrulyunderstandclientneedsare ascriticalaslegalacumen.
Lilianephilosophyblendsprofessionalismwithhumanity, ensuringthatlegaladviceisnotjustcorrect,butalso practicalandalignedwithclients'real-worldrealities.
LookingAhead:TheNextDecadeinLaw
Lilianeforeseessignificantchangesinthelegalsectorover thenextfivetotenyears.Associetiesevolve,lawsand regulationswillneedtoadapt,andhumaninteractionswill remaincomplexand,attimes,conflict-driven.
Lilianeseesagrowingneedforlawyerstoactnotonlyas legalinterpretersbutalsoasguides,problem-solvers,and mediators'rolesthatrequireempathyasmuchasintellect. Hermissionistocontinueofferingclarityandsolutions, helpingclientsnavigateuncertaintytowardmore harmoniousoutcomes.
ALegacyofCompetenceandHumanity
WhenaskedhowLilianewouldliketoberemembered,her answerishumble:shehopestobeseenascompetentinher fieldanddeeplyhumaninherapproach.Thiscombination ofskillandcompassionisthefoundationuponwhichshe hasbuilthercareerandreputation.
Lilianeworkisnotmerelyaboutwinningcasesorclosing dealsitisaboutleavingclientsbetteroffthanwhenthey arrived,andcontributingtoafairer,morefunctional society
AWordofGratitude
Aboveall,Lilianeisgratefultothosewhoreadherstory,to thecolleaguesandpartnerswhoshareherprofessional passion,toherfamilyfortheirconstantsupport,andtothe clientswhohaveentrustedherwiththeirmostimportant legalmatters.
Lilianejourneyismarkedbydedication,adaptability,anda deeprespectforthelaw'sroleinshapingcommunities.She continuestopushforwardwiththesamepassionthatfirst broughtherintothelegalprofession,carryingwithherthe valuesthathavedefinedhersuccess:competence, perseverance,andhumanity www.thefortuneleader.com
Er ika Jordan
D M S , E M T , C H T , C H S Founder of Hyperbaric Healing Treatment Center
In recent years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has
seenaremarkableevolution.Onceconsiderednicheand reserved primarily for wound healing or diving-related injuries, HBOT is gaining widespread recognition for its benefits in treating neurological, inflammatory, and chronic conditions As this momentum builds, it becomes more importantthanevertoensurethefieldadvancesresponsibly, inclusively,andwithacommitmenttoqualitycare.
ClinicalResearchFuelingBroaderAcceptance
HBOT's increasing legitimacy in mainstream medicine is being propelled by high-level clinical research. One major milestoneisthe$28million,state-fundedclinicaltrialledby the University of South Florida This double-blind, randomizedcontrolledstudyisinvestigatingHBOT'seffects on veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). With participants undergoing 40 sessions, the results could have wide-reaching implications for insurance coverage, military medicine,andlong-termneurologicalcare.Studieslikethese bringcredibilityandmuch-neededdatatoatherapythathas oftenstruggledformainstreamacceptance.
UnregulatedGrowthinthePrivateSector
Despite its medical potential, the private HBOT sector remains highly inconsistent. Clinics vary widely in safety
standards, equipment, and practitioner training. Without strong regulation, the industry risks jeopardizing patient safety. At Hyperbaric Healing Treatment Center, we emphasize rigorous training and medical oversight A hyperbaric facility is only as safe as the professionals who operate it. That's why we advocate for patients to do their researchandensurethey'rereceivingtreatmentfromcertified, experiencedproviders.
NewTechnology,BetterOutcomes
Technological innovation is reshaping how HBOT is delivered Today's chambers are equipped with precise pressure controls, and safety redundancies that were not standard just a decade ago. HBOT is increasingly used alongsideotherwellnessserviceslikeIVtherapy,functional medicine, and regenerative care. This integrated approach enhancesoutcomes,especiallyforcomplex,chroniccases.
DevelopingtheNextGenerationofProviders
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is mentoring studentsandearly-careerclinicians.Sincehyperbarictherapy is rarely taught in traditional medical programs, onboarding newtalentrequiresintentionalmentorship.Butit'sworththe investment. We're not just growing a workforce we're cultivating advocates for safety, evidence-based care, and innovation.
ALeadershipRoleRootedinPurpose
Asawomaninahighlyspecializedmedicalfield,I'mproudto lead a business built on compassion, professionalism, and personalconnection.IalsoserveasOperationsChairforthe American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer committee—a role I've held for 7 years. It has connectedmewithinspiringpeers,lifelongfriendships,anda deeperunderstandingofcommunity-basedhealing.
Womenacrosshealthcarearehelpingreshapetheindustryby prioritizingcommunication,empathy,andholisticleadership. Thesestrengths,onceconsideredsecondary,arenowseenas essentialinimprovingbothpatientoutcomesandworkplace culture.
WhattheFutureHolds
The next five to ten years could be transformative for hyperbaricmedicine.IbelieveHBOTwillbeembracedmore widely—used earlier in treatment plans, offered at more accessible locations, and backed by stronger clinical guidelines.Nationalconversations,includingonesparkedby Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on expanding HBOT access, indicate broaderchangeiswithinreach.
My vision is to bring HBOT to the patients who need it most veterans, children, and underserved populations navigating complex medical conditions By fostering responsible growth, interdisciplinary partnerships, and science-driven protocols, we can ensure this therapy continues to evolve into one of the most impactful tools in modernmedicine.
AuthorBio:
Erika Jordan is the founder and director of Hyperbaric HealingTreatmentCenter,withlocationsinOrlandoandNew SmyrnaBeach,Florida.SheholdscertificationsasaCertified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) and Certified Hyperbaric Specialist (CHS), with a clinical background in diagnostic medical sonography and emergency medical services. Erika brings over a decade of experience to advancing hyperbaric therapy through safe practice, education, and expanded access.
Oneoftheareasthathasalwaysrequiredthe
greatestamountoftimecommitmentisresearchin thepracticeoflaw Thishasbeenthecaseever sincethelegalprofessionwasfirstestablished. Eversince theprofessionwasinitiallycreated,thishasbeenthe situationtheentiretime.Toconstructargumentsandmake certainthattheyarefactual,solicitorsandlegalteamsspend asignificantamountoftimegoingthroughvariouspieces oflegislation,caselaw,andregulatoryframeworks. Performingthisactionisdonetoguaranteethatthe argumentsaresound.Ontheotherhand,thegrowthof artificialintelligenceisgeneratingabigshiftinthe techniquesthatareutilisedintheprocessofdoinglegal research.Thismovementiscausingaconsiderableshift overtime.Legalresearchisonthevergeofbecoming significantlymoreintelligent,efficient,andaccuratethanit haseverbeenbeforeasadirectresultofthisshift.
Legalresearchsystemsthatarepoweredbyartificial intelligencemakeuseofnaturallanguageprocessingand
machinelearningtoexamineverylargevolumesoflegal materialinaveryshortamountoftime.Asaresult,these systemscanaccomplishthisgoalsignificantly This enablesthesystemstoperformananalysisofthedataina mannerthatisextremelyeffective. Lawyersnowhave thecapacitytoinputquestionsinplainEnglish,andvery quicklyafterdoingso,theywillreceivecasesummaries, laws,orprecedentsthatareparticularlyrelevanttotheir enquiries.Thiscapabilitywaspreviouslyunavailableto them. Becauseofthisadvancement,solicitorsareno longernecessarytomanuallysortthroughaninfinite numberofpapers.Thisisasignificantsavingsforthe profession.Becauseoftheefficiencyofthissystem,legal professionalscanfocusmoreoftheirattentiononproviding servicetotheirclientsanddevelopingstrategiesfor effectiverepresentation. Thisissincethesystemnotonly assistspeopleinreducingtheamountoftimetheyspend searchingforinformation,butitalsomakesitpossiblefor themtofocusmoreoftheirattentionondoingso.
Thepowerofartificialintelligencetogivedependable resultsisoneofthemostsignificantadvantagesthatit offers.Whensearchingforinformationusingthetraditional approach,whichinvolvesmakinguseofkeywords,itis easytooverlookinformationthatisoftheutmost significance.Inagreatnumberofinstances,thismethod producesanexcessivenumberofresultsthatareirrelevant tothesearchthatwascarriedout.Artificialintelligence systems,ontheotherhand,canrecognisecontextandintent inadditiontokeywords,whichultimatelyleadstothe developmentofresultsthataremorerefinedandthatare morerelevant. Asanadditionalbenefit,thepubliccangain accesstoabiggerquantityofinformationbecauseoflegal researchthatisdrivenbyartificialintelligence. Itisnow possibleforsmallerfirmsandindividualpractitioners,who maynothavetheresourcesofmajorlegalteams,tomake useofthesetoolstocompetemoresuccessfully Thisis becausethesetoolsarenowavailable. Thisissincethese materialsarenowaccessible.Thisisbecausethese
materialsarebecomingmorereadilyavailable.Whenthisis accomplished,theplayingfieldislevelled,whichinturn stimulatesincreasedoriginalityandfairnessthroughoutthe durationoftheentireprofession.
Inthefieldoflegalresearch,whichisexpectedtobecome moreimportantintheyearstocome,itisanticipatedthat artificialintelligencewillplayaroleinthesector.Forlegal organisationsthatareworkingtowardsthefuturetobe successful,itisnolongeranoptionforthemtoembrace artificialintelligence;rather,itisarequirementthatmustbe mettoachievestrategicsuccess. Thisissinceartificial intelligenceisbecomingintoanincreasinglysignificant field.Whenprofessionalsinthelegalfieldmakeuseof innovationthroughouttheentirelegalprocess,theycan givehighervalue,moreexpedientoutcomes,and ultimately,moreintelligentjustice. Thisisbecausethey canbringaboutjusticethatismoreintelligent.
Jill Chr i ste nse n
Most Visionary Keynote Speaker and Best-Selling Author
TheInspirationalJourney
JillChristensendedicated22yearstohercareerinCorporateAmerica,ascending from entry-level management to an executive position.Although she appreciates theknowledgeandexperiencegainedduringthistime,Jillwasdeeplytroubledby the pervasive dysfunction she observed. Frequently, she would leave the office questioning, “How does this company generate profit?” and found that nearly everyone she encountered shared a sense of disillusionment with their jobs. She wasconvincedthatamoreeffectiveapproachexisted.
In 2009, Jill founded her business. Leveraging her background in Corporate America, where she managed Global Internal Communications, she acquired significantunderstandingofemployeeneedsintheworkplace.Byintegratingthis expertise with data on factors that drive employee performance, she crafted an effectivestrategy Thismethodologynowservesasthecornerstoneofherkeynote presentations,writtenworks,andconsultingofferings.
WhatisSuccessinBusinessandLeadership
Success, first and foremost, entails establishing a profitable enterprise through the act of assisting others. Jill prioritizes service over financial gain, dedicating her efforts to support leaders and organizations in need, trusting thatfinancialrewardswillnaturallyfollowand
theyhave.Secondly,successinvolvesthecapacitytodiscern thenextstepstotake.Jillrecognizesthatherplanandtiming arenotofparamountimportance;there'sagreaterplaninplay
Lastly, success encompasses personal development and upliftingthosearoundher Inaleadershiprole,itisessentialto pursuecontinuousgrowthandimprovement,whilecaringfor others and doing everything possible to facilitate their success.
KeyTakeawayfromtheSpeeches
"Prioritize people. Employees will only engage when they feelyourconcernforthem.Seniorleadersplayacrucialrole in establishing the culture of 'how we operate here.' It is essential for you to take initiative and if not, make way for others. There is a wealth of leadership potential within you that is ready to be unleashed. You have merely begun to explore your capabilities as a leader and the significant contributionsyoucanmaketoyourteam,"Jillremarked.
Role of leadership in Boosting Productivity, Retention, andCustomerSatisfaction
“As I just said, no one sets the stage more for 'how we do things here' (the definition of culture) than senior leaders. Whenyoumakepeopleapriority,theywillgototheendofthe Earth for you and the organization. And that incredible discretionary effort equates to increased productivity, retention,andcustomersatisfaction,”addedJill.
It also equates to the granddaddy of them all - profitable revenue growth. There is a direct correlation between how mucheffortemployeesgiveeachdayandbottom-lineresults. The most profitable companies in the world and the companies that are growing the fastest, have the most productive,inspired,andengagedemployees.
ChangethatManagersCanEnact
FacilitateFocusGroups.Managersoftenmakedecisionsthat affectindividualswithoutseekinginputfromthoseimpacted. Thisoversightcanbedetrimental.Toencourageemployeesto exceed expectations, it is essential to provide them with a platform to express their opinions and ensure they feel acknowledged After collecting feedback and making decisions,itisimportanttocommunicatetherationalebehind those choices. Explaining the reasoning is crucial, as it provides context. Context is vital because it helps the recipient understand the significance of the information, the
assumptionstoconsider(ordisregard),andaddsmeaningto thecommunication.
Books,Programs,andInitiatives
Jillhasrecentlycraftedakeynoteaddressfeaturingimportant new data from global employees, and she has also produced Edition Three of her acclaimed book, If Not You Who? CrackingtheCodeofEmployeeDisengagement.
JillhasalsobegunherroleasaspeakercoachatTheSpeaker Lab, where she trains emerging speakers on the realities of thisprofession,afieldsheispassionateabout.
Inadditiontothat,JillattunesherselftotheUniverse.Shehas faiththatnewopportunitieswillariseandthatindividualswill enter her life who are destined to assist her in various ways. Sheisfullyconvincedthattherearegreaterplansinstorefor her.
Achievements
From time to time, following Jill's keynote presentation, a member of the audience approaches her with the statement, “We need to improve our culture, and we would like your support throughout the entire process.” In such cases, Jill engages in a one-year consulting contract to assist the organizationintransformingitsculture.
Jill has assisted every organization she collaborates with in achieving a double-digit increase in their employee engagement scores within a year. Her most notable achievement? She enabled a medical center to elevate its employee engagement from 47 percent to 87 percent in just sixmonths.
Jilltakesprideinassertingthatherstrategyiseffectiveacross allindustries,ineverynation,andamongeverygenerationof employees.
FutureRoadmap
"This is not my journey; it is guided by a higher power.The Universe holds my blueprint. I remain attentive to what lies ahead, embracing the uncertainty with enthusiasm. I sense that greater opportunities await me, a feeling deep within. I ampreparedandfilledwithgratitude,"concludedJill.
Myles Bates
MylesBatesisthevisionary
founderofBatesProduct Design,bringingastrong foundationinmechanicalengineering andmedicaldevicedesign,alongwith aMaster'sinEngineering.Witha passionfortransformingideasinto market-readyproducts,Myles specializesinacceleratedproduct developmentthatcombinesefficiency, creativity,andcost-effectiveness.His expertisespansdesign,CAD,concept development,andin-house prototyping—empoweringstartupsand businessestobringtheirinnovationsto life.Underhisleadership,Bates ProductDesignhasbecomeknownfor itsagile,collaborative,andsustainable approach.Recognizedby The Fortune Magazine asoneof The Most Innovative Leaders in Engineering and Design Services in 2025,Myles continuestosetnewstandardsinthe industry.
InsidetheInterview
Canyoubrieflyshareyour professionaljourneyandwhat inspiredyoutoentertheengineering anddesignservicesfield?
BatesProductDesignLtdwasborn fromapassionforturningideasinto tangible,meaningfulproductsthat improvelives.Ourfounder,Myles Bates,beganasamechanicalengineer withadeepcuriosityabouthow everydayobjectsaremade.After gainingexperienceacross industries—frommedicaldevicesto consumerelectronics—henoticeda recurringproblem:manybrilliant productideasfromstartupsandsmall businessesneverreachedthemarket. Theprohibitivecostofdesignservices, coupledwithinflexible,cookie-cutter agencymodels,madeitdifficultfor SMEstomoveforward.Mylessawan
The Innovative Mind Behind Bates Product Design: Myles Bates' Vision
opportunitytodothingsdifferently.By offeringaflexible,collaborative model—supportedbyanetworkof trustedexpertswithouttheoverheads ofalargeagency—BatesProduct Designwascreatedtomakehighqualitydesignaccessibleandtailored toeachuniqueproject.
Whatdoyoubelievesetsyour organizationapartintermsof innovationandclientimpact?
AtBatesProductDesign,wedon'tjust designproducts—wedesign partnerships.Ourclient-centred approachsetsusapart.Weworkhandin-handwithinventors,entrepreneurs, andbusinessestotrulyunderstandtheir visionandconstraints.This collaborativespiritallowsustooffer anagile,transparent,andemotionally intelligentdevelopmentprocess.We investheavilyinprototypingand micro-manufacturingcapabilitiesinhouse,givingourclientsrapid,costeffectiveiterationsthataccelerate developmentandreducerisk.Our innovationisn'tlimitedtoflashy tech—it'saboutsolvingproblems creatively,efficiently,andwithlasting impactforourclients.
Howdoyoustayaheadof technologicaltrendsandintegrate themintoyourservicesorsolutions?
Stayingaheadofthecurveispartof ourDNA.Weactivelyinvestin emergingtechnologies,includinghighspeed3Dprinting,micro-injection moulding,anddigitalsimulationtools. Ourteamregularlyparticipatesin industryevents,webinars,and technologyshowcasestoensurewe're notonlyawareoftrendsbutreadyto implementthemeffectively.By integratingthesetechnologiesintoour
workflow—suchasusingAI-assisted CADtoolsorautomatingpartsofour prototypingprocess—weimprove speed,accuracy,andcost-efficiencyfor ourclients.
Whathasbeenoneofyourmost challengingprojects,andhowdid youovercomeit?
Oneofourmostrewardingand challengingprojectstodatehasbeen thedevelopmentofTidelight,a sustainablydesigned,UK-made ambientlight.Thevisionwas ambitious:designandmanufacturethe entireproductwithintheUKusing localsuppliersandeco-friendly materials.Wecollaboratedcloselywith trustedpartners—includingPCB manufacturers,traditionalwood turners,and3Dprintingexperts—to developtheproduct.Everydetailwas thoughtfullysourcedandtestedlocally,
ensuringthedesignstayedtruetoits sustainableethos.Thankstothis collaborative,community-driven approach,Tidelightsuccessfullyraised over£22,000inpre-salesandisnow availableforpre-orderat tidelight.co.uk.It'satestamentto what'spossiblewhensustainabilityand localinnovationareattheheartof productdevelopment.
Sustainabilityandefficiencyarekey concernstoday.Howdoyour engineering/designsolutionsaddress theseissues?
Weembedsustainabilityintoevery phaseofourdevelopmentprocess. Frommaterialselectionto manufacturingmethods,weprioritise solutionsthatreducewaste,energy consumption,andenvironmental impact.Weoftenguideourclients towardsusingrecycledorrecyclable
materialsanddesignfordisassembly wherepossible,allowingforeasier repairorrecycling.Efficiencyisalso key—optimisingpartcounts, simplifyinggeometries,andchoosing localmanufacturingoptionshelpuscut downleadtimesandreducethecarbon footprintofourdesigns.Wealso collaboratewithseveral environmentallyfocused manufacturerswhohelpthriveat briningourenvironmentallyfriendly productstolife.
Howdoyoufosteracultureof innovationandcreativitywithin yourteamororganization?
Ourteamthrivesonopenness, experimentation,andcontinuous learning.Weencourageallteam members,regardlessofrole,to contributeideasandexplorenew approaches.Regulardesignsprints, collaborativesketchingsessions,and technologydemoskeepourcreative energyflowing.We'vebuilta psychologicallysafeenvironment where'failingfast'isseenasavaluable
stepintheinnovationprocess.This cultureallowsustomaintainahigh levelofengagementandcreativity acrosseverythingwedo.
Inwhatwayshaveclientdemands evolvedoverthepastfewyears,and howhaveyouadaptedtomeetthem?
Clientstodayaremoredesign-aware andenvironmentallyconscious.There's growingdemandforend-to-end support,fromideavalidationtofullscaleproduction.Manyareaskingfor sustainablematerials,rapid development,andcost-effective manufacturingsolutions.Crucially, we'veseenanincreaseinclients wantingUK-baseddesignand manufacturing.Inresponse,we've builtstrongpartnershipswithlocal manufacturerstostreamline development.Thisallowsustotest productsliveon-site,shorten productionleadtimes,andensurea seamlesstransitionfromprototypeto market—allwhilesupportinglocal industryandreducingenvironmental impact.
Whatemergingtrendsor technologiesdoyoubelievewill significantlyimpactengineeringand designservicesinthenextfiveyears?
WeanticipatethatAI-assisteddesign tools,generativedesign,anddigital twinswillbecomestandardinthe industry Thesetechnologiesallowfor fasteriteration,performance forecasting,anddata-drivendecisionmaking.Additionally,thegrowthof decentralised,small-batch,andondemandmanufacturingwill revolutioniseproductdevelopmentfor startupsandSMEs.Theintegrationof emotionalandbehaviouralinsightsinto designwillalsocontinuetogain traction,helpingbrandsdelivermore human-centred,emotionallyresonant products.
Whatadvicewouldyougiveto futureengineersanddesignleaders whoaspiretoleadwithinnovation andintegrity?
Staycurious,stayhumble,andalways listen—especiallytothepeoplewho willuseyourproducts.Innovationisn't justabouttechnology—it'sabout empathy,practicality,andimpact. Integritymeansbeinghonestabout what'sfeasible,guidingclientswith care,andmakingdecisionsthatbenefit bothpeopleandtheplanet.Surround yourselfwithdiversevoices,embrace iterativelearning,anddon'tbeafraidto challengeconvention.Realleadership indesignmeansbeingboldenoughto dothingsdifferently—andkindenough tobringothersalongwithyou.
