Donald MacLean // From Physics to Philosophy: Ancient Storytelling Wisdom to Lunar Strategy

When strategy meets storytelling, magic happens. Professor Donald MacLean, a former physicist turned strategist from the Scottish Highlands, brings a unique perspective on how ancient oral traditions can revolutionise modern leadership. As we prepare to send this insatiably curious academic to the moon, he reveals why organisations fail when they rely on PowerPoint instead of poetry.

MacLean's lunar cinema selection spans from the sublime to the surprising: John Huston's haunting final film "The Dead" - a James Joyce adaptation that moves him to tears every time; Tolkien's epic "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which shaped his childhood and his understanding of humble leadership; and the visually stunning thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale," where multiple storylines weave together in ways that mirror organisational complexity.

Through these films, Ed and Jessica explore MacLean's fascinating journey from optoelectronics research to strategy consulting, his belief in "emergent strategy" over rigid planning, and why he thinks the climate crisis isn't really about climate at all. With plain crisps as his moon snack and Rilke's mystical poetry as his reading companion, MacLean offers profound insights into the power of voice, choice, and the stories that truly move us to action.