Journal
Reflections from the World’s Biggest Stages
Working at scale changes how you understand leadership.
The larger the event, the less room there is for ego. When timelines are immovable and the world is watching, leadership is revealed quickly - not through titles or authority, but through judgment. Through calm. Through the ability to create clarity when everything feels uncertain.
At this level, pressure does not disappear. It concentrates. And how that pressure is held by leadership shapes everything that follows. Calm is not a personality trait; it is a discipline. When leaders remain steady, teams can think. When teams can think, creativity has space to exist — even in the most complex environments.
Ceremony, in particular, sits at the intersection of creativity and responsibility. It is never just about spectacle. It carries meaning, identity and representation. At global scale, culture is not decoration — it is responsibility. Every symbol, every story, every creative choice is amplified, and intention is felt as clearly as execution.
Creative ambition does not thrive in chaos. In fact, the strongest creative outcomes are often born from clear frameworks, governance and trust. Structure does not limit imagination; it protects it. It allows teams to take risks responsibly, to innovate with confidence, and to deliver work that is both bold and credible.
None of this is achieved alone. Large-scale events are delivered by diverse teams operating under intense pressure, often across borders, languages and working styles. Trust is the invisible infrastructure that holds everything together. It is built through consistency, listening and follow-through — and through leadership that protects people as much as it directs them.
Some of the most powerful moments I have been part of were not the loudest or the most elaborate. They were the moments grounded in truth - where people felt seen, acknowledged and respected. Those moments stay with you, long after the lights go down.
Major events are fleeting by nature. What endures is not the show itself, but how the work was done. Legacy lives in people — in the confidence built, the standards set, the opportunities created and the care shown behind the scenes. That is the work that lasts.
Leading Under Pressure
Delivering ceremonies at the scale of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is not simply about spectacle. It is about leadership, judgment and trust - exercised under extraordinary pressure, visibility and complexity.
When timelines are immovable and the world is watching, clarity becomes the most valuable currency. Every decision carries weight. Every choice reflects not only creative ambition, but responsibility to culture, to people and to the integrity of the moment.
One of the most important lessons reinforced through this experience was the role of calm leadership. In environments where variables are constant and pressure is high, the tone set by leadership matters as much as the plan itself.
Calm creates confidence. Confidence creates space for creativity, for problem-solving and for teams to perform at their best.
Ceremony sits at the intersection of creativity and governance. It demands imagination, but it also requires structure, discipline and respect for context.
At this level, creative freedom does not exist without clear frameworks. The challenge and the privilege is balancing vision with accountability, and ensuring that every element aligns with both purpose and protocol.
Cultural representation was central to this work. When events reach a global audience, authenticity matters. Symbols, music, movement and storytelling must be considered carefully, not only for how they look, but for what they mean. Representation is not decorative; it is foundational. It requires listening, collaboration and humility.
Equally important is the role of people behind the scenes. Large-scale events are delivered by teams operating under intense pressure, often out of sight. Leadership in these environments is as much about protection as it is about direction, creating conditions where people feel supported, trusted and able to contribute meaningfully.
Looking back, what remains most significant is not a single moment or image, but the collective effort that made those moments possible. The alignment of creative teams, technical partners, broadcasters, governments and organisers is never accidental. It is built through trust, preparation and shared intent.
Major events may be fleeting, but the way they are delivered leaves a lasting impression — on audiences, on teams and on the cultures they touch. For me, that is where the true value lies: in shaping experiences that honour context, bring people together and stand the test of time.