Diversity of Thought Strengthens Your Business

Today we’re talking about building teams and how they can strengthen your business.

But first, today’s highlights:

💷 Massive Defence Investment Fuels Tech in the North

The UK government has launched a £250m defence fund, its largest since the Cold War, channelling money into drone technology, naval upgrades, steel in South Yorkshire, space in Scotland, and cybersecurity in Northern Ireland. Beyond defence, it’s a shot in the arm for northern innovation and regional tech economies. 👉 Read more here

🪜 If you want to see how diversity of thought fits into the bigger picture, take a look at our CORE OS framework — the system we use to help founders build clarity, rhythm and evidence into their culture.

In our CORE OS, Clarity is about more than vision statements. It’s about seeing the world as it really is, not just how it looks from your desk.

When you’re building alone, your clarity is limited. One set of eyes, one way of thinking, one set of blind spots. And blind spots sink businesses.

It’s lonely. And lonely thinking quickly narrows.

That’s why diversity of thought isn’t a side issue. It’s the difference between getting stuck in your own loop and finding new ways forward.

From One to Two

When I started Trove, it was just me. My “board” was family, my wife, and, if I’m honest, ChatGPT. It worked, but it was hard and narrow.

When Chris joined, it was like opening a window. Suddenly ideas flowed. He challenged me, improved my thinking, and the business got better overnight. Two brains beat one every time.

Why Founders Need It

We see it with the founders we work with: early-stage teams of one or two, cautious about finance, using us as a sounding board. They know they need challenge but don’t yet have the team.

AI helps fill some gaps, but it can’t replace perspective. Surrounding yourself with the right people; co-founders, advisors, critics, matters more than ever.

My Startup Lesson

When I joined Mina - a tech startup in Sheffield, I was the oldest person in the business for a while. I’d come from industries where experience meant age, hierarchy, and let’s be honest, a lot of middle-aged white men. Suddenly I was learning daily from younger teammates with wildly different experiences. It was refreshing, humbling, and a reminder: difference sharpens you.

Privilege and Perspective

A recent conversation at Climb25 brought this home. I was asked Aiwan asked if I thought I was privileged. I’d never framed it that way, but of course I was—middle-class upbringing, travel, exposure to different cultures through my dad’s work. Those experiences gave me perspective others don’t get. They shaped how I think.

The Point

Diversity of thought isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a practical necessity for founders.

• Age matters. Young energy colliding with older perspective is rocket fuel.

• Gender, culture, background, they all add edges you don’t have.

• AI is powerful, but it doesn’t bring lived experience.

Your job as a founder or leader is to deliberately build in that challenge. Find people who see the world differently. Invite friction. Embrace the discomfort.

Want to go deeper? Our recent podcast episode of the same name explores how culture can be used as a practical tool for founders.

See you same time next week.

Carl.