Who’s Your David Bowie? Leading with Vision in a World on Fire

In 1997, David Bowie sat in front of a BBC journalist and calmly described the internet as a force so profound, it would reshape the fabric of society. The journalist scoffed. Bowie, unbothered, smiled and said: “We haven’t even seen the tip of the iceberg.”

Fast forward to 2025, and Peter Hinssen is asking a deceptively simple question: Who’s your Bowie?

In a world being transformed by AI, geopolitics, and breakneck innovation, every organization needs someone who sees what others don’t and dares to say it.

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The World Has Changed. Again.

Peter’s talk was a whirlwind tour through the chaotic present and wild future of technology. He unpacked a reality many leaders are still trying to catch up with.

Today, we don’t even own our fighter jets. We lease them, with operational software hosted on U.S. servers that dictate what can and cannot be done.

Our global defense strategies are increasingly cloud-native. And our tools of war are being built by startups with Tolkien-themed HQs like Palantir and by founders best known for inventing Oculus, like Anduril.

Innovation is no longer neutral. It’s militarized. Commercialized. Politicized. And it’s moving fast.

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Scary? Yes. Exciting? Also Yes.

Peter doesn’t shy away from the tension. This is the most chaotic, bizarre, opportunity-rich moment in our lifetime.

One week it’s Meta offering $100 million signing bonuses to AI talent. The next, a unicorn collapses because the “AI” was actually just people in Mumbai.

On the flip side, AI is unlocking a new level of possibility. Startups are launching with billion-dollar valuations. Models are evolving so fast they’re talking to each other and quoting poetry. We’ve entered an era where LLMs stand not just for Large Language Models, but sometimes jokingly for Low-cost Labor in Mumbai—a nod to the implosion of fake-AI startups like Builder.ai.

In this bizarre, rapid-fire world, leaders can’t afford to look away. The absurdity is real. So is the potential.

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The Pattern is Clear: We’re Bad at Seeing Patterns

Just like the engineers who built conveyor belts to deliver telexes—right before email made them irrelevant—we often get the idea right but execute it all wrong.

We need visionaries who can leap beyond the obvious. Who understand that a car’s navigation system isn’t just a UX choice—it’s a signal of trust, ecosystem loyalty, and the shift in where users place their faith.

Bowie saw it with the internet. Who’s seeing it with AI?

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Everyone’s in the Information Business Now

Peter reminded us that every industry is overwhelmed—too much information, not enough time, and rising pressure to make the right calls.

To lead in this environment, you need to move through three levels:

🔹 Data-aware – What’s happening?
You’re collecting data, dashboards are running, but you’re mostly just observing. You see the trends, but you're reacting more than deciding.

🔹 Data-informed – Why did it happen?
Now you’re analyzing. You can trace patterns, understand causes, and spot where things went wrong—or right.

🔹 Data-driven – What should we do next?
This is where real leadership happens. You’re using data not just to reflect, but to decide. You're shaping strategy, not just tracking performance.

AI has the power to help at every level—spotting trends, predicting outcomes, and even suggesting actions. But only if you’re ready to use it as more than a buzzword.

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Final Question: Will You Listen to Your Bowie?

The “Bowie” in your company is probably the one with the strange slides, the out-there questions, and the bold predictions that make everyone uncomfortable.

They’re the ones people avoid at the elevator. The ones who see what’s coming—and often get ignored.

Peter’s message: Find that person. Give them space. Let them lead.

Because in a world on fire, clarity doesn’t come from strategy decks. It comes from vision.

And vision often sounds like madness—until it’s too late.

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🚀 Missed Peter’s Talk?

Don’t worry. More leadership sessions are coming soon. And you won’t want to miss the next one.
Stay curious. Stay uncomfortable. And if you’re lucky, find your Bowie.

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