Beyond the Numbers: Douglas Lines on Building Trust and Inspiring Innovation

S2:E11 - In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie sit down with Douglas Lines, a seasoned chartered accountant and co-founder of IBEM Group, who has led transformative change across multiple continents and industries. With a career that spans corporate banking, cultural transformations, and entrepreneurial leadership, Doug shares his journey from traditional finance to becoming a champion of collaboration and innovation in complex organisations.

Doug discusses his insights on effective team collaboration, the importance of deep listening, and how he navigated challenges like the 2008 financial crisis by fostering trust and shared purpose. He explores the critical difference between transformation and true innovation, sharing practical frameworks from his co-authored book, How to Create Innovation, which provides tools to guide organisations from ideation to commercialisation.

In addition to sharing his expertise, Doug introduces his latest programme on entrepreneurial leadership, aimed at empowering leaders to adapt to today’s unpredictable world. He shares his unique philosophy of “lighting a flame in someone’s heart,” demonstrating how purpose-driven leadership and a collaborative mindset can lead to lasting organisational impact.

Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn from Doug’s wealth of experience and gain actionable insights on leading with empathy, fostering innovation, and creating a collaborative culture in any industry.

Key Learnings
The Power of Collaboration in Challenging Times: Doug’s experience leading through the 2008 financial crisis highlights how collaboration and trust can be pivotal, not only internally but also with clients. He emphasises that collective strength and aligned purpose are essential to weather difficult periods, reinforcing that true leadership is about supporting one another through tough times, not just celebrating wins.

Differentiating Transformation from Innovation: Doug discusses the critical difference between transformation and genuine innovation, a distinction often misunderstood. Transformation might improve or streamline existing processes, but innovation is about creating entirely new revenue streams, customer segments, or services. Doug’s approach encourages leaders to think beyond surface changes and build a mindset geared towards long-term, impactful innovation.

Guest Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglaslines/
douglaslines@outlook.com
https://ib-em.com/

Chapters

• 2:01 Introduction to Douglas Lines and his Global Career
• 4:02 Key Moments and Insights from a Global Journey
• 6:46 The Power of Team Success and Collaboration
• 7:54 Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis
• 9:52 Leading Cultural Transformation for 22,000 People
• 19:26 Innovation vs Transformation: Key Insights from ‘How to Create Innovation’
• 22:30 Entrepreneurial Leadership and Embracing Change