Saying No With Intention: Making Space for Work That Matters

Saying No With Intention examines how creative careers are quietly shaped by the habit of agreeing to everything. Drawing on nearly two decades running a large creative agency, this talk challenges the idea that confidence comes from accumulation, arguing instead that it comes from alignment.

The talk explores how every yes carries power, shaping not only individual careers but the systems creatives participate in. When designers say yes without intention, they risk reinforcing models that prioritise growth over responsibility and profit over planet. Saying no becomes an act of clarity rather than withdrawal.

This talk reframes creative confidence as the courage to choose what not to do. The perspective introduced here is extended through a corresponding workshop that focuses on translating values into practical decision-making and collective action.