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Committed to Curiosity

May 01, 2026
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One of the most powerful traits I see in successful leaders is a commitment to learning. But for great leaders, it goes a step further - it becomes a commitment to curiosity.

Curiosity is what keeps you moving. It’s the drive to explore new ideas, ask better questions, and stay open to perspectives beyond your immediate world. It’s not just about learning what’s relevant, it’s about being genuinely interested in what could be relevant next.

I’ve been fortunate to spend time with Richard Branson over the past decade, and his curiosity is something that has always stood out. He carries a small notebook everywhere. Mid-conversation, if something sparks his interest, he’ll pause, jot it down, and come back to it later. Nothing gets lost.

I remember one moment clearly.  My daughter Sascha was with me while she was still at university. He asked her what the most interesting thing she’d learned recently was. What followed was a rapid-fire stream of questions, as he unpacked every layer of her answer. It wasn’t surface-level interest, it was deep, intentional curiosity in action.

We saw that same mindset come to life in our Ready to Rise community this month.

On our last call, we spoke about the “stormy seas” ahead and I challenged the group to think about how they could prepare - before the full picture of those challenges emerged.

One of our members took that challenge and ran with it. She leaned fully into curiosity, diving into AI, exploring podcasts, webinars, and anything she could get her hands on. No overthinking, no waiting for perfect clarity. Just action.

Fast forward to this month’s call - and the results spoke for themselves.

She hadn’t just learned something new. She had translated that learning into tangible action inside her business, creating real impact and already seeing financial returns.  All within a month.

That’s the power of curiosity when it’s paired with action.  It doesn’t just expand your thinking, it accelerates your results.

The energy on that call was electric. You could feel the shift. One example created a ripple effect and everyone left inspired, energised, and ready to step up their own learning.

I know I did.  My mind hasn’t stopped since, I’ve gone down my own rabbit holes, exploring, testing, questioning what’s possible next.

And now, I’m even more excited for our May call, because when a group of ambitious leaders commits to curiosity at this level, the results don’t just compound, they multiply.  If you want to join us in those conversations here's the link.

So here’s my question for you this week:

Where could curiosity unlock your next level of growth?

 

 

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The Uprising

The Uprising, the newsletter for the Ready to Rise Community delivers bold insights, real-world strategies, and empowering leadership lessons for ambitious professionals scaling their impact. Curated by Cathie Reid, it features practical tools, candid stories, and reflections from global events - all designed to help you grow, lead, and rise into your next level with clarity and confidence.
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