Fueling growth: How workplace creativity drives success

Creativity is more than a buzzword; it’s a vital ingredient for success in today’s competitive landscape. Imaginative thinking and visual communication don’t just support innovation – they drive growth, improve customer experiences, and help teams tackle complex challenges. Following the release of a recent report⁠(opens in a new tab or window) by Harvard Business Review (HBR) Analytic Services, a new webinar featuring Canva’s Head of Design Andrew Green, Deloitte’s Global Future of Work Leader Nicole Scoble-Williams, and Hearst’s Director of Social Media and Engagement Jaime Cardenas took a closer look at creativity’s role in reshaping modern workplaces.

Hosted by HBR Analytic Service’s Managing Director Alex Clemente, we’re sharing key insights from that discussion, along with real-world examples and tips on how businesses can unlock creative potential at every level.

1.Creativity should be valued and rewarded

Many businesses acknowledge the importance of creativity, but only about one in five actually feels successful at putting creative ideas into action. Nicole highlighted that one barrier is often a lack of awareness of creativity’s potential, stressing that companies need to start treating creativity as a core skill that fuels progress⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

2.Collaboration across teams fuels new ideas

Andrew Green explained that breaking down silos – the invisible barriers between departments – helps creativity flow more naturally. By pulling team members from different areas of the business to work toward shared goals, organizations can open up new perspectives. Canva hosts regular “jam sessions” and hackathons to create low-pressure spaces for brainstorming and problem-solving. “Top-down and bottom-up” creative environments make it clear that everyone, no matter their role, can contribute.

3.Generative AI is changing the creative process

With tools like generative AI⁠(opens in a new tab or window), organizations are finding new ways to support creative thinking by handling repetitive tasks so people can focus on projects that need a human touch. At Canva, Andrew explained how design teams use AI⁠(opens in a new tab or window) to speed up prototyping – testing new features and ideas with much shorter turnaround times. Nicole added that AI can help create “digital playgrounds” where employees are encouraged to experiment and push the boundaries of what’s possible.