Be Bold Month in January 2022

Our six firm values set the tone for how we work with one another and within our industry. 

Periodically, we spend a month focused on one single value, discussing what the value means to us as individuals and as a firm, and exploring how we can strengthen our connection to the value. In January 2022 we explored the value Be Bold: strive to learn and innovate every day. Throughout January, we highlighted CA's long history of innovation as investors, and some bold moves we've made over time as a business. We collected new bold ideas in an innovation forum, and invited colleagues from diverse backgrounds to share how it can be more challenging to speak boldly in a room where they offered a unique perspective.  All of this content was designed to stimulate discussion and self-reflection, and to inspire an ongoing commitment to bold innovation at CA.

One of the most popular sessions was a keynote with Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney. Duncan helped us to define creativity, identify roadblocks to creative thinking, and practice practical steps that invite innovative thinking. The session was high energy and left people with new techniques to practice and new language to use within the CA community to keep innovation flowing. 

Two of the most buzzed-about techniques were "Yes, and ..." and the Naïve Expert.

• So many times we counter a new idea with "No, but ...", effectively shutting down any possibility of an expansive idea.  Instead, Duncan had participants workshop using "Yes, and" instead , which opened up terrific creative thinking.  You can now here CA colleagues using "Yes, and" around the virtual CA hallways as a reminder to each other to keep ideas flowing. 
• The Naïve Expert concept that Duncan taught involved inviting someone to a meeting who is expert in a different but related area, but not specifically involved in the project at hand. This person brings a unique perspective and encourages people to let go of assumptions and think about things differently. 

You can learn more about Duncan on his website here at https://duncanwardle.com/ or through his TED Talks. We hope 2022 gives you many opportunities to Be Bold.