#NavigatingChange: Are businesses too risk averse?

In this second episode of the #NavigatingChange series, host Mark Thorpe explores the UK's approach to risk with experts Julian Walker, John Howarth, Jonathan Kemp, and Daniel Price. The panel unpacks findings from the Instinctive Partners Change Index, examining why the UK appears risk-averse and how this affects business growth, investment culture, and even mental wellbeing. The conversation reveals surprising insights about business optimism versus broader economic pessimism, offering a fresh perspective on how we can better embrace change to drive innovation and growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. The UK lags significantly behind the US in startup investment, particularly in secondary phase funding, limiting growth potential for promising businesses.

2. US investment houses are often run by former entrepreneurs while UK counterparts tend to be led by accountants and bankers, creating fundamentally different approaches to risk.

3. People aren't afraid of change itself but the uncertainty it brings—the feeling of not being personally equipped to handle transformation.

4. Business leaders are remarkably optimistic about their own ventures (nearly 60%) while pessimistic about the broader economy, suggesting control over outcomes significantly impacts outlook.

5. Traditional long-term planning models are becoming obsolete with most CEOs now working with 2-3 year horizons maximum, building in flexibility to adapt to rapid change.