Creative Ops Podcast with Nish Patel

I was interviewed by Nish Patel about creativity in organisations. It’s something I’ve thought a lot about and practised even more. It was a nice long chat and a pleasure to go deep on these topics with Nish.

Watch the video or listen on Spotify.

From the Creative Ops website:

What if creativity wasn’t just something a few people do—but the way your entire company thinks, decides, and works?

In this episode, Ivan Pols argues that the most effective organizations don’t isolate creativity—they operationalize it. As Chief Creative Officer at what3words, Ivan has helped build a culture where story becomes strategy, feedback is infrastructure, and creativity isn’t confined to a team—it’s expressed across the company.

We explore why “creative” is a word that often hurts more than it helps, how to build creative systems rooted in story and shared language, and what it means to protect friction and curiosity in the age of convenience and commoditization.

Key Insights

• Creativity isn’t a department. It’s a decision system, a culture engine, and a business advantage.

• The label “creative” often limits people. Real creative work happens when everyone contributes.

• Brand story isn’t just marketing—it’s the internal algorithm that drives decisions and direction.

• Friction isn’t the enemy—done right, it sharpens thinking, focus, and collaboration.

• Creative operations can evolve from asset delivery to cultural architecture.