Wisdom in fragments

The only way to innovate is to follow Aristotle's prescription. To create a future that is different to the past is to imagine possibilities and choose the one for which the most compelling argument can be made, not the one for which there is the most data. If companies want to innovate, they need to realise that data analytics is killing innovation yet is lauded and used increasingly.

Management theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business

The biggest mistake is thinking that some people at the top make strategy, while everybody else executes it. It feels intractable at this point, it's so ingrained in our way of thinking. You don't want people who sit there faithfully executing strategy, you want people who lead their part of the organisation and who engage in good communication.

Management theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business

If those assets are not being productively converted into goods and services that make the world a better place, it's a missed opportunity. Over the past half-century, we've standardised on a 'way' to do things – and that's clearly flawed but continues. We need managers and leaders to up their game if we're going to hope to tackle the environmental, inequality and other crises we face.

Management theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business

It's fair to say that life felt more secure 40 years ago. You felt safer in your home, on the streets, in school, you just felt safer. If people suggest that humanity is becoming less 'human' – it's because we've allowed civilized conduct to deteriorate and that's what I've fought against for my entire professional career.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

I've said to my children, and grandchildren, that if you do the right thing – there's no guarantee that the right thing will happen. That's the way of the world. If you do the wrong thing however, you'll face karma. If you do the wrong thing? At some point in your life, something bad is going to happen to you.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

When you're involved in conflict, you're not sane. You may start out being sane, and in those early stages it's certainly possible to mediate and arbitrate. Using those tools you often end up cutting the baby in half – you give a little, I give a little, you give a little more, I give a little more, and suddenly everyone is miserable.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

Society must demand that you comport yourself within a framework of rules. Once those rules break, society breaks down.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

There is a degree of laziness and political correctness which has crept into the justice system. Many judges are appointed not elected. They don't want to offend. Instead of making a decision, they 'cut the baby in half' and everyone is left being a little bit miserable. I don't like to cut the baby in half and while I can certainly see more grey areas in the world, my job as a judge is to say, 'you're right, and you're wrong…'

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

Without music, life would be hollow. Music is like food, we need it. It's essential. It's invisible, and doesn't require our attention, and so it gets threaded into our lives. Music becomes a strong part of our memories, our sense of self, and identity.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

Song writing is about finding a vision that sets the mood and state for the work and process. Then you need to put in the time and the good vibes to achieve that vision.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

When I got better, even simple things like being able to wake-up, go for a walk, speak, and observe life, felt viscerally stunning and good. I found a state of being – a state that gave me perspective and feeling about life and my place in it.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

Songs are like a cleanse for the nervous system. I was walking through London the other day, and my mind was full of my to-do list, work, and so much more. I put on She's Always a Woman by Billy Joel and I just suddenly felt psychologically lifted.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

I don't think of what I do solely as an expression of me and my life; it's more that I'm someone who loves what happens when a great song comes into my life. I become still. I see life as beautiful… majestic. I feel more like the song is doing something for me rather than me doing something to make the song… or to do to the song.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

We must stand up and say that a business model based on secretly tracking us in order to find, and exploit, weaknesses in our attention is not acceptable. It's immoral.

Journalist and author known for books on addiction and depression

We need to be saying, '…fuck you! Stop pouring itching powder over me!' It's like someone is pouring itching powder over us, all day, every day. The same person pouring itching powder over us is also the person saying, 'mate… try this meditation app….'

Journalist and author known for books on addiction and depression

Cruel optimism is where someone comes along with a very simple app which says you can mediate for a few minutes a day and it will give you your attention back. It's optimistic because you're offering a solution in an upbeat tone – but it's cruel because solution is small, and incommensurate to the scale of the causes.

Journalist and author known for books on addiction and depression