Peeling away complexity – a visionary look at agility, simplicity, and more.

Hi, I’m Neil Walker — welcome.
This is my space to explore the real work of transformation: leading with agility, thinking in systems, and building better ways of working.
For over 30 years, I’ve helped organizations—from financial services to frontline social care—navigate complexity, adopt agile and product mindsets, and drive meaningful change that lasts. I’ve worked across the board: from coaching teams to advising execs, from recovering failing programmes to shaping new operating models.
Since the early 2000s, I’ve been writing and speaking about agile, business agility, and transformation—long before they were hashtags. I’ve shared ideas, sparked conversations, and built communities (even before Twitter became “X”).
What ties it all together? A deep belief in the power of simplicity, adaptability, and human-centered change.
Whether you’re here to learn, rethink, or just get unstuck—you’re in good company.
Latest insights
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Strategy is Simple… Until It Isn’t
Strategy often seems straightforward: understand where you are, define where you want to go, and choose the best path to get there. Simple, right? But in reality, many organizations falter not because strategy is complex but because the execution is…
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Drowning in “Strategic” Priorities? You’re Not Alone (and It’s Costing You Dearly – Including Your Agility!)
We all nod sagely when the topic of prioritisation comes up. “Focus on what matters most,” we preach. “Identify the vital few that will truly move the needle.” It sounds so simple, so logical. Yet, in the messy reality of…
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Winter Is Here: Surviving the Continuous Improvement Chill (and How to Bring Back the Spring)
I’ve been rewatching Game of Thrones lately. The epic American fantasy drama created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO, based on George R. R. Martin’s brilliant A Song of Ice and Fire novels. If you’re a fan,…
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Smarter Working for Better Results
In today’s fast-paced world, smarter working is the name of the game. It’s time to ditch the old-school mentality of “butts in seats” and embrace a culture of trust and autonomy. When we focus on outcomes rather than physical presence,…
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Management 3.0
Today I received some exciting news, “You’ve been selected as a member! Thank you for taking the time to apply, and congratulations”. Having missed out on last year’s intake (annual cohort limited to 100 professionals), I’ve managed to join the…
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The Ecosystem Economy: How Business Agility Will Shape—and Be Shaped by—Our $100 Trillion Future
I found an insightful and eye-opening book on the O’Reilly learning platform, “The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders”. The book takes readers on a transformative journey into a world where traditional industry…
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