What is this?
Productively Contrarian is a series of writings on strategy, innovation, and foresight.
Published irregularly.
In long-form.
Occasionally, too long.
Why is this being written?
I love working to understand why.
I write as a method to clarify my own thinking.
Until now I kept these writings to myself.
But, recently, I’ve worried that people aren’t understanding why enough.
We blindly follow the ‘how’—processes that overpromise.
We consume the ‘what’—in its shortest-form.
And now we’re even outsourcing the ‘why’—to AI.
Throughout my work, I’ve seen what happens when people learn to apply understanding rather than accept convention.
It’s wonderful.
Productively Contrarian is just me trying to understand things out loud—and I’m sharing it to encourage others to do the same.
Who is writing this?
I’m Julian.
I’m an advisor to companies on strategy, innovation, and foresight.
I’ve designed transformational strategies and new products with Disney, Google, FedEx, AB InBev, CHANEL, JetBlue, and others.
I am a former Managing Director and Futures Practice lead for ?What If! Innovation (acquired by Accenture in 2019).
I am a former former “traditional” strategy consultant, successfully failed entrepreneur, and industrial engineer.
I love playing hockey, flying seaplanes, and baking weird things.
I live in Brooklyn, New York.
I’m always happy to chat.
