To Pixar and Beyond isn’t your typical leadership book.
But if you’re building something complex and want to lead with clarity and integrity, this one’s essential.

I'm looking for my next read so please drop any recommendations below ⬇️

5. Mindfulness isn’t just for monks.
This is the most challenging one for me. Levy doesn’t just talk about business. He talks about balance. Awareness. The power of being present.
Leadership isn’t sustainable if your mind is constantly spinning and I'm trying to learn that.

4. Great leadership is about trust — not control.
Pixar succeeded because Jobs, Levy, and the leadership team trusted each other. They didn’t micromanage. They challenged. They debated. But they trusted.
I’m working on doing less “checking in” and more “stepping back.”

3. Simplicity is a superpower.
One of Levy’s mantras was to “clear the path” for others. He focused obsessively on removing distractions, clarifying goals, and aligning incentives.
I’m now asking: What complexity am I clinging to that’s just ego in disguise?

2. Numbers tell a story — but they don’t tell the story.
Levy is a CFO, but he never reduces decisions to spreadsheets. He listens to the team. He respects intuition. He balances logic with belief.
This is a reminder to use data and heart when navigating uncertainty.

1. Vision means nothing without structure.
Pixar had genius creatives. But no financial strategy. No viable business model. Levy didn’t shut down the creativity, he built a framework around it so it could scale.
Lesson? Creativity and clarity aren’t opposites. They’re allies.

Levy was brought in by Steve Jobs to turn Pixar from a money-draining animation experiment into a sustainable, visionary business. Most people would panic. Levy chose precision, calm, and clarity.

Here are the core leadership lessons I’m taking away — and integrating into my own style:

Final thought

I am buoyed by what I've seen in recent years. I’m long enough in the tooth to know the difference between noise and momentum. And this feels like the latter.

Reputations will be made in the coming years.
So will jobs, businesses, and better outcomes. And I want to be a part of it.

5.
The North West is telling one story — and that gives us scale
It’s not Liverpool versus Manchester anymore.
It’s Liverpool and Manchester.
A joined-up North West that’s actually worth investing in.

That’s the difference between being overlooked… and taken seriously.

4.
It’s not just the big players at the table
This feels different.
Local businesses, social enterprises, independents — we’re not being spoken for, we’re being spoken with.

That shift matters. Because systems that listen are systems that last.

3.
Public investment is signalling real intent
New stations. Housing. Better links across the patch.
Not vanity. Not political filler.
Signals.

And if you’re running a business, signals matter.
They tell you where to double down — or when to pivot.

2.
Skills and people are finally on the agenda
Bootcamps. Adult learning. Employer partnerships.
Not box-ticking. Not tokenism. Actual movement.

Because if we want a future-proof economy, it won’t be built on slogans — it’ll be built by people.

1.
There’s a vision — and it’s not stuck in the past
Freeport. Innovation zones. Paddington Village.
We’re not trying to recreate some lost industrial glory — we’re building forward.

That matters. Because progress needs direction.

This isn’t the usual noise.
It’s projects breaking ground.
It’s conversations and collaborations that involve real people, not just expensive artists impressions.
And, for the first time in a long time, it feels like something is actually happening.

Greggs is one of the best operators in the country. They go under the radar because of their simplicity but they embody resilience—building lean, pricing fairly, and serving customers well.

Their model works in the boom times and thrives in the bust times. It isn't just survival; it's strategy.

5.
Greggs meets customers where they are
They open in everyday locations like petrol stations and train stations, avoiding expensive, flashy sites. They focus on getting the basics right.

4.
A Greggs sausage roll isn’t just available. It’s distinct.
It's more than a snack; it's a cultural reference with memory and identity.

That’s what brand equity really looks like. Not just shelf space, but mind space.

3.
Vertical integration gives leverage
Greggs controls its supply chain, providing speed, control, and margin.

This integration is a superpower in unpredictable times.