Strategy innovation: Mental models to help strategists embrace Renaissance thinking

Quynh Nguyen

Instead of just focusing on the job and embracing departmental or specialist thinking, which is good for carrying out the task at hand, strategists can philosophise about deeper issues underlying businesses and people’s lives, and benefit from Renaissance thinking, says VMLY&R Vietnam’s Quynh Nguyen.

Renaissance thinking has become a buzzword in marketing. What do we mean when we say Renaissance thinking? Is it rebellious or radical? Is it creative or is it simply human?

Let's take a look at history

Before the Renaissance, many countries across Europe were suffering from poverty and darkness. Trapped by conformity, people strictly followed rules and practices. Breaking away from this mould, the Renaissance thinkers, artists, culture shapers, adventurers and philosophers began to spread new, explorative and inventive ideas and gained influence.

It was not about adhering to rules – it was about pushing the boundaries of what we...

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