Adaptive

Of Bridges and Vessels

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the notion and see the beauty in all the “Build bridges, not walls” kind of metaphors. But when it comes to strategy and futures, I’m afraid a bridge isn’t the answer.

Eva Tomas Casado

28 Mar 2025 — 4 min read

Image created with DALL-E Open AI by the author.

There are no bridges in folk songs because the peasants died building them. Eugene Chadbourne

You see, I’ve got my issues with some of the dominant pictures we use when talking about strategy, organizations, futures—or even the world, for that matter. One of them is the narrative of building bridges as always a positive thing.

Because Strategy needs Conversation.

Conversation is not the same as communication. Conversation can create friction. And it is friction you need to create a spark.

What Happens When We Engage with Futures Thinking?

Anticipation is not prediction—it's the art of sensing, adapting, and shaping possibility. But have we forgotten how to use it? Futures Thinking is not a luxury; it’s a societal necessity.

The Banyan Approach

The problem with traditional strategy is not just its rigidity—it’s its assumption about time. The idea that we can move from ‘now’ to ‘next’ as though history were a straight road. The Banyan approach rejects this.

The Dawn of the Pinkpaper

Pink is one of those colors that has always had a strong presence, though it often evokes mixed reactions. Historically, pink was seen as a softer, more delicate color—often linked to femininity or sweetness. But over the years, it has evolved into something more powerful.

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Because Strategy needs Conversation.

What Happens When We Engage with Futures Thinking?

The Banyan Approach

The Dawn of the Pinkpaper