--- title: "Notes from the Wings: The Physics of Creative Leadership — Notes from the Wings" description: "Broadway producer Sue Gilad shares insights on creative leadership, risk management, and collaboration from the world of high-stakes theater production." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Gilad", "alternateName": "Sue Gilad", "jobTitle": "Broadway Producer, Author, Editor, Speaker", "description": "Grammy and five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, published author, professional editor, and arts-education advocate.", "award": [ "Grammy Award", "Tony Award for Best Musical (5x)", "30 Tony Award wins across productions" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Notes from the Wings: The Physics of Creative Leadership", "description": "Broadway producer Sue Gilad shares insights on creative leadership, risk management, and collaboration from the world of high-stakes theater production.", "image": [ "/notes/post-10-keynote.jpg" ], "datePublished": "2026-06-27T07:00:58.363+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-06T15:24:56.276266+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sue Gilad", "url": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Gilad", "url": "https://www.suzannegilad.com" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes/creative-leadership-keynote-lessons" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Notes from the Wings", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Notes from the Wings: The Physics of Creative Leadership", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes/creative-leadership-keynote-lessons" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is creative leadership in a professional context?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Creative leadership is the ability to guide diverse teams through high-stakes, unpredictable environments by prioritizing collaboration and shared vision. It involves managing the tension between artistic innovation and practical constraints, such as budget and timelines." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do Broadway producers handle risk management?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Producers manage risk by diversifying their portfolios, securing comprehensive insurance, and creating 'risk-intelligent' infrastructures. This includes having contingency plans for every technical and human variable to ensure the production continues even when the unexpected occurs." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why is radical collaboration important for business leaders?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Radical collaboration breaks down silos and ensures that the best ideas rise to the surface, regardless of hierarchy. In theater, this ensures every department is synced, a principle that drives efficiency and innovation in any corporate or creative organization." } } ] } ] --- [Suzanne Gilad ](/) [About ](/about)[Producer ](/producer)[Author & Editor ](/author-editor)[Speaking ](/speaking)[Philanthropy ](/philanthropy)[Notes ](/notes)[Glossary ](/glossary)[Contact ](/contact) [Notes from the Wings](/notes)/ Speaking # Notes from the Wings: The Physics of Creative Leadership Leading a Broadway production is a study in high-stakes collaboration. Here is what producing shows like ‘The Outsiders’ teaches us about risk and resilience. By Sue Gilad June 27, 2026 5 min read ![A keynote speaker on stage in warm spotlight addressing a conference audience.](/notes/post-10-keynote.jpg) Share [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsuzannegilad.lovable.app%2Fnotes%2Fcreative-leadership-keynote-lessons)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Notes%20from%20the%20Wings%3A%20The%20Physics%20of%20Creative%20Leadership&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsuzannegilad.lovable.app%2Fnotes%2Fcreative-leadership-keynote-lessons) It was 2018 at the August Wilson Theatre during the early days of 'Mean Girls'. The lobby was buzzing, the house was packed, and behind the heavy velvet curtains, three hundred people were moving in a synchronized, silent dance. In that moment, the financial weight of a multi-million dollar capitalization rests on a single collective breath. Every department—from the stagehands handling intricate automation to the actors waiting for their cues—must operate with absolute trust. If a single person loses focus, the mechanism stalls. When I speak to executives as a creative leadership keynote speaker, they often ask how we maintain composure when the 'machinery' of a production breaks down in front of a paying audience. In theater, we don't have the luxury of a 'system reboot' or a 404 error page. We have a live audience and a clock that never stops. This environment requires a specific type of leadership: one that balances the cold reality of recoupment with the warm, sometimes volatile, energy of a creative team. ## Radical Collaboration Over Individual Ego In a boardroom, collaboration is often a buzzword. On Broadway, it is a survival tactic. When we produced 'The Ferryman' at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, the complexity was staggering—live animals, a massive cast, and a deeply emotional narrative. As a producer, my role isn't to tell the director how to direct or the lighting designer how to focus a lamp. My role is to protect the room. > Leadership in the theater isn't about having the loudest voice; it is about ensuring the most capable voices are heard at exactly the right time. Sue Gilad Leading a creative team means managing tension. You are balancing the vision of the writers with the fiscal responsibilities of the investors. When these forces clash, a leader must remain grounded. I’ve found that the best way to navigate high-stakes conflict is to return to our shared purpose: the story. Whether you are launching a new tech platform or a musical like 'The Outsiders', the moment the team stops serving the 'story' and starts serving their own department's ego, the project is in jeopardy. ## The Producer’s Mindset: Managing Risk in Real Time Risk management in theater is a daily practice. We deal with the unpredictability of human health, mechanical failures, and the shifting tastes of the ticket-buying public. To lead through this, you cannot be risk-averse; you must be risk-intelligent. This means knowing which variables you can control and building a infrastructure that can absorb the shock of the ones you can't. ### Maintaining Composure under Pressure 1. 01 Isolate the Variable When a crisis hits—whether it's a technical malfunction during previews or a sudden vacancy in a key role—identify exactly what has changed and ignore the noise of 'what if'. 2. 02 Empower the Specialist Trust your department heads. In high-stakes moments, a leader's job is to clear the path so the experts can do the work they were hired to do. 3. 03 Communicate with Candor Avoid the temptation to sugarcoat challenges for your stakeholders. Clear, honest communication builds the trust necessary for long-term recoupment. 4. 04 Focus on the Recovery The goal isn't a perfect performance; it's a perfect recovery. How you handle a mistake defines the culture of your team more than how you handle a success. I often think back to the rehearsals for 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'. The scale was enormous, the expectations were sky-high, and the technical demands were relentless. Success in that environment didn't come from a top-down mandate; it came from a culture of mutual accountability. When every person in the building—from the lead producer to the backstage intern—understands their impact on the whole, the leadership becomes a shared weight. That is the lesson I bring to every stage, whether it's at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre or a corporate boardroom. Leadership is an art, but it’s also a discipline. It requires the courage to make the hard call and the humility to listen when the room is telling you something isn't working. If you can lead a room full of artists through a tech rehearsal, you can lead any organization through a season of change. It all starts with holding the space for excellence to happen. Invite Sue to speak → /speaking Frequently asked ## Questions about this piece ### What is creative leadership in a professional context? ### How do Broadway producers handle risk management? ### Why is radical collaboration important for business leaders? SG Written by Sue Gilad Grammy & five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, author, editor, and arts-education advocate. [More about Sue](/about) · [Contact the office](/contact). Related reading ## More notes from the wings [ Speaking ### Theatrical Conflict Resolution for Leaders in the Room Conflict in the rehearsal room is often a symptom of passion rather than malice. Learn how a producer’s mindset facilitates resolution by balancing artistic integrity with fiscal responsibility. July 18, 2026· 6 min read ](/notes/theatrical-conflict-resolution-for-leaders)[ Speaking ### Applying Creative Leadership in Business: A Producer’s Guide Applying creative leadership in business means moving beyond rigid spreadsheets to manage the human and financial variables of a high-risk venture. Learn how Broadway production principles translate to the boardroom. July 10, 2026· 8 min read ](/notes/applying-creative-leadership-in-business)[ ![A modern boardroom table meeting the edge of a theater stage — the producer's mindset applied to business.](/notes/post-13-producer-mindset.jpg) Speaking ### Applying the Producer Mindset Beyond the Proscenium Producing is not just about writing checks or booking talent. It is a specific mental framework for managing risk and fostering collaboration that applies whether you are launching a startup or writing a novel. July 1, 2026· 5 min read ](/notes/producer-mindset-outside-theater) [← Back to all notes](/notes) Suzanne Gilad Grammy & five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, author, editor, speaker, and arts-education advocate. Explore - [About](/about) - [Broadway Work](/producer) - [Author & Editor](/author-editor) - [Speaking](/speaking) - [Philanthropy](/philanthropy) - [Notes from the Wings](/notes) - [Theater Glossary](/glossary) - [Contact](/contact) Scholarships - Suzanne Gilad Grant - Sue Gilad & Larry Rogowsky Theatre Scholarship Get in touch © 2026 Suzanne Gilad. All rights reserved. Bringing extraordinary stories to life — on stage and on the page.