Jacqueline Tapp – Director – Founder’s Office
Leadership is often portrayed as having a clear vision, providing direction, and making quick decisions. While those skills are important, some of the most impactful moments in leadership come from knowing when not to have all the answers.
Jacqueline Tapp, Director at Studio Lumen, recalls one moment early in her career that shaped the way she leads today.
“One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in leadership came from a simple moment early in my career. In a team meeting, I asked a team member how we could tackle a challenge. Instead of rushing to answer, he said, ‘I don’t know right now, but I’ll figure it out.’
At first, I was surprised. Here was someone incredibly talented, admitting he didn’t have the answer. But what happened next was even more surprising. They came back the next day with a solution that was not only effective but also innovative – something we hadn’t even considered before.
That moment stuck with me, and since then, I’ve worked to build a culture where people feel safe admitting what they don’t know, because it’s an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and create something new. Leadership isn’t about pushing the team to have all the answers – it’s about asking the right questions and empowering others to find the answers together.”
At Studio Lumen, this philosophy is at the heart of our approach, not only in the way we lead our internal team, but also in how we collaborate with clients, designers, and partners. The most successful lighting projects often begin with the questions:
- What atmosphere are we trying to create?
- How can we design this space to enhance wellbeing?
- What’s possible if we challenge the norm?
By creating an environment where curiosity is encouraged, ideas flow more freely. People feel valued for their contributions, and solutions are richer because they come from diverse perspectives.
True leadership, then, is less about having the perfect answer in the moment and more about creating the space for great answers to emerge. It’s a mindset that transforms challenges into opportunities and turns a group of individuals into a cohesive, creative, and empowered team.
Contact the team to find out more via our ‘Contact’ page.