Boats, Bikes, Bites, and Breakthroughs: Leadership Lessons from Portugal

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." – Saint Augustine

Travel, especially international travel, is one of my favorite ways to learn. There is something about sitting in a café in another country, watching daily life, and exploring the food, history, and culture I love. Lately, I've been reflecting on my recent trip to Portugal, where I had the opportunity to attend a research and business conference and get in a bit of exploring. While the conference was enriching and enlightening, my experiences outside the formal sessions impacted me the most. From presenting my research on innovative thinking and exchanging ideas with attendees from around the world to exploring the beautiful Portuguese hotspots like Sintra, Cascais, Porto, the Douro Valley, and Lisbon, these adventures included boats, bike rides, and indulging in local delicacies. Travel like this offers an array of informal opportunities to learn and grow. Here are some of my favorite takeaways – a reminder that learning doesn't need a classroom or the workplace.

Learning can happen anywhere if you take the time to notice, reflect, and share your experiences – sometimes called informal learning. Informal learning is vital to expanding your thinking and creating opportunities to innovate. Often, informal learning is discussed and focused on in the context of a workplace through mentoring, job shadowing, coaching, and other workplace activities. I prefer to think about it more broadly – in terms of everyday life.

Exploring a New Network

As I mentioned, one of my reasons for traveling to Portugal was to attend a business and research conference at the Universidade Lusofona in Lisbon focused on Theory and Applications in the Knowledge Economy (TAKE 2024). I am grateful for the new friends I made, the warm welcome, and the opportunity to listen to global perspectives. With only a few attendees from the U.S., the conference showcased a rich international and diverse perspective. AI, technology, lateral thinking, creativity, ethics, sustainability, innovation, human resource development, and mindsets are just a few discussed topics.

Engaging with new perspectives and fresh ideas is critical to expanding a leader's thinking. By intentionally building new connections through networking, leaders expand knowledge and prepare to approach problems with new ideas and ways of thinking, strengthening their creative mental muscles.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." – Albert Einstein.

What made this type of networking stand out from a typical networking event or conference at home? It begins with a diversity of people, topics, and goals. There was a unique warmth in this crowd. Some attendees were collaborators on projects, some were old friends, and many were new to the group. There was a shared desire to make personal connections rather than sell something, land a new business deal, or work a personal agenda. Listening and thought-provoking questions and interactions took precedence. Other than delivering my presentation, I had no specific agenda for the conference. I intentionally approached the conference with a beginner's mindset – open to exploring conversations, topics, and discussions without any preconceived agenda. Since I had not participated in a meeting with a research component before, I wanted to watch, listen, and observe first. Each day, I took time to reflect on my observations – to allow my brain to embed my observations further. The ability to engage this way felt like a luxury. How often do you find opportunities where you can approach the situation with a beginner's mindset and be agenda-free?

Exploring Portugal: Boats, Bikes and Bites

With limited time, this trip included only a handful of Portugal's well-known cities and locations. Each stop introduced me to something special about Portugal. Regardless of the stop, the people were welcoming, the seafood was fresh, and the vinho verde was delicious. Upon reflection, there were countless lessons for leaders. These are my favorite three.

Strategic Thinking & Vision

Did you know that Portugal was a world power in the 15th – 16th century, controlling trade and numerous ports around the world? I love the name of this period – the Age of Exploration. Portuguese explorers were discovering new sea routes, setting up trade, and following a strategic plan that looked different from other countries in the region during that period. They strategically selected ports and locations that facilitated extensive business and trade. Brazil, Japan, Macau, Iran, Malaysia, India, and Ghana represent only a few of their crucial trading centers during this period. (Quick aside. Please don't confuse my observations with advocating or supporting the colonization that occurred during that period throughout the world.)

 Many businesses and leaders today are in their own Age of Exploration. As technology rapidly changes and companies have access to more data than ever, the possibilities are vast – like the uncharted sea. Like the Portuguese, leaders must focus on strategy.  Rather than following the plan of others, today's leaders must be willing to set an independent plan that plays to their businesses' core strengths. They must be willing to take risks – step into the unknown. Accept failure as an opportunity to learn. They must have a team willing to see the vision and share their goal.  

Sustainability & Leveraging Your Resources

Did you know that 50% of the world's cork production comes from Portugal? Given its importance to the Portuguese economy, it should be no surprise that they are careful about how cork is harvested to ensure its sustainability. Cork is only harvested every nine years from trees to minimize any harm to the tree and allow regeneration for future harvests.

Cork is used throughout the country in a variety of applications. One of my favorite examples was on the metro in Lisbon. The seats were lined with cork, making them more comfortable than standard plastic seats.

Try New Things & Go Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Using local transportation, walking, eating local dishes, and shopping in the local grocery store are simple ways to move beyond the comfort zone of Uber and familiar foods and expand your informal learning while traveling abroad.

With many hills in Portugal and throughout Lisbon and Porto, I was excited to try an e-bike for the first time. I don't want to ride hills any other way from now on! Had I not taken the metro, I would have missed the use of cork on their seats.

Food is a great way to learn about the history and culture of any place. Portugal offered an array of foods to explore. Street food like a Bifana was exceptional, and of course, during the trip to Porto, we had to try the famous "Francesinha." This sandwich is hearty and will leave you full for a long time. As someone who loves fresh fish, I enjoyed it more than anything else on this trip. Cod can be found served in various ways, as well as sardines and many other types of fish.

Portugal is known for its pastries. Rest assured that many pastries made by some of the oldest and most renowned bakeries in Lisbon and Sintra were taste-tested. Confeitaria Nacional, founded in 1829, is the oldest bakery in Lisbon and remains a favorite for locals and tourists, offering tastes of traditional pastries like Pastel de Nata and Bolo de Arroz. While Sintra is a storybook town with colorful castles and cooler temperatures due to its mountain location, Casa Piriquita, dating back to 1862, is the oldest bakery in Sintra, offered more traditional pastries - travesseiros and queijadas.

Finally, while Portugal might be known for Port wine, some other specialties are worth mentioning. Vinho Verde, a slightly effervescent, light white wine, and Ginja, a cherry liqueur dating back to the 17th century, are integral parts of the culture.

If you are not a foodie, someone excited about new foods and food experiences, you may wonder what food has to do with leadership and informal learning. Food is an integral part of the culture in Portugal and other countries I have traveled to. There is often a story associated with its foundation. Learning about food is a great way to better understand the people. As leaders, it is critical to get out of our comfort zone and embrace new people and flavors to have a rich, thriving organization.

 "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." – Mark Twain.

If you are unwilling to experience new foods and drinks in a culture, I wonder what else you may be closed to learning and experiencing. Is this mindset limiting your willingness to grow and learn in other areas?  How might it be limiting your leadership?

Final Thoughts

Reflecting on my time in Portugal, I am reminded of the immense value of stepping outside our usual environments to learn and grow. From the rich discussions at the conference to the simple joys of tasting local delicacies and exploring historic cities, each experience offered unique insights into leadership and innovation.

Leadership growth is not confined to structured courses, coaching calls, or job assignments. It thrives in diverse experiences and the willingness to learn from every encounter. We can all enhance our leadership capabilities by embracing informal learning, seeking out new perspectives, and maintaining a curious and open mindset.

I would love to hear about your favorite informal learning experiences and how they may have impacted your leadership.