Swire Sparks Connection

BEN SWIRE (US’91) MADE A RECENT APPEARANCE ON THE DESIGN BETTER PODCAST. Swire is an award-winning writer, founder, and the author of Safe Danger: An Unexpected Method for Sparking Connection, Finding Purpose, and Inspiring Innovation.  

“We’re living in a moment when people are more connected than ever yet often feel more alone,” Swire says, and he poses the provocative question: What if the greatest threat to achieving our goals is the safety we cling to? 

Swire’s work combines the latest research with his years of experience working with corporate teams to build connection and fuel collaboration. He points to seven powerful qualities: joy, vulnerability, curiosity, optimism, connection, trust, and creativity. “Building real trust . . . is no longer optional; it’s the glue that holds communities, organizations, and even families together.” 

“Principia was the first place that taught me how powerful it is when a community truly sees you,” he recalls. “Even now, decades later, that’s at the heart of my work with Make Believe Works: helping people connect with themselves, with each other, and with the unique potential that comes alive when those two forces meet.”