We’re living in an age where AI can write your emails, draft your marketing plans, and even generate impressive visuals at the click of a button. Everywhere you look, there’s talk of efficiency, productivity hacks, and how to do more with less. But here’s the thing: no algorithm can replicate original thinking. And in business today, creativity isn’t just a “nice to have.”
To celebrate our recent Step Forward for Creative Brilliance event with freelance platform Fiverr, we’re taking a look at why creativity is the power move most businesses need to lean into, especially in the current landscape.
Creativity is what cuts through the noise
Right now, nearly every industry is crowded with competition. Products can be copied. Features can be matched. Pricing can be undercut. But what can’t be copied is you, the way you think, and the fresh take you bring to the conversations.
That’s why 73% of businesses surveyed by the World Economic Forum said creative thinking is now a top priority when it comes to hiring. The businesses that win aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or longest to-do lists, they’re the ones with the best ideas. In fact, during our recent Step Forward for Creative Brilliance event, award-winning Interior Designer and owner of Dauley Designs, Alex Dauley, emphasised that you are your own USP (Unique Selling Proposition), and that is exactly what will help you stand out and succeed in your field.
McKinsey even found that companies that lean into creativity outperform their peers when it comes to revenue growth and long-term success. Why? Because creativity drives innovation and innovation drives results.
Creativity is often sidelined as something that only belongs in marketing brainstorms or design departments, yet creativity can be used for problem-solving, reimagining a business model, finding a new route to market, or having that one conversation that unlocks a new opportunity. It’s the competitive edge that makes good businesses great.
In a world of AI, human creativity is the differentiator
With all the hype around generative AI, it’s easy to feel like creativity is being automated. Yet, it’s important to remember that AI can remix, refine, and replicate, but it can’t originate. It can’t sense what feels right in a pitch or instinctively know what a customer really needs.
Another theme that emerged from the Step Forward for Creative Brilliance, presented by Alex and Eshita Kabra, founder of ByRotation, is that AI can never replace human creativity, but it can save time. It’s not about man versus machine, it’s more about asking better questions, imagining new possibilities, and designing solutions AI alone wouldn’t think of. The future belongs to those who can combine AI’s speed with human creativity.
The boldest moves in business usually feel uncomfortable
Creativity, by definition, requires you to break out of the usual patterns, which can feel uncomfortable. It’s easier to follow what’s already been done, say what’s already been said, or take the well-trodden route, but that’s not where growth happens.
Playing it safe might keep things steady, but it rarely leads to standout success. As Alex and Eshita’s careers demonstrate, creativity means risk, but it’s also where the most exciting rewards live.
You don’t have to go it alone
Investing in creativity doesn’t have to mean growing a huge in-house team. In fact, bringing in freelance experts is one of the most flexible, low-risk ways to unlock creative thinking in your business, especially for founders. As Eshita puts it, “fill the gaps in your team by building your creative bench.” Whether it’s a brand refresh, campaign idea, or solving a new challenge, freelancers can bring specialist skills and fresh perspectives exactly when you need them. Alex Dauley agrees and shared that “using freelancers has been a gift. It lets you pivot, stay lean, and only take on the projects that truly excite you.”
If you want some help injecting human creativity into your business, find out more about Fiverr’s freelance pool of top talent.