From Opera to OKR: How Storytelling Builds Better Strategy with Mat Lawrence

Episode notes

What do scenic design, customer experience and OKRs have in common? According to Mat Lawrence, everything . In this episode, Tim sits down with Mat—COO at Shippit and former head of props at Opera Australia—to talk about how storytelling transforms leadership, decision-making and alignment inside fast-growing teams. Mat shares how he went from building physical props for live shows to building teams at Atlassian and now Shippit, and how the same creative problem-solving applies across every space. You’ll hear how Shippit navigated the chaos of early lockdowns, why most goal-setting feels uninspired, and how rewriting OKRs as short stories changed how teams connected to their work. This one’s for anyone who wants to lead with clarity, purpose and a little creativity.