Organizations claim they want innovation, yet most have built hiring and talent systems that reward sameness. By prioritizing credentials, industry pedigree, and “culture fit,” they filter out the very people who challenge assumptions and see what others miss. The result is predictable thinking, incremental improvement, and frustration over why breakthrough ideas never materialize.

Real transformation requires welcoming “Connectors” — thinkers who merge disciplines, enablers who mobilize people, and builders who turn bold ideas into action. When companies shift from credentials to capabilities and from culture fit to culture add, they unlock diverse perspectives, faster adaptation, and meaningful innovation. The future belongs to organizations courageous enough to break their own boxes.

BREAKING THE BOXES: How Connector Talent Will Transform Your Organization challenges the traditional way we define and develop talent, arguing that the greatest competitive advantage lies in the people who bridge silos, connect ideas, and align teams across boundaries.

In this book, author Daniel Messina, reveals how “connector talent” drives innovation, accelerates change, and unlocks hidden value inside complex organizations. Through practical insight and bold perspective, it offers leaders a new blueprint for building agile, high-performing cultures in a rapidly changing world.