2 JUL 2024 · When it comes to navigating turbulence and developing strategy in the face of challenges, few industries are more weathered than education. With how quickly education standards and practices are evolving—and how many stakeholders are involved—it’s hard to think of many areas that have more lessons to offer to all manner of strategists. This week, https://www.linkedin.com/in/larkinbriley/, Assistant Vice President of Strategy and Transformation at https://www.belmont.edu/, speaks with Joe and Jonathan about how higher education is navigating turbulent times, including the looming "enrollment cliff" and the decreasing perceived value of degrees. Larkin shares his insights on strategic planning and adaptation, highlighting the use of the OKR framework to align goals and emphasize impactful outcomes. Join us as we discuss: - Effective methodologies for setting priorities and measurable outcomes - Balancing qualitative and quantitative measurements in strategic planning - The importance of embracing fast iteration and learning from failure

18 JUN 2024 · For humans, the fear of change is so real and pervasive that there’s a word for it: metathesiophobia. Even if you didn’t know about this clinical term until now, you’re probably aware that organizations and teams of all types suffer from a fear of change—especially because there’s no shortage of examples of change being implemented ineffectively due to poor strategy or leadership. In today’s episode, Joe and Jonathan are joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-joerger-8b65884a/, Senior Director of Strategy Implementation at https://www.usp.org/, who shares her insights on leading without authority and driving effective change management in the realm of strategy.  Join us as we discuss: - How to manage change while preserving core organizational values and practices - The stages of change implementation: storming, forming, and norming - Crucial elements for building trust within an organization to effectively implement change  - The need to crystallize a shared vision and goal among team members

5 JUN 2024 · This week, hosts https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-w-krause/ (SVP of Strategy Consulting at AchieveIt) and https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-d-morgan/ (VP of Revenue Operations and Head of Marketing at AchieveIt) have a wide-ranging conversation on how to integrate brainstorming into the strategy process. From dos and don’ts to challenges and benefits, Joe and Jonathan cover how all manner of organizations—especially those looking to pivot or shake things up at the year’s halfway mark—can not only generate great ideas and solicit vital contributions from their entire team, but proceed to put those ideas into game-changing action. Join as we discuss: - How diverse perspectives enhance the brainstorming and decision-making processes within organizations - The role of incentives in aligning strategic plans - Fostering a more open and effective idea-sharing culture through pre-work and individual brainstorming - The importance of stress testing when developing and executing strategies

15 MAY 2024 · If you want outside-the-box thinking, it pays to spend some time living outside the box that is conventional strategy and corporate structure. This week’s guest, Daniel Keene, Director of Strategy & Operations, has taken an unconventional route to his current role in healthcare overseeing the operations and strategy of large patient support systems—with stops along the way in aerospace engineering, CPG sales management, and general aviation. Daniel has leveraged these experiences to transform fragmented strategy and operation models into unified and efficiently executed visions. Throughout our conversation, Daniel shares his insights on some of the easily-forgotten project management fundamentals and core strategy principles, along with some high-level learnings he’s discovered during his time in healthcare. Join us as we discuss: - Focusing on a select few critical goals rather than spreading resources too thinly across numerous objectives - The attributes of effective project management offices (PMOs) - How to enhance project tracking through integrating qualitative and quantitative data for comprehensive progress insight - The importance of allocating time during meetings to discuss next steps

1 MAY 2024 · When we think about strategy, we usually picture two groups: those who come up with high-level vision, and those who execute that vision through a strategy. But how do we actually get from ideation to execution? And who’s responsible for seeing that through? Shobhna Upadhyaya, BizOps & Strategy Leader, joins the podcast to talk about business operations (aka BizOps), which she explains as the team responsible for that important middle phase between strategy development and implementation. In demystifying BizOps, strategy leaders across industries can find themselves better equipped to cultivate cross-functional collaboration and overcome challenges within corporate structures and strategy. Join us as we discuss: - How to maintain objectivity while being embedded in a specific line of business or functional area - Strategies for building trust and influence without authority - Balancing one-on-one conversations and group discussions to foster cooperation and resolve conflicts - The value of clear ownership and definition of roles in the strategy development process

17 APR 2024 · Given how dynamic and complex our world is, there’s no place for rigid and siloed approaches to strategy. This week, Michael Olaye, SVP and Managing Director of Strategy and Innovation at R/GA, shares his thoughts on developing strategy from a starting-point of flexibility and collaboration. While internal processes and expertise play a vital role in achieving an organization’s goals, too often teams miss out on game-changing solutions and methodologies by refusing to collaborate with outside agencies and industries that provide invaluable perspectives and insights. Michael, Joe, and Jonathan share personal experiences and dissect some useful case studies that illustrate why partnership and agility should be at the core of strategy development. Join us as we discuss: - The evolution of strategy over the years - When it's more advantageous to pursue an internal development versus an external partnership - Bringing users into the product and strategy development process - How small companies can have massive impacts on much larger organizations Notes: Link to Ted Talk discussed during the episode --> https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ted.com/talks/knut_haanaes_two_reasons_companies_fail_and_how_to_avoid_them/transcript&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1713317489386594&usg=AOvVaw0UT7GCr9O3cYK7Xu5kYCR_

3 APR 2024 · Sometimes a strategy fails because it’s a poor strategy. But sometimes it fails because it’s not really a strategy at all. So what are the attributes of a strategy—and how does it differ from other measures implemented to help an organization achieve its goals? Joining us to answer this question (and many others) is Dr. Alok Tewari, Vice President of Operations Strategy and Execution. Alok has leveraged over 20 years of experience in strategy and global business transformations to cultivate an understanding of organizational goals and the multilayered approach to developing strategy within a variety of industries. Join us as we discuss: - Separating an organization’s operational aspects from its strategic actions - Implementing technology for strategic ends—even in legacy industries - How (and when) to recognize and admit when a strategy needs to be abandoned  - Communication and alignment across departments to effectively implement strategy

20 MAR 2024 · When it comes to generative AI, most people are asking the wrong question: Is it good or bad? But the better way to approach this omnipresent topic is by figuring out the RIGHT way to implement the tech into your strategy and processes. To talk about this, we’re joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaesch/, Senior Vice President and Chief of Strategy, Innovation, and Industry Solutions at https://us.nttdata.com/en/. Lisa provides a crash course on all things generative AI, LLMs, and the risks and calculations any type of organization should be factoring into their decision-making surrounding AI. Lisa’s experiences in healthcare tech—and the lessons she’s learned from witnessing how AI has shifted the industry’s landscape—provide an excellent case study for anyone asking how this game-changing can fit into their operations. Join us as we discuss: - The vital role of governance in AI adoption and implementation - How to think beyond point solutions - The “build vs. buy” question - Why leaders need to strive for alignment and prioritization

6 MAR 2024 · Negotiations don’t have to lead to one-sided solutions or unfavorable compromises. In fact, when it comes to effective strategy execution and revenue operations, they shouldn’t! This week, we’re joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-devardo-mba-80449424/, VP of Revenue Operations and Strategy at https://www.enthusiastgaming.com/, who shares his belief in the value of trust and understanding when working toward solutions between decision-makers and team members—whether you’re working within an organization or assisting as a third-party. We also explore how third parties can provide valuable perspectives to help a team arrive at a workable and timely solution, rather than making decisions for them as a subject matter expert. Join us as we discuss: - The concept of the best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) - Why it’s important to be able to say “No” when developing strategy - Clarity and prioritization in the planning process - The difference between internal and external negotiations

21 FEB 2024 · Today’s episode features an in-person one-on-one conversation between Joe and Jonathan as they trade thoughts on common mistakes that leaders make in strategy execution, as well as the consequences of those mistakes. Using the news of some costly missteps (and even more costly blame-shifting) from entertainment executives as a jumping-off point, the co-hosts cover everything from effective communication to smart prioritization. Join Jonathan and Joe as they discuss: - Closing the feedback loop, even if you’re not using the feedback - Leaders being fully present and participatory whenever possible - Considering the perspectives of team members at every level of the organization