The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

Marcy Syms, former CEO of Syms Corporation and president of the Sy Syms Foundation, reflects on leadership, governance, and the responsibilities of stewarding a family-founded, publicly traded business. Her perspective blends the operational discipline of retail with long-term thinking shaped by philanthropy and board service. Syms underscores that organizational resilience rests on clear governance, candid communication, and leaders willing to face hard choices directly. As she puts it, "Leaders are not tested when things are going well—they're tested when the pressure is on and they have to make tough decisions." Key insights from the discussion include: Governance as Stewardship Boards must challenge assumptions and safeguard alignment between values, accountability, and performance. "The role of an independent director is not to be a cheerleader, it's to really be a steward." Succession in Family Enterprises Generational expectations can create friction with shareholder responsibilities. Codifying roles, rules of engagement, and equity structures helps prevent conflict. "If you don't write it down, you're going to end up with misunderstandings." Retail as a Proving Ground Syms draws lessons from decades in a competitive industry, highlighting the need to balance cost discipline with customer orientation and agility in adapting to change. Philanthropy with Rigor Through the Sy Syms Foundation, she illustrates how philanthropy can extend corporate values into society when managed with the same discipline as business strategy. "Philanthropy isn't just giving money away, it's about investing in ideas and people with the same rigor you bring to business." Authenticity in Leadership For Syms, credibility is earned through constancy: "People watch what you do over time. If you stay true to your principles, that's how you build trust." This conversation provides senior executives and board members with a grounded perspective on balancing family legacy, fiduciary responsibility, and societal contribution. It offers practical lessons in governance discipline, leadership maturity, and aligning enterprise with enduring values. 📚 Get Marcy's book, Leading with Respect, here: https://shorturl.at/V0zJ3 Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Why do even the most successful executives and management consultants secretly struggle with the belief that they're not good enough? In this conversation with Josh Davis, PhD (psychology & neuroscience, Columbia University, NLP trainer) and Greg Prosmushkin (trial lawyer turned entrepreneur), we unpack: Why top leaders and consultants battle with imposter syndrome How invisible mental models shape every decision and client interaction Why strategy, frameworks, and technical skill aren't enough if this belief goes unchallenged Practical NLP tools to shift your mindset, reframe limitations, and lead with confidence How to communicate with influence by understanding someone else's mental model Whether you're leading a strategy engagement, preparing for a board presentation, or positioning yourself for partnership, this discussion reveals how to break through limiting beliefs and unlock executive presence. Key Takeaways for Executives & Consultants The real cost of "I'm not good enough" in leadership roles Why curiosity and modeling are underused tools in consulting How small language shifts transform client influence and team leadership A proven process for reprogramming your internal dialogue Get Josh Davis & Greg Prosmushkin's book: https://shorturl.at/ixLfi The Difference That Makes the Difference: NLP and the Science of Positive Change For advanced strategy, leadership, and executive presence training, visit: https://www.strategytraining.com Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Brad Englert, former Accenture partner, IT strategist, CIO, and author, shares how building genuine relationships has been the cornerstone of his career success. From his early days in technology consulting to leading large-scale initiatives, Brad reveals the mindset and habits that helped him grow, earn trust, and thrive in a competitive corporate environment. In this episode, we discuss why relationships are the ultimate career multiplier, opening doors to opportunities, mentorships, and partnerships that skill alone can't guarantee. Brad's story offers actionable insights for professionals who want to grow their influence, navigate organizational politics, and create long-term career success. What you'll learn in this episode: How Brad's career path took him from hands-on technology work to Accenture partner The role relationships play in promotions, opportunities, and leadership roles Practical strategies for building trust across teams and organizations Lessons learned from consulting at the highest level How to create a career that's resilient to change About Brad Englert: Brad Englert is a former partner at Accenture, where he spent decades advising clients on technology and strategy. He is the author of Spheres of Influence. 📚 Get Brad's book, Spheres of Influence, here: https://shorturl.at/GWYuE 🎧 Visit Brad's podcast here: https://bradenglert.com/podcast Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Robert E. Siegel, Stanford Graduate School of Business professor, venture capitalist, and former executive, shares the leadership lessons he learned working with Intel's legendary CEO, Andy Grove, and other amazing leaders, and how to thrive in today's era of conflicting pressures. In this in-depth conversation, we explore the concept of the systems leader, someone who can innovate while delivering results, balance global and local priorities, and combine decisiveness with humility. Drawing from his work with leading CEOs, his investing career, and his experiences in fast-moving industries, Robert explains how leaders can adapt and stay relevant, even as AI, economic shifts, and political uncertainty reshape the business world. What you'll learn in this episode: How Andy Grove influenced Robert's approach to leadership and decision-making Why the most effective leaders thrive in environments of "cross-pressures" Practical steps for staying relevant as technology and AI transform industries The importance of balancing execution with long-term vision Stories from Robert's career as an operator, investor, and Stanford professor About Robert Siegel: Robert is a Lecturer in Management at Stanford GSB, a venture capitalist, and a board member for multiple technology companies. His work blends academic research with real-world experience, guiding executives at the highest level. Get Robert's new book here: https://shorturl.at/Zhv9N The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross-Pressures That Make or Break Today's Companies Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

L. David Marquet, former nuclear submarine commander and author of Leadership Is Language, shares a precise, operational approach to leadership, one that replaces command-and-control with a language designed for clarity, ownership, and adaptability. Drawing on his experience turning the USS Santa Fe from one of the worst-performing submarines in the fleet to one of the best, David shows how seemingly small shifts in language can radically improve decision-making, learning speed, and execution. David rejects the traditional leader–follower model in favor of a leader–leader framework, where decision rights are pushed "to the people closest to the information." He explains how questions, statements, and the timing of communication directly shape whether teams think critically or default to compliance. "What we say and when we say it changes what people do. Language is a leadership technology." Key Takeaways: Replace Permission with Intent Moving from "Can I…?" to "I intend to…" changes accountability and ownership: "When people tell me what they intend to do, they're already owning the decision." Protect Redwork and Bluework David distinguishes between redwork (doing) and bluework (thinking/planning) and stresses keeping them separate: "Mixing them degrades both. You want focused doing and focused thinking." Sequence for Thinking, Not Speed Meetings often reward quick answers over thoughtful ones. Asking the most junior person to speak first helps reduce conformity bias. Use Language to Invite Dissent Adding uncertainty—"I'm not sure, but…"—creates psychological safety and surfaces crucial information that might otherwise stay hidden. Leaders Design Systems, Not Just Give Answers The leader's job is to build communication structures that distribute thinking and enable faster adaptation in changing conditions. This episode is a practical blueprint for leaders who want to operationalize empowerment without losing control. By deliberately changing how they speak and listen, executives can create teams that are more resilient, accountable, and high-performing. Get David's new book here: https://shorturl.at/sv6QO Distancing: How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Sarah Elk, Senior Partner at Bain & Company and global leader of its operating model work, brings a clear, pragmatic lens to why so many large-scale change efforts fail to stick. Drawing on decades of advising multinational organizations, she diagnoses the structural and behavioral traps that cause transformations to stall, and shares the disciplines that make change durable. Elk emphasizes that transformation is not a one-off program but an enduring capability that must be "led from the top and embedded in the culture." She cautions against outsourcing responsibility to a program office: "If the CEO is not leading it and the leadership team isn't engaged in the change, you might get something done, but it will erode quickly." Key Insights from the Conversation: Clarity on Non-Negotiables Many failed transformations lack a shared definition of the "non-negotiables" in the new operating model. Without them, execution becomes fragmented. "You have to be crystal clear on what's standard and what's flexible." Outcomes Over Activity Successful change efforts anchor to measurable business results, not just activity metrics or generic benchmarks. "It's not about hitting 80 percent of a checklist. It's about whether you've moved the needle on the outcomes you care about." Leadership Alignment Is a Continuous Process Alignment isn't built in a single offsite; it requires ongoing dialogue, joint problem-solving, and confronting decisions that challenge entrenched interests. "You need the leadership team acting as one—every week, every month—not just at the kickoff." Manage Change Fatigue Overloading the organization erodes momentum. Sequencing initiatives and celebrating visible early wins tied to strategy helps sustain energy. "People get tired. You have to show progress and give them space to breathe." Governance, Incentives, and Talent Must Evolve Together Elk warns that without parallel changes to systems and structures, "behavior will revert to what it was before." The discussion reframes transformation from a high-profile event into a muscle organizations must build and maintain. For executives seeking change that endures beyond the initial push, Elk offers a blueprint grounded in operational rigor, leadership accountability, and cultural realism. Get Sarah's book here: https://shorturl.at/Tyotz Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

John Horn, professor of economics at Washington University's Olin Business School and former McKinsey strategist, shares a disciplined framework for understanding competitive behavior by applying game theory and structured simulations. In this episode, he explains how companies can elevate competitor analysis from basic intelligence gathering to actionable strategic insight. Horn begins by debunking the common misconception that many competitors behave irrationally. As he puts it: "Every single time a client said the competitor is irrational, I could ask them... two, three questions which would explain... why the company was being rational in what they were doing." He outlines a four-step framework leaders can use to model likely competitive behavior: Observe what competitors say and do, including press releases, earnings calls, and other public data. Assess their assets, resources, and capabilities, and imagine what you'd do in their position. Identify the decision-maker and their background to infer how they think: "If you grew up as a marketer and you became a CEO, you're going to look at the world from a marketing perspective." Make a short-term prediction, write it down, and revisit it: "It becomes a virtuous cycle of getting a better insight into how that competitor thinks." Horn emphasizes that many firms fall short because they stop at step one or lack mechanisms to feed deeper insights into decision-making. He also stresses the role of empathy—not sympathy—in strategy: "I do have to empathize, understand why they're making the choices they make." War gaming, in Horn's view, is a powerful simulation tool, not theater. "It's a chance to practice business choices in a risk-free way... and just a much more realistic discussion." For entrepreneurs or under-resourced teams, Horn offers a lighter-weight version called "War Gaming Lite," which enables rapid, structured thinking about competitive responses using only internal knowledge and role-playing. He also discusses how human biases, short-term incentives, and lack of time make both your firm and your rivals more predictable than you might think: "People really are predictable... It's not rocket science—it's about being disciplined." Whether you're a startup founder or a Fortune 500 executive, this episode offers practical steps to improve your strategic foresight and competitive positioning, grounded in empathy, behavioral realism, and iterative prediction. Get John's book here: https://shorturl.at/6DOyh Inside the Competitor's Mindset: How to Predict Their Next Move and Position Yourself for Success. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

For this episode, let's revisit one of Strategy Skills classics, where we interviewed Kate Smaje, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and Global Leader of McKinsey Digital. In this episode, Kate offers a clear-eyed and disciplined perspective on what it takes for organizations to succeed in digital transformation. Drawing from deep client work across industries, she outlines a practical, results-focused view of how digital can be embedded into the operating core, not treated as a parallel initiative or buzzword. Kate Smaje challenges conventional narratives around innovation, urging leaders to look beyond technology adoption and focus instead on talent systems, cultural alignment, and strategic clarity. "We often start with a conversation about tech, but the value comes from the way you bring it all together," she says. "If you think digital is the job of the digital team, you've missed the point. It's about how the whole organization behaves." Key Takeaways: Digital Transformation Must Be CEO-Led and Enterprise-Wide Smaje emphasizes that meaningful transformation requires the involvement of the full organization, not just IT or digital teams. "Digital is everyone's job. The companies who really succeed have a CEO and leadership team who are actively engaged." Shift Metrics from Volume to Value She critiques outdated performance metrics: "If you're just measuring lines of code or hours worked or features shipped, you're not measuring outcomes." Technology Without Architecture Is Just Chaos Many companies overemphasize agile practices but underinvest in foundational tech and data coherence. "You can't run 300 agile teams and not have an architecture that supports it. It's like having everyone run at speed but in different directions." Product Ownership and Cross-Functional Clarity Are Essential Successful organizations empower teams with clear product mandates while maintaining enterprise-wide alignment. "The product owner model is about creating real accountability, with multidisciplinary teams who have the context to make decisions." Leadership Behavior Drives Cultural Change Where leaders focus their time is a key signal: "One of the biggest indicators of success is how leadership spends its calendar." This conversation is essential listening for senior executives who want to move beyond surface-level digital initiatives and embed durable capabilities that support both innovation and performance. Smaje leaves no doubt: digital excellence is not a side project—it's a leadership discipline. Get Kate's book here: https://shorturl.at/hxqk6 REWIRED: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI. Eric Lamarre, Kate Smaje, Rodney Zemmel. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

For this episode, let's revisit one of Strategy Skills classics, where we discuss when a consultant must dissent and how it should be done. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Rachelle Robinett, founder of Pharmakon Supernatural and educator in holistic health, offers a clear, science-aware framework for supporting energy, focus, and stress regulation, without defaulting to pharmaceuticals or overstimulation. In this episode, she explores how plant-based medicine, nutrition, and daily practices can be woven into practical, long-term routines that support resilience and cognitive clarity. Robinett challenges the assumption that performance must rely on synthetic energy or end in burnout. Drawing from her work at the intersection of herbalism and evidence-based wellness, she shares actionable strategies for optimizing physiological readiness through balance, not intensity. "I'm really interested in how we can live well without needing to biohack or rely on pharmaceuticals or stimulants or even supplementation all the time." Key insights from the conversation include: Stimulants Borrow, Not Create Energy Robinett explains that caffeine and similar compounds don't give us energy; they "just turn off the signals of fatigue." Instead, she emphasizes rhythm management, aligning with circadian patterns and energy cycles: "You don't have to be on all the time. And if we try to be, the crash will always come." Herbs Should Be Matched to Mechanism, Not Trend She encourages listeners to move beyond marketing labels like "adaptogen," noting that compounds like rhodiola (stimulating) and reishi (sedating) serve very different roles. "Match your plants to your goals... It's kind of like caffeine; if you don't need it, don't take it." Sugar Is Energizing, But Often Disruptive Robinett discusses how sugar can be paired with fiber, fat, or protein to reduce its volatility: "Sugar is biologically energizing… but we tend to use it in ways that give us a spike and then a crash." Daily Practices Outperform Sporadic Interventions Light exposure, meal timing, and breathwork help regulate the autonomic nervous system more effectively than isolated hacks: "What we do daily matters more than what we do occasionally… so many people don't understand how profoundly their breathing patterns are affecting their state." Recovery Is an Active Recalibration Robinett distinguishes between activities that feel restful and those that actually reset the stress response system: "Sometimes the things we think are relaxing are not—Netflix, alcohol, even yoga. True recovery is shifting the nervous system." This conversation reframes wellness not as indulgence or optimization, but as physiological literacy—a disciplined, systems-level approach to mental clarity and endurance. For professionals seeking alternatives to overstimulation, Robinett offers a sustainable path toward long-term resilience and regulated energy. Get Rachelle's book here: https://shorturl.at/q7TDb Naturally: The Herbalist's Guide to Health and Transformation Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Vanessa Druskat, organizational psychologist and professor at the University of New Hampshire, discusses team emotional intelligence (EI) as a predictor of sustained performance. Building on her foundational work with Daniel Goleman, Druskat focuses not on individual EQ, but on the group-level norms and practices that distinguish effective teams, particularly in complex, high-stakes environments. Druskat identifies three core team norms essential to cultivating group EI: mutual trust, constructive expression of emotions, and norms that support individual and group self-awareness. These are not "soft" ideals; they function as operational levers for managing conflict, decision-making quality, and adaptability. Key takeaways include: High-performing teams are not those without conflict, but those with processes for metabolizing conflict. Druskat emphasizes the role of emotional expression norms in allowing task-related disagreement while mitigating interpersonal friction. Leaders significantly influence team EI by modeling openness and emotional competence, but sustained performance requires that these behaviors be embedded in team norms, not reliant on individual charisma or authority. Team emotional intelligence predicts effectiveness beyond technical competence, especially when teams must adapt to ambiguity, pressure, or interdependence. Druskat cites multiple studies where team EI predicted performance outcomes more reliably than IQ or experience. Psychological safety is necessary but not sufficient. Teams with high EI create an environment where members not only feel safe but are also expected to monitor and manage the group's emotional climate. Organizations often undermine team EI unintentionally, through forced competition, misaligned incentives, or ignoring the emotional fallout of change. Druskat suggests that senior leaders regularly audit not just team outcomes, but the emotional processes behind them. This episode reframes emotional intelligence not as a personal trait but as an institutional capability with measurable consequences for execution, resilience, and organizational learning. The discussion is particularly relevant for senior professionals seeking to institutionalize performance through culture rather than control. Get Vanessa's book here: https://shorturl.at/u5KOs The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Margaret Moore, faculty member at Harvard Medical School and former biotech CEO, brings decades of experience at the intersection of science, strategy, and human development to this conversation. In this episode, she unpacks The Science of Leadership, the forthcoming book she co-authored after reviewing hundreds of meta-analyses and large-scale studies, ultimately synthesizing leadership science into a framework of nine essential capacities. Moore emphasizes the role of conscious leadership, defined as the ability to "see things clearly" by quieting internal "ego noise", the arousal, impatience, and worry that cloud judgment. She highlights the emerging concept of the quiet ego, noting that "you're still impactful... but with a way of being quiet about it that people can absorb more easily." Challenging conventional strength-based approaches, Moore advocates for psychological wholeness, encouraging leaders to access underused capacities—such as empathy, creativity, and intuition—to become more balanced and mature decision-makers: "You'll be surprised that you have it there… You actually, if you pause, can access [it], like playing or being an orchestra conductor." She also discusses how intuition, often misunderstood as abstract, is a skill that can be developed through stillness, reflection, and experience: "Creativity is flow, and flow is when you let go of control… It's the opposite of our main mode." The conversation underscores the importance of strategic adaptability. Drawing on research, Moore shares that while humility doesn't improve a leader's own performance, "other people's performance is improved if you're humble. So you don't do it for yourself, you do it for them." But she also cautions: in crises, "humility is not what people want. They want strong leaders out in front, in charge." Finally, Moore distinguishes between empathy and compassionate leadership, where compassion is "respect and understanding… with action," and can be both more sustainable and effective in driving accountability. For leaders ready to evolve beyond performance and toward genuine transformation, this conversation offers a research-grounded framework and an invitation to reflect: "In the moment, there's always the potential. If you're just awake, you will feel it. And you can act on it." Get Margaret's book here: https://shorturl.at/tuRKR The Science of Leadership: Nine Ways to Expand Your Impact Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this conversation with Bree Groff, author of "Today Was Fun" and who has advised executives at Microsoft, Google, Target, and Hilton through periods of organizational change, shares specific observations about leadership blind spots in large corporations and offers practical frameworks for creating workplace cultures that drive both performance and employee satisfaction. Key Insights: The Professional Conformity Trap: Large organizations often mistake formality for competence, creating environments where rigid presentation styles and corporate jargon become proxies for professionalism. This stifles the creativity and authenticity that both employees and customers actually seek. Organizations that are "unapologetically themselves" create magnetic appeal, as demonstrated by early Google's distinctive culture. The Psychological Safety Framework: Effective leaders implement simple tools to humanize workplace interactions. The "check-in" method—where meeting participants rate their current state on a scale of one to five and briefly explain why—transforms team dynamics by creating context for behavior and establishing emotional safety that enables better performance. The Micro-Change Strategy: Rather than pursuing wholesale transformation, leaders create meaningful cultural shifts through "micro acts of mischief" and connection. These range from rearranging office furniture to facilitate collaboration, to sending brief acknowledgment messages to colleagues. Such small actions compound to create environments where creativity and engagement flourish. The Joy-Performance Connection: Organizations that measure employee satisfaction with the same rigor they apply to productivity metrics discover that optimizing for workplace enjoyment simultaneously addresses communication gaps, decision-making delays, and other operational inefficiencies. As Groff explains, "to optimize for joy and fun means you're automatically optimizing for all of the other things that make a business successful." Leadership Characteristics That Drive Culture Change: The most effective leaders demonstrate two key traits: they avoid taking themselves too seriously while thinking expansively about possibilities. Groff cites Melissa Goldie, former Chief Marketing Officer of Calvin Klein, who maintained perspective with phrases like "there's no such thing as a fashion emergency" while pursuing ambitious creative projects. This discussion provides concrete tools for leaders seeking to create environments where high performance and genuine workplace satisfaction reinforce each other, drawn from real-world applications across major corporate environments. Get Bree's book here: https://shorturl.at/NMyys Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss one important thing every consulting case study must produce. Subscribe to FIRMSconsulting's YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/Firmsconsultingsubscribe Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Quang Pham went from being a 10-year-old refugee airlifted out of Vietnam to becoming a Marine pilot, and the CEO of a NASDAQ-listed biotech company. In this conversation, he shares the exact lessons that guided each transition. Key insight: On decision-making: "As a young officer, we were taught to make decisions… there's not enough time to consult with everybody. You gotta make a decision to keep moving and then adjust along the way." This became his foundational leadership principle across sectors. On capital discipline: "In the private sector and entrepreneurial world, resources are scarce… you have to treat it with the utmost respect and spend it wisely." Military spending habits do not translate to startups. On performance and promotion: "You work hard, but you have to produce results." Early in his corporate career, he assumed promotions would come automatically. They did not. On defining success: "You have to follow and pursue what makes you happy. Not what your family or your culture or society wants." As a Vietnamese refugee, choosing the military was going against all cultural expectations. On raising capital without pedigree: "I lacked the skills to present to venture capitalists… so I spent a lot of time at Toastmasters picking up new speaking skills." Within 90 days of leaving his corporate job, he secured venture funding as a first-time CEO. On pitch strategy: "You have to get to the key points… in the first seven or ten minutes, if not sooner." Investors have limited attention. He focused his pitch on buyer, payment frequency, and execution, not theoretical market size. On cold outreach: "It was just three sentences. Who I was, what my company did, something about our common [background]." This approach led to two successful VC rounds. On leadership transitions: "I knew that I had the skills and the backing and that the baton had to be passed… the company flourished and I was then just a shareholder." Founders must be willing to step aside to scale. On AI and decision-making: "There is somebody making decisions for AI, the decision to use AI, the decision to pay for AI… at the end of the day, we still need entrepreneurs and leaders." This episode offers practical reflections for those navigating leadership transitions, capital formation, and decision-making in complex, resource-constrained settings. Get Quang's new book here: https://quangxpham.com/ Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Rich Hagberg, often referred to as "Silicon Valley's CEO Whisperer, psychologist and co-author of Founders Keepers, has advised over 1,000 executives and founders. In this conversation, he outlines why most startup leaders fail, and what the data reveals about those who succeed. Some key insights include: "Founders, overwhelmingly, are visionary evangelists… but they're not particularly good at execution." Hagberg's research shows that unsuccessful founders often score low on execution and relationship-building. They resist structure, delay key hires, and react impulsively under stress. "You can change your behavior to some degree, but it's very hard to change your fundamental personality." Hagberg encourages founders to identify three to four behaviors they can realistically improve, such as delegation, feedback seeking, and stress management. "You need to go from being a doer to a facilitator of doing." Scalable leadership requires building teams that complement the founder's own gaps and letting go of tasks that dilute impact. "Startups are almost a Darwinian survival of the fittest… the unsuccessful ones are more impulsive and reactive." Stress and poor self-regulation directly impact team trust and decision quality. Founders who succeed tend to manage energy deliberately and maintain self-awareness. "If we had to zero in on one thing that is the biggest differentiator, it's adaptability. You never have permanent product-market fit." Hagberg shares why openness to feedback and reflection is often more predictive of long-term success than IQ or charisma. "I realized I was creating a culture that reflected my strengths and weaknesses. If I was going to make the company better, I had to grow as a leader." This conversation is for founders, investors, and operators who want to understand the behavioral patterns that quietly shape success or failure in startups. It delivers clear, evidence-based insights into what it takes to lead effectively as complexity scales. Get Rich's new book here: https://shorturl.at/YsQcl Founders, Keepers: Why Founders Are Built to Fail, and What it Takes to Succeed Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Michael Chad Hoeppner, CEO of GK Training and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, brings a deeply practical lens to one of the most undervalued professional skills: spoken communication. With roots in professional acting and over two decades coaching executives, Hoeppner challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that most communication advice is either vague ("slow down") or abstract ("just be confident"), and fails to address the real issue: communication is physical. In this episode, he shares specific, kinesthetic methods that help clients speak more clearly under pressure. From using Lego blocks to build well-structured thoughts, to timing answers with a wiffle ball in political debate prep, Hoeppner demonstrates that improving communication is not about talent, it's about training behavior. "Speaking is movement. We put air into action—that's what talking is. And you can learn to do it a lot, lot better." Key Insights: Delivery is Undervalued, but Often Drives Perception "Most coaching hyper-focuses on content and completely neglects delivery," Hoeppner explains. Yet "delivery really, really determines much of the impression your audience makes about you." Rambling, Fillers, and Anxiety Are Physical, Not Mental, Problems He critiques typical advice like "don't say um" as "thought suppression" and instead teaches clients to physically anchor themselves. One client stopped chronic blushing mid-session by simply learning to ground her feet. Tools Like Lego Blocks Make Structure Tangible "Pick up a Lego block, say your first idea, and put it down in silence. That pause gives your brain time to think," Hoeppner shares. These physical anchors help clients avoid word salad and clarify complex thinking. Founders with Growth Mindsets Improve Fast "They're not held back by ego. They care deeply, they want to improve now, and that means they practice," he says. In contrast, those with fixed mindsets ("I'm just a bad speaker") often plateau. AI Will Make Delivery the Strategic Differentiator As language models democratize content, he argues, "delivery, how you say it, will matter more than ever." The episode closes with a powerful call to reframe communication not as a soft skill, but a trainable, high-leverage behavior, one that can transform not just boardrooms and keynotes, but daily leadership and presence. Get Michael's new book here: https://dontsayum.com/ Learn more about Michael here: https://gktraining.com/michael-chad-hoeppner/ Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

James Kimmel, Jr., lawyer, Yale psychiatry lecturer, and author of The Science of Revenge, joins us in the Strategy Skills podcast to explore the neuroscience and behavioral dynamics of revenge. Drawing on law, psychiatry, and over two decades of research, Kimmel offers a sobering view: revenge is not a form of justice, it's a "pleasure-seeking behavior" that operates like an addiction, fueled by unresolved pain. He opens the conversation with a deeply personal story: as a teenager, after years of bullying, he chased down his aggressors with a loaded revolver. In a pivotal moment, he recalls, "The cost of getting the revenge I wanted was far more than I was willing to pay." That flash of insight redirected his life and seeded a lifelong investigation into how grievance, retribution, and healing operate in the human mind. Key insights from the discussion include: Revenge Mimics Addiction in the Brain Kimmel explains that "your brain on revenge looks like your brain on drugs." The cycle begins when a grievance activates the brain's pain network, followed by a surge of dopamine in the reward system. Over time, the craving for retaliation can become compulsive, forming habits akin to substance abuse. Grievance Retention Impairs Judgment Unchecked rumination can degrade executive function. "If that prefrontal cortex does not stop you," Kimmel warns, "and you really crave it… it doesn't matter how many laws there are." This impaired self-control is what allows otherwise rational individuals to commit extreme acts of violence. Social Exclusion Can Be a Form of Revenge "If you're ending a relationship not for present harm, but to punish someone for a past wrong, that's retaliation," he explains. Even subtle acts like ghosting or ostracism can activate the same pain circuitry in the brain as physical harm. Forgiveness Interrupts the Revenge Cycle Neuroscience shows that imagining forgiveness "shuts down the brain's pain network, silences addiction circuits, and reactivates executive control." Kimmel calls forgiveness a "human superpower… It doesn't just cover up the pain like revenge does, it takes the pain away altogether." Revenge Can Be Prevented, Like a Heart Attack Kimmel proposes a new public health framework: treat revenge attacks like cardiac events. "There are warning signs," he says, grievance fixation, revenge fantasies, acquiring weapons, and they demand the same level of emergency attention. Legal Systems Often Deliver Revenge, Not Justice Kimmel reflects on his time as a litigator: "Lawyers get paid to sell revenge under the brand name 'justice.'" He urges professionals to be aware of how sanctioned systems can enable and normalize compulsive retribution. For leaders in high-stakes environments, the message is clear: understanding the mechanics of grievance and retaliation isn't just psychological, it's strategic. Kimmel's work offers actionable frameworks to recognize revenge-seeking before it becomes destructive, and calls for a deeper integration of neuroscience into how we define justice, manage risk, and lead with compassion. Get The Science of Revenge here: https://www.jameskimmeljr.com/ Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this episode, I spoke with two highly respected global brand leaders, Katherine Melchior Ray and Nataly Kelly, whose experience spans executive roles at Nike, Louis Vuitton, HubSpot, Zappi, and more. Our discussion centered on their latest book, Brand Global, Adapt Local, but more broadly, we explored the evolving demands of building and sustaining global brands in a world defined by cultural complexity, rapid technological change, and shifting consumer expectations. A few themes stood out: 1. Consistency is not enough. Nataly Kelly shared: "I used to believe that branding required absolute consistency and very little flexibility. But when I began to work in global marketing, I realized that there is adaptability that's required to really succeed." Successful global brands, in her view, hold tightly to a clear core while flexibly adapting how they show up across markets. 2. Cultural blind spots have real consequences. Katherine Melchior Ray reflected on an early leadership experience at Nike: "The common refrain was, for women's shoes… 'shrink it and pink it.'" She underscored the importance of cultural sensitivity, noting: "Listen with your eyes. Because in many cultures, people communicate with nonverbal forms of communication." 3. Strategy and judgment cannot be delegated to machines. As the use of AI accelerates, Nataly cautioned: "You can't outsource your strategy… Judgment and strategy are the two things that I think humans will start to realize [must stay human]." 4. Trust is built over time, not through messaging alone. Katherine observed: "At the end of the day, a brand is all about a promise. People support brands that they trust." 5. Human connection remains central. As Katherine succinctly put it: "The more we rely on technology, the more we must double down on our humanity." If you're involved in shaping brand strategy, whether globally or locally, this discussion offers valuable perspective. Get Brand Global, Adapt Local here: https://shorturl.at/f4EnF Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Leslie Grandy, a seasoned executive who has led global product teams at Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and T-Mobile, shares a deeply practical perspective on how leaders can activate creativity across functions, not just in design or strategy. Drawing from her early years in the film industry and later executive roles in technology, Grandy explains how she developed three capabilities that proved critical in high-performance product environments: "You've got to grind it out… and you have to have that intrinsic motivation to continue, even when it looks like failure is obvious." "You have to be resilient and flexible… because you have so many people depending on the outcome." "If I haven't seen the problem before, it doesn't seem daunting to me… It seems fun." These capabilities (grit, adaptability, and creative problem solving) formed the foundation of her success in ambiguous, fast-moving, and high-stakes environments. Grandy also speaks directly to what supports and undermines creative velocity inside organizations. She notes that the most adaptive cultures don't reserve creativity for a few select teams: "They expect every role is going to show up with that same creative intention… that the status quo doesn't seep into the lower ranks." But she also warns: "Status quo as a cultural norm is dangerous." "Consensus-driven thinking is equally problematic for creative velocity." Her insights on Steve Jobs provide a rare look inside Apple's leadership culture. When asked about her interview with him, she explains: "Your interview will be five minutes or it'll be 60 minutes. It's up to Steve." "I didn't come in there acting like I was an equal… I just came in there with a confidence that I could answer whatever he asked." When her team added preset engraving suggestions to iPods to help customers complete purchases, Jobs reacted immediately: "He saw it, and within a day, it was pulled down." "He had such a finite view of his brand… there were no blurry edges around the brand." Grandy's new book, Creative Velocity, argues that creativity is not a fixed trait, but a capability that can be developed with intention. She addresses how leaders should approach generative AI, not just as an efficiency tool, but as a creative partner: "What's really transformative… is doing the exact opposite of prompt engineering." "It's not about speed to answer. It's about using that time to evolve a thought into different tributaries of thought." This episode raises a critical question for senior leaders: "Are you designing your organization to perform or to invent?" Get Leslie's book here: https://rb.gy/d5zr69 Creative Velocity: Propelling Breakthrough Ideas in the Age of Generative AI Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this wide-ranging and direct conversation, Bill George, former Medtronic CEO and Harvard Business School professor, offers a disciplined framework for leading in conditions of persistent volatility. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and research, George emphasizes that leadership today is no longer about managing processes, it is about confronting ambiguity, enabling experimentation, and sustaining purpose across shifting conditions. Five themes stand out: Opportunity Must Be Created, Not Awaited. George argues that emerging leaders should not wait for promotions or formal permission. Instead, they should identify unaddressed problems, volunteer to lead, and deliver results without demanding titles. Career growth, he suggests, is a function of action, not seniority. Innovation Begins at the Front Lines. Whether referencing his early decision to cancel a Medtronic pacemaker program that lacked patient benefit, or urging leaders to spend less time in conference rooms and more with customers and staff, George insists that enduring breakthroughs stem from direct observation and empathy, not from internal data analysis alone. Risk Tolerance Determines Strategic Renewal. George contrasts firms that institutionalize risk such as Medtronic's venture incubation model, with those that allow internal resistance to block change. Innovation, he asserts, must be structurally protected from corporate inertia, and leaders should be judged on the courage to champion unpopular ideas that later prove transformative. Culture Must Reward Learning Over Defensiveness. Drawing parallels between U.S., European, and Japanese innovation cultures, George critiques over-regulated, failure-averse systems that suppress experimentation. True progress, he says, requires the willingness to learn through trial, adaptation, and even initial failure. AI Is a Strategic Imperative, Not a Cost Play. Rather than using AI to drive out labor costs, George advocates for using it to rethink business models entirely, supporting frontline autonomy, enabling new services, and unlocking unmet needs. He cautions leaders against adopting a defensive posture and urges them to fund experiments that explore the true potential of the technology. Throughout, George offers a leadership mindset anchored in authenticity, courage, and customer-centric design. His advice is clear: future leaders must raise their hands, operate at the edge, and move fast before the window of relevance closes. Get Bill's book here: https://shorturl.at/3iHRb True North, Emerging Leader Edition: Leading Authentically in Today's Workplace Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Central banks in major economies have repeatedly misread inflation trends by relying on models that omit a fundamental economic lever: the money supply. In this episode, economist Steve Hanke offers a detailed critique of prevailing post-Keynesian frameworks and the policy missteps that have followed. Drawing on historical and current data, Hanke underscores the predictive power of the quantity theory of money, a model largely excluded from central bank thinking, and explains how ignoring this leads to erroneous inflation forecasts and misguided interventions. The discussion outlines how inflation, often attributed to exogenous shocks such as supply chain disruptions or geopolitical events, is more reliably explained by changes in the money supply. Hanke presents evidence that inflation today is the result of decisions made one to two years prior, making it critical to focus on monetary trends rather than short-term data fluctuations. He further contrasts U.S. and Chinese monetary responses, highlighting how both under- and over-corrections in money supply growth have resulted in either recessionary pressures or deflation. Key insights from the episode include: - The quantity theory of money remains one of the most reliable frameworks for anticipating inflation, yet is absent from mainstream economic models used by central banks. - Inflation is always a monetary phenomenon, rising or falling primarily in response to shifts in the money supply, not due to external shocks, which only affect relative prices. - U.S. monetary policy is currently on a path toward recession, not inflation, due to anemic money supply growth since 2022, a trend Hanke predicts will continue unless reversed. - Regime uncertainty, policy volatility that undermines business investment, amplifies economic stagnation. Drawing parallels to the New Deal era, Hanke warns that unclear or shifting fiscal and regulatory rules will delay recovery even further. - Most of the money in circulation is created by commercial banks, not central banks. Post-2008 regulations have constrained these institutions, diminishing their role in supporting economic growth. Taken together, these points call for a recalibration of macroeconomic policy, placing money supply at the center of analysis and re-empowering commercial banks to function as essential components of the financial system. For senior leaders navigating strategic decisions, the episode provides a timely and data-grounded lens on the structural drivers shaping inflation, recession risks, and economic stability. Get Steve's book here: https://shorturl.at/t5uDw Making Money Work: How to Rewrite the Rules of Our Financial System Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this episode, finance professor and author, Alex Edmans, offers a rigorous examination of the narratives surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate strategy. Drawing on his critique of widely cited studies, including those from McKinsey and BlackRock, Edmans illustrates how flawed data interpretations and confirmation bias contribute to the persistence of questionable claims. He warns against relying on correlation-based research that lacks causal rigor, especially when such findings are used to justify high-stakes decisions in boardrooms and policy circles. Edmans identifies three recurring issues in the current DEI discourse: cherry-picked performance metrics that ignore long-term shareholder value; reverse causality, where strong performance leads to more diversity, not the other way around; and omitted variable bias, such as industry effects that confound diversity claims. He also critiques the narrow definition of diversity, which often reduces individuals to surface-level demographic traits while ignoring cognitive and experiential variation that may be more relevant to performance. The conversation extends beyond DEI to explore the structural incentives within academia, consulting, and media that reward oversimplified narratives. Edmans notes that when ideas become dominant, dissenters face not only reputational risk but also institutional hurdles that discourage honest debate. The result is a professional ecosystem in which flawed research is amplified and poorly contextualized advice is recycled across geographies and sectors without regard for applicability. Other key themes include: The difference between demographic and cognitive diversity in strategic decision-making The dangers of universalizing business practices without accounting for local context Why flawed performance metrics (e.g., EBITDA) misrepresent firm success How misaligned incentives distort executive behavior and perpetuate ineffective initiatives The role of institutional culture in suppressing dissent and reinforcing groupthink For senior leaders navigating complex decisions, Edmans' commentary offers a timely reminder: even widely accepted practices warrant scrutiny. In environments where performance is difficult to measure and cause-effect relationships are opaque, intellectual discipline, not ideological alignment, is essential. Learn more about Alex Edmans here: https://alexedmans.com/ Get Alex's book here: May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases—And What We Can Do about It. https://maycontainlies.com/ Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this episode, Tim Koller, co-author of Valuation and a leading authority on corporate finance, offers a substantive examination of capital allocation decisions under real-world constraints. The discussion moves beyond theory to explore how CEOs and CFOs should approach resource deployment in mature, capital-rich companies—where investment opportunities are limited not due to lack of ambition but due to economic reality. Key insights include: - Share Buybacks as Rational Policy: Many firms undertaking significant buybacks—particularly in tech, life sciences, and consumer products—do so because they generate more cash than they can reinvest profitably. Koller argues that, in such cases, returning excess capital to shareholders is not a sign of strategic failure but of disciplined decision-making. - The Fallacy of Diversification Without Advantage: Koller highlights repeated failures by capital-rich companies that expand into unrelated sectors to deploy cash, citing historical missteps in energy, utilities, and industrials. He emphasizes the need to assess whether the firm has a genuine competitive advantage before moving beyond its core business. - Granular Leadership in Resource Allocation: Effective CEOs are directly engaged with capital allocation at the business-unit level. Delegating such decisions without maintaining enterprise-wide oversight often leads to underinvestment in high-return growth areas and misaligned incentives at the divisional level. - The Perils of Uniform Cost-Cutting Mandates: Broad directives to improve margins often result in cuts to product development and customer experience—leading to long-term degradation despite short-term financial gains. Koller stresses the importance of distinguishing between cost efficiencies that enhance value and those that erode it. - Timing and Judgment in Capital Deployment: In cyclical, capital-intensive sectors such as chemicals and energy, building capacity in sync with competitors can destroy value. Koller calls for contrarian timing, grounded in independent analysis, even when boards and markets are predisposed to follow the cycle. Additional themes include the underuse of postmortems in capital projects, the misalignment between project planners and operators, and the distinction between executional and experimental failure. Throughout, Koller reiterates that sound capital allocation depends not only on financial modeling, but also on institutional learning, leadership judgment, and clarity of strategic intent. This conversation offers practical, senior-level guidance for executives, board members, and investors who must navigate capital planning amid structural constraints, investor pressures, and organizational complexity. Get Tim's book here: https://shorturl.at/nk7Z9 Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In a world that often rewards taking, James Turk believes the most powerful leaders are the ones who give clarity, opportunity, second chances, and their full attention. In this episode, I speak with James Turk, who is an executive coach, CEO of The Turk Group, and author of The Giving Game, about what it truly means to become the kind of leader others want to follow. We explore: Why most new leaders struggle and how to set them up for success from day one The difference between "getting" and "giving" leadership and why it changes everything Why he nearly didn't make the phone call that launched his business How to lead through imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and personal doubt What to do when your definition of success starts to shift and how to build a business that matches it How giving away the spotlight can strengthen your brand, your business, and your people James also shares the personal story behind The Giving Game, and how his childhood experiences gave him a lifelong belief in second chances and in the power of helping others see what they're capable of. Whether you're an experienced CEO, a first-time manager, or a consultant striking out on your own, this conversation will challenge how you lead and who you choose to become in the process. Get James' book here: https://shorturl.at/c5oRT The Giving Game: Becoming The Leader That Others Want To Follow Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

What if cultural relevance isn't just a marketing strategy but a business imperative? In this episode, I speak with Hernan Tagliani, a multicultural marketing expert, award-winning strategist for Fortune 500 companies, and author of The Hispanic Market for Corporate America and Multicultural Mainstream, that explains how brands can drive lasting growth by truly understanding and serving Hispanic consumers. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Hernan shares how he rebuilt his career from the ground up after moving to the U.S., started his agency with a single client, and went on to lead multicultural strategy for some of the world's most recognizable brands. His approach? Culture before language. Data before assumptions. And storytelling that builds trust, not just transactions. We explore: Why many brands are missing out on long-term growth by overlooking multicultural strategy The biggest myths corporate leaders still believe about U.S. Hispanic consumers Why translating a campaign isn't enough and how "transcreation" builds loyalty across generations How Hernan helped a national brand go from pilot campaign to national success by earning trust first What it takes to create a brand that reflects, and respects, the communities it serves How AI and digital media are reshaping what it means to be culturally relevant in real time Hernan also shares personal insights on leadership, reinvention, and why taking risks, even when it's uncomfortable, is key to becoming a purpose-driven entrepreneur. Whether you're building a brand, scaling a business, or trying to connect with today's fastest-growing consumer segment, this episode offers practical strategies and a powerful reframe on what it means to lead with culture, not just campaigns. Get Hernan's book here: https://rb.gy/jjvvs4 Multicultural Mainstream: The Power of Hispanics In Consumer Marketing Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Your company's next breakthrough isn't about doing more, but doing less with purpose. In this episode, I speak with Bill Canady, CEO of two major industrial companies (OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products), a former U.S. Navy officer, and author of From Panic to Profit, about the operating system he's used to turn around billion-dollar businesses and lead through uncertainty. Bill brings a rare blend of military discipline, private equity strategy, and grounded human leadership. With more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in revenue under his care, he shares what really drives growth, and why focus, not frenzy, is the secret to long-term results. We talk about: How Bill used 80/20 thinking to stabilize a struggling company during the pandemic Why "doing everything" is the death of momentum and how to identify your critical few The real reason most teams fail to deliver (hint: it's not effort) How AI is helping leaders focus on what matters and where human judgment still matters most Why you may need to say no to good ideas to unlock great outcomes The leadership triangle: visionary, operator, and prophet, and how to build teams that thrive Bill also shares personal reflections on learning through failure, navigating high-stakes decisions, and how he's applying his own advice as a continuous learner and leader of leaders. Whether you're in a turnaround, scaling up, or simply trying to get more focused in your business or career, this episode offers both strategic clarity and deeply practical tools for creating profitable, people-centered growth. Bill Canady is the CEO of both OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products (AEP). With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in driving organizational growth, cutting costs, and boosting profitability. At OTC, he led a 43% increase in revenue and an 80% rise in earnings, with annual sales now exceeding $1 billion. At AEP, he oversees more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in sales. A U.S. Navy veteran, Bill holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from Elmhurst University. His Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS) has helped countless organizations overcome challenges and seize new growth opportunities. Get Bill's book here: https://rb.gy/3a4mou From Panic to Profit: Uncover Value, Boost Revenue, and Grow Your Business with the 80/20 Principle Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

What if the key to innovation isn't a process, but a mindset that travels across boundaries, disciplines, and decades? From international development to McKinsey to leading AI strategy at Microsoft, Dean Carignan has built his career at the intersection of systems, people, and impact. Now, as co-author of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, he's helping organizations rethink how real innovation happens, not just in startups or labs, but in legacy institutions and global companies. In this episode, Dean shares lessons from two decades at Microsoft, where he's worked across Xbox, Office, cognitive services, and AI research. He also reflects on why innovation is ultimately about people, not products, and how leaders can create space for meaningful change, even inside complex organizations. We explore: How Dean moved from solving global problems at the World Bank to driving change inside one of the world's largest tech companies The power of being a "boundary crosser" and why innovation happens in the in-between Why mission often outperforms money as a motivator, especially in hiring for impact The overlooked value of storytelling in innovation (and how case studies bring ideas to life) How AI is transforming not only productivity, but the very nature of scientific discovery Why learning to build with agents may be the most valuable skill of the next decade Dean also shares practical examples of how he uses AI today, from research to writing to daily decision-making, and why "thinking about thinking" is the leadership advantage most people overlook. Whether you're guiding a team through change, building a new product, or trying to stay ahead of the AI curve, this conversation offers a grounded, human-centered approach to innovation in a time of exponential possibility. Dean Carignan's career spans international economic development, startup ventures, and strategic roles in technology. He is an alumnus of Georgetown University and INSEAD, he was a charter member of McKinsey & Company's advanced technology practice. During his 20 years at Microsoft, he has guided new businesses, including the early internet division, Xbox, and multiple Al efforts through the critical growth phases to their first billion dollars in revenue. Most recently, Dean has focused on leading AI innovations within Microsoft Research and the Office of the Chief Scientist. His intrapreneurial spirit, deep institutional knowledge, and expansive internal network made the behind-the-scenes perspective of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft Get Dean's book here: https://www.innovationatmicrosoft.com/ The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this episode, Kris speaks with Matthew Dixon, founding partner of DCM Insights and bestselling author, about his latest research on business development in professional services. Drawing on a global study of 3,000 partners, Dixon outlines five distinct sales profiles and highlights the "Activator" as the only approach consistently linked to higher revenue performance. Key insights: - Traditional models of client loyalty are eroding, with fewer clients returning automatically to the same firm. - Top performers distinguish themselves by proactively delivering value, leveraging internal and external networks, and consistently committing time to business development. - Effective firms drive adoption of these behaviors not through mandates, but by enabling teams with tools, mentorship, and a culture of collaboration. - Technology, including AI and network management tools, reduces the time required to execute these strategies, but success ultimately relies on human relationships and judgment. Dixon's upcoming book, The Activator Advantage, provides a practical guide for partners and leaders seeking to future-proof client engagement strategies in a more competitive and fast-changing market. Matthew Dixon is the Founding Partner of DCM Insights. Matthew is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and a WSJ bestselling author, with his books translated in a dozen languages. Get Matthew's book here: https://rb.gy/a6ygc7 The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this episode, Kris speaks with Ken Rusk, nine-figure CEO and bestselling author of Blue Collar Cash, on building and scaling a successful business. Key insights: - True growth comes from empowering entrepreneurial employees and building autonomous teams aligned with the company's mission and motivated to perform. - Rusk's approach emphasizes the alignment of personal goals and corporate objectives, using a system of "timed pathways" where employees publicly commit to and pursue personal milestones, creating accountability and shared momentum. - Strategic reinvestment in marketing, reputation, and customer experience fueled steady expansion, while maintaining a clear long-term vision kept the organization resilient during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. - His leadership philosophy centers on building decision-makers, not just making decisions, and staying focused on time as the most valuable asset, balancing business success with personal well-being, family, and purpose. - Rusk's recent move to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) reflects his commitment to sharing long-term value and ensuring that the team that built the company benefits from its future growth. Rusk's message is that sustainable business success stems from developing others, aligning incentives, and ensuring that leaders stay focused on the long view, both in business and in life. Get Ken's book here: https://www.kenrusk.com/blue-collar-cash/ Blue-Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

What if the key to driving real innovation isn't genius, but orchestration? Innovation is often seen as the domain of visionaries or tech geniuses. But in this episode, JoAnn Garbin, former Director of Innovation at Microsoft Cloud and co-author of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, shows that true innovation is a craft: one grounded in discipline, collaboration, and conscious leadership. JoAnn brings a rare lens to the conversation — an engineer with a background in philosophy and performance, a systems thinker who has lived through startup exits, corporate reinvention, and a life-altering cancer diagnosis. Her approach to leadership, creativity, and risk is grounded not in theory but in lived experience. We talk about: How real innovation happens inside complex, slow-moving organizations Why orchestration, not brilliance, is the most underrated leadership skill The critical role of community and trust in long-term innovation success How to build political capital without becoming "political" What cancer taught her about control, clarity, and letting go The mindset shift that makes innovation more accessible (and less magical) JoAnn also shares how she navigates uncertainty with structured frameworks, how she invests in her learning every day, and why innovation, especially in an AI-powered future, must be inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered. Whether you're leading change, launching something new, or trying to stay relevant in a fast-shifting world, this episode will expand how you think about creativity, courage, and what it really means to build something that lasts. JoAnn Garbin is a former Director of Innovation in Microsoft's cloud business. She is the founder of Regenerous Labs, where she focuses on building practical solutions across industries that integrate sustainability and innovation. Get JoAnn's book here: https://www.innovationatmicrosoft.com/ The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

What if the leadership edge you're looking for doesn't come from working harder, but listening deeper? We talk often about productivity, performance, and pushing through. But few conversations explore the quieter forces shaping our best decisions, like intuition. In this episode, I speak with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir, a director, writer, systems thinker, and an award-winning sustainability leader, about intuition as a source of strength, clarity, and resilience in both leadership and life. Hrund shares how her work in post-conflict Kosovo with the UN led to burnout and a full reset — one that turned her toward the science and practice of intuition. Through personal stories, research, and the Icelandic concept of innsæi ("the sea within"), she explains how we can train our intuition as rigorously as we train our intellect. We explore: How to know whether your intuition is guiding you, or your ego is pulling you Why many of us lose touch with inner guidance (and how to return to it) How to use an "attention journal" to strengthen your discernment The difference between insight and overthinking What it takes to create workplace cultures that respect sensing as much as data Why intuition is not the opposite of reason, but essential to it This episode is for anyone navigating uncertainty, complexity, or the quiet knowing that something needs to change. Whether you're leading a team, facing a major decision, or simply looking to reconnect with your inner compass, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical tools to help you find your way — from the inside out. Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir is an Advisory Council member at Yale's International Leadership Centre and has been recognised for her work as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Cultural Leader and Yale World Fellow. She has qualifications from Yale, Harvard Kennedy School, the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, Oxford Said Business School and the University of Iceland. Get Hrund's book here: https://hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com/ InnSaei: Heal, Revive and Reset with the Icelandic art of intuition Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Dr. Tiffany Moon isn't just breaking stereotypes — she's rewriting the script. In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Moon — board-certified anesthesiologist, founder of Aromasthesia, and former cast member of Bravo's Real Housewives — opens up about what it really takes to balance ambition, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and public scrutiny. From immigrating to the U.S. at age 6 to graduating from college at 19 and medical school at 23, where she finished in the top ten percent of her class, to launching a wellness brand rooted in science and self-care, Tiffany's story is as raw and relatable as it is inspiring. We cover: The culture of overachievement and how it can become an emotional cage The silent weight of perfectionism in high-achieving women How childhood trauma shaped her relentless drive and how she's healing from it Why asking for help isn't a weakness — it's a strategy The behind-the-scenes reality of being a doctor and a reality TV personality Why she's choosing presence over perfection in parenting, career, and business Plus: Why even the most "put-together" people struggle with self-worth How Tiffany balances a medical career with being a mother, wife, and founder Why her social media presence is as real as it gets and why that matters Tiffany also shares the surprising impact of being on reality TV, not on her brand, but on her identity, and why she now uses her platform to champion authenticity, self-care, and breaking generational cycles. This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about legacy, self-awareness, and the courage to define success on your own terms. Tiffany Moon, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, mother of twins, and author of Joy Prescriptions: How I Learned to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Connection. She is also the founder and CEO of Aromasthesia Candles, Three Moons Wine, and LeadHer Summit. Tiffany has published over fifty peer-reviewed articles, is one of D Magazine's "Best Doctors," and serves as an Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. She was the first medical doctor and Chinese American cast member on Bravo's Real Housewives. Her story has been featured in Forbes, Variety, Harper's Bazaar, USA Today, and more. She lives with her family in Dallas, TX. Get Tiffany's book here: https://rb.gy/5fvfl5 Joy Prescriptions: How I Learned to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Connection Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

What if the financial advice you trust is actually hurting your future? Mark Matson believes it is, and he has the data to prove it. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Matson, founder of Matson Money and a pioneer in the evidence-based investing movement. With over $10 billion in assets under management, Mark has helped thousands of families and advisors break free from Wall Street myths, media-driven panic, and the illusion of market timing. But Mark didn't start in finance. In fact, he nearly gave up on the entire industry — until a few key realizations (and one powerful idea from a Nobel Laureate) reshaped his approach to wealth entirely. We talk about: The dangerous psychology behind most investing decisions and how to fix it Why traditional financial advice often fails to deliver real value What Wall Street doesn't want you to understand about your money The importance of storytelling in transforming investor behavior Why "doing nothing" is sometimes the smartest move in volatile markets Mark also shares how he trains financial advisors to become coaches — not salespeople — and why aligning your portfolio with purpose is key to long-term success. Whether you're an investor, advisor, or entrepreneur, this conversation will change how you think about money — and what it really means to grow wealth with integrity and intention. Mark Matson is an American entrepreneur, author, and innovator in the fields of investing science and financial education. He is the creator of educational experiences, platforms, and tools that make Nobel Prize winning investing research accessible to investors and transform their relationship to money. Most notably, he is the creator of The American Dream Experience and the Matson Method. Get Mark's book here: https://rb.gy/h4brr0 Experiencing The American Dream: How to Invest Your Time, Energy, and Money to Create an Extraordinary Life Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 547, an interview with Bernard Harris, an astronaut, physician, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and author of Embracing Infinite Possibilities: Letting Go of Fear to Find Your Highest Potential. In this episode, Bernard Harris, the first African American astronaut to walk in space, shares his experiences and describes the thrill of launching into space as well as the physical challenges of microgravity. He discusses the significance of inner strength, resilience, and a growth mindset. His book, Embracing Infinite Possibilities, encourages self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, and opening your mind to life's infinite possibilities, instilling hope in those who have yet to discover their own power. Get Bernard's book here: https://rb.gy/fgx6d8 Embracing Infinite Possibilities: Letting Go of Fear to Find Your Highest Potential Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 546, an interview with the authors of Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection, Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener. Most conversations barely scratch the surface, because true connection isn't just about hearing words, it's about listening with purpose and presence. In this episode, Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener introduce the concept of Radical Listening: an intentional, culturally aware approach to making others feel seen, heard, and valued. Drawing from their research and coaching experiences, they explain why our intentions behind listening matter just as much as the act itself and how distractions, politeness, and even the need to be right can undermine true connection. They share practical strategies leaders can use to build stronger teams, navigate conflict, and create space for deeper conversations, even across cultural differences. Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh (PhD) is a leading academic and executive coach with an international reputation. He is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences (Ireland) and Principal Fellow at the Centre for Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne (Australia). Christian delivers consultancy, training, and executive coaching globally, regularly presenting in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. He is passionate about motorcycling, writing, and coaching. Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener is a researcher, author, and consultant with 75 peer-reviewed academic articles and over 27,000 citations. His previous books include The Upside of Your Dark Side (New York Times bestseller, 2014) and the 2007 PROSE Award winner, Happiness. He has presented keynotes to Lululemon, Deloitte, Humana, AARP, the World Bank, and others. In 2024, Thinkers50 named Robert one of the "50 most influential executive coaches in the world." He lives in Portland, Oregon, and enjoys drawing and rock climbing. Get Radical Listening here: https://rb.gy/z5x7wt Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

From CIA hacker to cybersecurity advisor to a U.S. President. Now trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international banks, and leaders like Bill Gates. (And he almost missed the CIA meeting... because it was raining.) "Something told me, it was a Thursday afternoon. ... and something told me, you have to go to the co-op office today. You have to go today. ... I believe there's this inner voice and ... this thing came over me, and I get out of class at 3:30. It's raining. It's a 10-minute walk... So the universe is testing me." In this episode of the Strategy Skills podcast, Dr. Eric Cole — former CIA hacker, Cyber Wingman for the U.S. Air Force, and Commissioner on Cybersecurity for the 44th President of the United States — shares lessons from a career built on discipline, pattern recognition, trusting your instincts, and letting data — not emotions — drive decisions. Today, his expertise is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international banks, and some of the world's most influential leaders, including Bill Gates. If you're serious about operating at the highest levels, you'll want to study this episode carefully. We cover: - Why cybersecurity is a competitive advantage when used properly - How to build $7M companies that sell for 9–10x revenue - Why protecting your intellectual property early can create millions in extra value - Why minimizing exposure — in business and in security — is key to surviving long term - How real entrepreneurs use data, not emotions, to make decisions - Why building businesses in "Blue Oceans" (no competitors) is critical - Why ethical sales beat high-pressure tactics every time Plus: → The simple morning routine he uses to stay sharp → How he protects his personal AI to avoid being replaced by it → How to build companies designed for high-value exits — not 30 years of exhaustion If you're thinking long-term about leading, building, and protecting real value, you will find this episode helpful. Get Eric's book here: https://rb.gy/qjwsdz Cyber Crisis: Protecting Your Business from Real Threats in the Virtual World Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

What can a $2B concert tour teach us about business strategy? Quite a lot. We often speak about innovation and reinvention in the corporate world. Yet, few embody it as consistently and successfully as the artist and strategist Taylor Swift. In this episode, I spoke with Kevin Evers, Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review and author of There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift. Kevin brings a rare perspective, someone who has quietly shaped the voices of influential business thinkers over nearly two decades, now stepping into authorship himself. Kevin shares insights from his new book on Taylor Swift, noting her strategic decision-making and marketing tactics that led her to where she is today. He stresses the value of trust and consistency in building a brand, citing Taylor Swift's $2 billion Eras Tour and her 2% market share in 2024. Kevin also underscores how Taylor treats her fans, leveraging fan engagement for marketing success, and how we can adopt it in the business world. Get Kevin's book here: https://rb.gy/il50j1 There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 543, an interview with the author of The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money, Elizabeth Husserl. Many people chase wealth as a number, but the truth is that true wealth is more than just money in the bank. In this episode, Elizabeth challenges common assumptions about financial success and explores how fulfillment, stability, and meaning factor into what it really means to be wealthy. Elizabeth explains how our "scarcity brain" influences money decisions, why understanding your financial DNA matters, and how daily practices like journaling and meditation can transform your relationship with money. She also offers practical tools for building financial freedom and rethinking the emotional triggers that shape our financial lives. Elizabeth Husserl is the first female principal and co-founder of a comprehensive boutique wealth planning firm, Peak 360 Wealth Management. She holds Series 6, 63, and 65 licenses, as well as a B.S. in Economics from Tulane University and an M.A. in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is also a Certified Money Coach with the Money Coach Institute. Get Elizabeth's book here: https://rb.gy/vwqdm9 The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 542, an interview with the author The Psychology of Leadership: Timeless principles to improve your management of individuals, teams… and yourself!, Sébastien Page. Ever wondered what truly drives successful leaders and how psychology plays a role? In this episode with Sébastien Page, we explore the habits, mindset, and science behind great leadership. He shares lessons drawn from 20 years of experience and in-depth research in positive and sports psychology. Sébastien introduces the PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment) and explains how it can be applied to leadership and organizational success. He also shares insights from studying billionaires and what drives their success beyond money. Sébastien Page is the Chief Investment Officer of T. Rowe Price. He manages the division responsible for managing Multi-Asset portfolios there. he has won six annual research-paper awards: two from The Financial Analysts Journal and four from The Journal of Portfolio Management. He appears regularly on CNBC and Bloomberg TV. He has been quoted extensively in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Get Sébastien's book here: https://rb.gy/mnu5an The Psychology of Leadership: Timeless principles to improve your management of individuals, teams… and yourself! Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 541, an interview with the author of Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI, Faisal Hoque. In this episode, Faisal shares his journey from his early days developing software to becoming a business leader focused on strategy and impact. Faisal talks about how Eastern philosophy, particularly Buddhism, influences his approach to business and leadership, helping him stay grounded while pursuing innovation. He opens up about how his son's serious illness changed his outlook on life and business, driving him to use technology to improve medical treatments. We also discuss AI's effects on society, with Faisal offering practical advice for leaders on balancing technological advancement with human skills. Throughout our conversation, he shares simple practices that keep him sharp - from reading widely to constantly trying new things - and explains how focusing on the journey rather than just outcomes has shaped his success. Faisal Hoque is recognized as one of the world's leading management thinkers and technologists. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, innovator, and #1 Wall Street Journal best-selling author with close to thirty years of cross-industry success. Faisal is the founder of SHADOKA, NextChapter, and other companies. He also serves as a transformation and innovation partner for CACI, an $8 billion company focused on U.S. national security. As a founder and CEO of multiple companies, Faisal is a three-time winner of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ and Fast 500™ awards. He built his first commercial software product at the age of 20 while studying at the University of Minnesota. Since then, he has developed more than twenty commercial platforms and worked with leadership at the US DoD, US DHS, GE, MasterCard, American Express, Home Depot, PepsiCo, IBM, Chase, and others. For their innovative work, he and his team have been awarded several provisional patents in the areas of user authentication, business rule routing, and metadata sorting. Get Faisal's book here: https://rb.gy/ocxp7b Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 540, an interview with the authors of Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee, Wes Adams and Tamara Myles. What makes work truly meaningful, and how can leaders create it? In this episode, Tamara Miles and Wes Adams, researchers and positive psychologists, have studied how leaders can intentionally promote cultures where people find purpose, connection, and challenge in their work. Drawing from their own career and research, they outline the practices that lead to lasting meaning, starting from onboarding and extending to everyday leadership behaviors like showing appreciation and building community. They also explore how AI can be developed to support human fulfillment, and why understanding generational differences is key to creating meaningful work environments for all. Wes Adams is the founder and CEO of SV Consulting Group, where he works with high-performing companies to develop leadership excellence, build organizational resilience, and deepen employee engagement through a meaningful work lens. He has more than two decades of experience as a successful entrepreneur and strategic partner for clients including Microsoft, KPMG, BlackRock, Google, and the United Nations, along with a range of high-growth organizations. Wes has been featured at South by Southwest Interactive and the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, and his work has been covered by the New York Times, BBC News, Forbes, and Business Insider. His teams have won multiple Webby Awards and been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Brands. His early career was spent launching and managing high-profile hospitality businesses for which he was nominated twice for a coveted James Beard Award. Wes is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Applied Positive Psychology. Tamara Myles is an accomplished consultant, author, and international speaker with over two decades of experience helping leaders improve business performance. She is the author of The Secret to Peak Productivity, which introduced her proprietary Peak Productivity Pyramid framework. Tamara's insights have been featured in leading publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, and Business Insider. She has worked with clients such as Microsoft, KPMG, MassMutual, and Google. Tamara has a master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also serves as an instructor in the master's program and a trainer for the world-renowned Penn Resilience Program. She is a professor in the Master of Science in Leadership program at Boston College, where she integrates cutting-edge research into practical applications for leadership and organizational success. Get Meaningful Work here: https://rb.gy/fry7z5 Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 539, an interview with the author of From Panic to Profit: Uncover Value, Boost Revenue, and Grow Your Business with the 80/20 Principle, Bill Canady. In this episode, Bill shares insights from his military background and how it shaped his leadership approach. Bill explains his Profitable Growth Operating System (PG OS) framework, including the five key components that drive business success. He also offers practical advice on pricing strategy, the need for a focused team, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. Bill also shared insights on balancing personal and professional life and the critical role of mentorship in leadership success. Bill Canady is the CEO of both OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products (AEP). With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in driving organizational growth, cutting costs, and boosting profitability. At OTC, he led a 43% increase in revenue and an 80% rise in earnings, with annual sales now exceeding $1 billion. At AEP, he oversees more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in sales. A U.S. Navy veteran, Bill holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from Elmhurst University. His Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS) has helped countless organizations overcome challenges and seize new growth opportunities. Get Bill's book here: https://rb.gy/f8pkbf From Panic to Profit: Uncover Value, Boost Revenue, and Grow Your Business with the 80/20 Principle Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 538, an interview with the coauthor of Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives, Patricia Grabarek. In this episode, Patricia talks about why workplace wellness matters and why it's important to have a holistic approach that includes physical, mental, and emotional health. She explains the gap in research on leadership practices that help create a healthy work environment and how leaders can balance getting results with supporting their employees. Patricia shares simple ways to make wellness a priority, like setting aside time for self-care and building a supportive team culture. She also talks about the challenges of bringing wellness initiatives into remote and hybrid work settings. Patricia Grabarek is a co-founder of Workr Beeing and an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist with a passion and expertise in workplace wellness, workplace culture, employee engagement, and leadership development. Patricia has spent her career as a practitioner, mostly working in consulting but, recently taking on more internal roles, leading people analytics and talent vitality teams. Throughout her career, Patricia has worked with over sixty different client organizations from various industries, implementing solutions to improve wellness, diversity, retention, performance, and engagement within their organizations. In addition, she taught organizational psychology in the Masters of Applied Psychology Program at the University of Southern California. Patricia was featured on Culture Amp's list of Top 25 Emerging Culture Creators for 2024 and has been featured in media outlets, including The L.A. Times, CBS News, and CBC Radio. Patricia received her PhD and MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and her BA in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Get Patricia's book here: https://workrbeeing.com/book/ Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 537, an interview with the author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, Jenny Wood. In this episode, Jenny discusses her career journey and the key skills that helped her rise from an entry-level role to an executive over 18 years. She also discusses overcoming imposter syndrome, being strategic with time, and saying no to non-promotable work. Jenny shares the importance of obsessing over key projects, leading with enthusiasm, and breaking unwritten rules to stand out. Her book, Wild Courage, outlines nine traits for success, including being weird, shameless, and reckless. Today's guest is Jenny Wood. In her 18 years at Google, she grew from entry-level to executive, and she most recently led a large operations team that helped drive billions of dollars of revenue per year. Jenny's writing has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Inc. She is a licensed private pilot, a daily hiker, an improv student, a tap dancer, and a zucchini bread connoisseur. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her two young children and her husband, Jon. Get Jenny's book here: https://rb.gy/6sj1rj Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 536, an interview with the coauthor of Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In, Joel Salinas, MD. In this episode, Joel Salinas talks about conflict resilience and how our brain reacts to disagreements. He explains how loneliness affects health, how conflicts activate pain-related brain areas, and shares techniques to manage stress. Joel also discusses brain plasticity, how age affects conflict resolution, and the power of focusing on positive outcomes to break negative thought patterns. Joel Salinas, MD is a behavioral neurologist and clinician scientist at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, founder and Chief Medical Officer at Isaac Health, and former Harvard Medical School faculty. He is the author of Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain. Get Joel's book here: https://rb.gy/d1tqrx Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 535, an interview with the author of Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life, William Green. In this episode, William Green talks about his journey from Oxford to becoming a renowned journalist. He shares stories of his unconventional career path, including impulsive moves to New York and Hong Kong, financial struggles, and being laid off during the financial crisis. William discusses how he learned to handle failure with grace and experienced a spiritual awakening at 40 that changed his outlook. He offers practical advice for writers and thinkers on focusing on quality over quantity and finding work that aligns with their unique talents and personality. William Green has written for many publications in the US and Europe, including Time, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, The New Yorker, The Spectator, and The Economist. He edited the Asian edition of Time while living in Hong Kong, then moved to London to edit the European, Middle Eastern, and African editions of Time. Born and raised in London, William studied English literature at Oxford University and received a master's degree in journalism at Columbia University. He lives in New York with his wife and their two children. Get William's book here: https://rb.gy/v1a282 Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 534, an interview with the author of The Science of Personal Power: How to Build Confidence, Create Success, and Obtain Freedom, Chris Lipp. Powerful people operate with a fundamentally different mindset. While others seek approval and dodge accountability, influential individuals take ownership and remain anchored to their goals and values. In this episode, Chris Lipp discusses the importance of personal power and the characteristics that differentiate powerful people from those who are not. He shares the habits and practices that help individuals attain and maintain power. Chris also provides strategies for regaining power in high-stress situations and emphasizes the significance of personal accountability and effective communication in both professional and personal contexts. Chris Lipp is a social psychologist and author of The Science of Personal Power. He currently teaches at Tulane's Freeman School of Business. Get Chris' book here: https://rb.gy/90n2z0 The Science of Personal Power: How to Build Confidence, Create Success, and Obtain Freedom Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 533, an interview with the author of Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win, Anne Marie Anderson. In this episode, Anne Marie Anderson shared her journey from being rejected by ESPN at 21 to working there for 35 years and becoming one of the most experienced female play-by-play announcers in the country. She discussed the importance of audacity, combining confidence with bold risks, and learning from rejection. In Cultivating Audacity, Anne Marie shares the system she developed to find the courage to confront hesitation and break down barriers that stood between her and the life she wanted. Anne Marie Anderson is a 3x Emmy Award winning broadcaster, keynote speaker and author of Cultivating Audacity. Get Anne's book here: https://rb.gy/yl2f8q Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 532, an interview with the author of Big Goals: The Science of Setting Them, Achieving Them, and Creating Your Best Life, Caroline Adams Miller. In this episode, Caroline takes us through her journey of overcoming personal challenges to becoming an expert in positive psychology and goal setting. She breaks down why setting clear, challenging goals is so important and explains the difference between learning goals (developing new skills) and performance goals (improving existing ones). Caroline also talks about the role of accountability, having the right kind of support, and how self-belief and hope can make a big difference in our life. Caroline also discusses the unique challenges women face when setting goals and how feedback from role models and strong relationships can help us stay on track and succeed. For over three decades, Caroline Adams Miller has been a pioneer with her groundbreaking work in the areas of the science of goal setting, grit, happiness, and success. She is recognized as one of the world's leading positive psychology experts on this research and how it can be applied to one's life and work for maximum transformation. She is the author of nine books, including My Name is Caroline, Getting Grit, Positively Caroline and Creating Your Best Life, which the "father of Positive Psychology," Dr. Martin Seligman, lauded in Flourish as "adding a major missing piece" to the world of goal setting. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University and attained one of the first 32 degrees in the world in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Get Caroline's book here: https://rb.gy/x9iwik Big Goals: The Science of Setting Them, Achieving Them, and Creating Your Best Life Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo