Shows
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving688: Michael on the U.S. Green Card BanThere's some big news that came out today, that has not actually gotten much publicity, but it should, especially for our client base, and for anyone who wants to have a major professional career, and that's the fact that the U.S. government has some say it's temporary, but they've temporarily banned certain tech companies from sponsoring foreign employees that are in the U.S. for permanent residency. Gifts / Newsletter / Free Resources: Free resource library. Choose the one that fits you: → Business leaders, consultants, and serious operators (strategy, leadership, executive presence): https://specialoffers.fi...
2026-10-1205 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving685: Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic featuring an interview with the authors of Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy, Naomi Cahn, June Carbone, and Nancy Levit. This book explains that the system that governs our economy—a winner-take-all economy—is the root cause of these myriad problems. The WTA economy self-selects for aggressive, cutthroat business tactics, which creates a feedback loop that sidelines women. The authors, three legal scholars, call this feedback loop "the triple bind": if women don't compete on the same terms as men, they lose; if women do comp...
2026-09-1652 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving684: Founder and CEO of Triggers, Leslie Zane. The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Persuasion (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with an award-winning marketer, TEDx speaker and authority in harnessing the instinctive mind to accelerate brand and business growth, founder and CEO of Triggers, Leslie Zane. Leslie is the author of The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Persuasion in Business and Life. In her book, Leslie shows that to grow a brand, business, or even a social movement, traditional persuasion tactics fall short. Instead, you must connect to the instinctive mind. And to do this, you need to understand the science of consumer choice and employ techniques t...
2026-09-0948 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving683: Professor of Finance at Copenhagen Business School, Jesper Rangvid, on the End of 40 Years of Falling Interest RatesJesper Rangvid, professor of finance at Copenhagen Business School, explores what leaders should understand about interest rates, inflation, the cost of capital, prioritization, and AI. Rangvid explains why the roughly 40-year decline in interest rates was "a completely unique historical period" and why executives should not assume borrowing will continue to get cheaper. Falling inflation and demographic changes helped drive rates lower, while low rates also contributed to rising house prices and increased borrowing. As he puts it, "lower and lower interest rates are not always good." He discusses the post-pandemic shift toward higher inflation...
2026-09-0750 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving682: Founder and CEO of High Alpha Innovation, Elliott Parker. The Illusion of Innovation (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of The Illusion of Innovation: Escape "Efficiency" and Unleash Radical Progress, Elliott Parker. The Illusion of Innovation tackles the problem with innovation inside big companies, having activities that feel like innovation but lead to value destruction, not progress. This book explains why meaningful innovation naturally emerges from deliberate inefficiency and how large corporations can harness the power of small teams—startups—to drive radical change through systematic experimentation. Elliott Parker is the founder and CEO of High Alpha Innovation, a venture builder that partners with co...
2026-09-0248 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving681: Harvard's Cornelia Choe on How Great Leaders See DifferentlyCornelia Choe explains why being right is no longer enough for leaders operating in environments of constant change. She calls the problem "perspective blindness": we may be correct about what we see while still seeing only part of the picture. Drawing on experiences across private equity, government, nonprofits, and leadership advisory, Cornelia argues that information has become increasingly commoditized while context and judgment have become more valuable. AI can broaden our understanding and challenge our thinking, but it can also become "a very easy substitute for judgment" when leaders accept its answers without questioning them. ...
2026-08-3140 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving680: Psychotherapist, Glenn Hutchinson, on Why Good People Cheat: What Infidelity Reveals About Decision-MakingGlenn Hutchinson, a psychotherapist who developed the personality science behind the assessments used by Match.com, explores one of the most misunderstood aspects of infidelity: why people sometimes violate their own values without fully understanding how they arrived there. The conversation begins with a broader look at human behavior. Glenn explains that much of what drives our decisions happens outside conscious awareness. Using the familiar experience of driving on "autopilot," he argues that our unconscious mind is constantly shaping our judgments, emotions, and interactions long before we recognize it. As he puts it, "subjective experience is very...
2026-08-2645 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving677: Global by Design: Vijay Govindarajan on Building Better InnovationsVijay Govindarajan, Coxe Distinguished Professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business and co-author of Global by Design, explains how innovations developed for emerging markets can also serve wealthier countries. Building on his earlier work on reverse innovation, he argues that successful innovation requires business strategy and engineering science to be considered together. Vijay places this work within his Three Box Solution, a framework for improving the efficiency of the core business while simultaneously creating new businesses. The central challenge is developing the capabilities to manage efficiency and exploration at the same time. He describes effective...
2026-08-1744 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving676: The key strategy question most boards do not answer, and cannot answerPorsche just announced workforce cuts because of dropping sales in China. Every board reads that as an operations problem. It isn't. It's a risk problem — and it's the wrong risk almost every board is looking at. Here's what nobody asks in the boardroom: once a strategy is successfully implemented, what new risk did it just add to the business? Not the risk of getting there. The risk of what you've built once you have. That's the question 99% of boards never answer, because most don't have a way to see it.In this video I walk through how we...
2026-08-1218 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving675: Porsche to Cut 5000 More Jobs After Sales Collapse. Here's What Their Strategy Is MissingMichael has said, all other things being equal, there's only a 10% chance of this working. Porsche just announced 5,000 more job cuts ,on top of 3,900 already gone. That's 8,900 positions, 21% of the workforce. The headline story is China's collapsing sales. Topics: Porsche layoffs, Porsche crisis, Porsche hybrid, Porsche strategy, business case study, brand positioning, pricing strategy, Porsche China, automotive business, corporate strategy, management consulting, AI strategy analysis, strategic analysis, scenario planning, layoffs, german automakers, luxury car brand, career development #Porsche #Strategy #jobcuts Free resource library. Choose the one that fits...
2026-08-1026 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving674: Social Psychologist, Owen Fitzpatrick on Why the Most Dangerous Propaganda Is the Story You Tell YourselfOwen Fitzpatrick has spent years studying propaganda, belief systems, and decision-making in places such as North Korea, Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Iran. In this conversation, he explains why the same psychological mechanisms that shape societies also shape the decisions of executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs. The central insight is that the greatest influence often comes from within. As Owen explains, "What really convinces us is the way in which we convince ourselves." He adds, "Our ability to persuade ourselves of certain things is actually the dominant force that determines whether or not a person will be open to ideas."
2026-08-0552 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving673: Why Immigrants Outperform. 3 Traits You Can Build Without Immigrating Learn the immigrant success mindset and how to build resilience. See how specific challenges foster growth for anyone. Many assume the immigrant experience is only defined by hardship, but these challenges often build a unique toolkit for success. In this video, I break down the specific traits that allow people to thrive after moving to a new country. Whether you are an immigrant yourself or looking to develop stronger grit, you can apply these principles to your own life. I have immigrated three times, and I have seen firsthand how the struggle creates a competitive advantage. This video explains how to...
2026-08-0327 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving672: How Relying on ChatGPT or Claude Destroys Your CareerI had a coaching call this month where my client could not put his thinking together. He said to me that he wished he had ChatGPT right now. He could do this before. I have watched him do it. My view is that people are losing the ability, because they have outsourced the work of getting to the core of what they are trying to say. Michael's view is that the ability is still there and the enthusiasm to use it has gone. In this clip we work through what it actually costs. Michael defines...
2026-07-2909 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving671: What World Cup Football Reveals About Strategy. The Fundamentals ProblemMost teams don't lose because of poor strategy. They lose because they abandoned the fundamentals. The World Cup proves it — and so does your business or career. In this walking masterclass, we break down why foundational skills are the actual differentiator in football and in business strategy. The three-pronged framework that separates sustainable winners from one-season outliers: economics, strategy, and fundamentals. And we address the most dangerous trap in the AI era — using productivity tools before you've mastered the basics they're supposed to amplify. What you'll learn: - Why teams and organizations that skip fundamentals resort to "pot...
2026-07-2712 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving670: Harvard MBA Manisha Thakor on Hungry Ghost Mindset, How to Stop Being a Workaholic, Dealing with Work Addiction (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your "Enough", Manisha Thakor. In this book, Manisha shares her candid journey out of the Cult of Never Enough—a painful mindset that tells you the money you earn, accomplishments you achieve, and praise you receive are always insufficient. Manisha Thakor has worked in financial services for more than thirty years, with an emphasis on women's economic empowerment and financial wellbeing. A nationally recognized thought-leader in this space, Thakor has been featured in a wide range of p...
2026-07-2055 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving668: Private Equity Firm CEO, Rick Walker, on Power, Success and Getting Results (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with an experienced founder, leader, and thinker across a variety of domains, Rick Walker. In this episode, Rick walks us through his leadership journey, how he built his first company in his 20's, the lessons he learned across multiple domains, and how he was able to do multiple things successfully, simultaneously. He also shared his views about fear, pride, faith, religion, and ethics in relation to leadership and business. Rick Walker scaled his first company to 400 employees when he was 26, and simultaneously, as Chairman, scaled...
2026-07-131h 01The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving667: The Experience Economy Is Selling You BelongingPeople will save for four years, eat less, and travel across the world to watch their team play. Kris and Michael walk through Berlin during the World Cup and ask what that spending really buys. This is the first episode of the Walking Masterclass. Filmed in Berlin a few hours from the Switzerland and Canada match, the conversation moves from the cost of the World Cup to the experience economy, tribal economics, and the human need to belong. Kris and Michael discuss why people spend to be part of a tribe, why travel often works as an...
2026-07-0824 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving666: How to Overcome Career Frustrations with New York University's Dr. Tessa West (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You, Dr. Tessa West. In her book, Dr. Tessa West helps you figure out the real reason you're unhappy and shows you how to find a new position in which you'll thrive, whether in a different role, company, or new industry altogether. Dr. Tessa West is Professor of Psychology at New York University, where she is a leading expert on the science of social relationships. Her academic research and writing for the media focuses on how...
2026-07-061h 04The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving665: Google's Laura Mae Martin on How to Be Productive (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing, Laura Mae Martin. In her book, Laura shows how to thrive no matter where you're working, giving concrete steps that help you focus on your priorities and keep good systems, routines, and tactics in place. Uptime explains how to make technology work for you and make "feeling on top of it" your new normal. It's a blueprint for operating at the highest levels of productivity while enhancing your own personal well-being. Laura Mae Martin i...
2026-07-0154 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving664: Negotiations in B2B Sales and Day to Day Leadership Situations with Andres Lares (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the co-author of Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions, Andres Lares. This book delivers a concise and insightful take on how to transform your ability to persuade others regardless of the setting. Persuade is perfect for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders who negotiate or influence regularly. It is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to improve their persuasion or deal-making abilities. Andres Lares is the Managing Partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute. Lares' expertise ranges from coaching live negotiations for sports clients, inc...
2026-06-2952 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving663: Ex McKinsey and LBS Lecturer, Dr. Rebecca Homkes, on High Growth Strategy (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times, Dr. Rebecca Homkes. Survive, Reset, Thrive is a playbook for leaders derived from the author's first-hand experience working with executive teams across industries from software, technology, retail, fashion, and construction through to manufacturing. Drawing from over a decade of rich real-world experience, the author illustrates how to navigate the most complex strategic situations with a simple, executable approach. Rebecca Homkes explains how proactively to stabilize your business to withstand and grow through market shocks, reset you...
2026-06-2453 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving662: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI with Mark Abraham, BCG's Personalization Lead (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the coauthor of the book Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, Mark Abraham. In this episode, we explore the rise of personalization through digital tools and AI, and how companies and organizations are leveraging it to build connections and engage with their customers. We discuss companies that excel in this area, such as Starbucks with its personalization engine, and Spotify with its tailored music recommendations. Personalization is not just about data; it's also about responding effectively to customer insights, enhancing customer experiences, and driving...
2026-06-2258 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving658: Market Engineering in the Age of AI with the CEO and founder of Traction Gap Partners, Bruce ClevelandBruce Cleveland has operated at the center of several major shifts in enterprise technology: Oracle's early growth, the creation of enterprise CRM at Siebel Systems, the rise of SaaS through investments like Marketo and Workday, and now the restructuring of software markets through AI. This conversation focuses on a core idea behind those experiences: strong products alone rarely create market leaders. Cleveland argues that "product engineering is table stakes." The differentiator is what he calls market engineering: category design, positioning, messaging, storytelling, and thought leadership working together as a disciplined operating model led by the...
2026-06-0357 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving657: Adjunct Professor at Cornell University, Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, on Critical Thinking vs. AIIn this conversation with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, the discussion examines what happens to judgment and critical thinking as AI becomes embedded in daily decision-making. Drawing on her background as an investigative journalist at Barron's, Einhorn explains how questioning assumptions and searching for disconfirming evidence shaped the development of her AREA Method for decision-making. She argues that AI should not be treated as an authority, but as a tool that requires active scrutiny and human judgment. Several points throughout the discussion: Use AI to challenge assumptions, not simply confirm them Ask for...
2026-06-0148 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving656: The Habits and Systems That Shape Success (with Fredric Marshall)Fredric Marshall spent decades helping companies including Apple, Pfizer, and Genentech solve problems in sales effectiveness, product launches, and organizational change. In this discussion, he explains why he views sales and leadership primarily as change management challenges: helping people move from where they are to where they want to be. The conversation centers on several practical ideas that shape long-term performance. Marshall argues that strong systems reduce stress because "the system is carrying the load, not you as a person or the team." He explains why high-performing people consistently invest in infrastructure, technology, and environments that remove...
2026-05-2752 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving652: Can Democracy Survive Free Market Capitalism? (with Professor of Economics Emeritus at Stanford University, Mordecai Kurz)Professor Mordecai Kurz argues that rising inequality is not simply the result of markets, but the combined effect of "technology, culture and policy" operating together over decades. Drawing on his forthcoming book, Private Power and Democracy's Decline, Kurz explains why he believes free market capitalism, left entirely unregulated, eventually concentrates both economic and political power. His central concern is not wealth alone, but the long-term erosion of democratic agency when monopoly power becomes permanent through patents, acquisitions, and technological dominance. A major focus of the conversation is artificial intelligence and the future of work. Kurz...
2026-05-1352 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving651: Ford School of Public Policy Adjunct Attia Qureshi on the Hidden Psychology Behind Effective NegotiationAttia Qureshi examines negotiation not simply as a business skill, but as a core leadership capability that shapes influence, alignment, and decision-making. Drawing on experience across consulting, startups, academia, and international development, she explains why many capable professionals struggle in negotiations despite strong analytical skills. The discussion explores several practical themes: why preparation is often undervalued, how fear and emotional reactions affect judgment under pressure, and why negotiation should be treated as a skill built through repetition rather than theory alone. Qureshi also distinguishes influence from manipulation, emphasizing that durable cooperation is built through trust, reciprocity, and...
2026-05-1150 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving648: Rethinking Careers in a Nonlinear World with Venture Capitalist and Lecturer at Stanford University, Arun GuptaArun Gupta challenges conventional notions of career stability, arguing that "you should be seeking meaning… in meaning, you'll find your stability." As institutions become less reliable anchors, purpose—not title or employer—becomes the more durable foundation: "the constant will be why you're doing what you're doing." He rejects the idea that clarity must precede action. In fast-changing environments, "start acting… the action will bring you clarity," as waiting for certainty often leaves decisions outdated. Mission, in this framing, is iterative: "you don't wake up one day… here's your mission… you have to go find it." The discu...
2026-04-2956 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving647: Former Deloitte's Chief Learning Officer on Reevaluating Our Relationship with Change, Ashley Goodall (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic featuring an interview with the author of The Problem with Change: And the Essential Nature of Human Performance, Ashley Goodall. Drawing on two decades spent leading HR organizations at Deloitte and Cisco, Ashley Goodall reveals in his book why change is not the same as improvement, and how, by prioritizing team cohesion (instead of reshuffling teams at will), by using real words (rather than corporate-speak), by sharing secrets (not mission statements), by fixing only the things that are truly broken (instead of moving fast and breaking everything in sight, and m...
2026-04-2752 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving646: Former McKinsey Consultant Darryl Stickel on Building Trust With Consulting Clients (Strategy Skills classics)Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 361, an interview with the author of Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World, Darryl Stickel. In his book, Darryl outlines his groundbreaking Trust Unlimited blueprint for building trust. Stickel moves away from the traditional approach of influencing people's willingness to trust—the con artist's tactic—to employing one or more of ten levers, which leaders can "pull" to close the gap between how much they are trusted and how much they should be. This approach also makes them more trustable and increases trust where it is deficient. Darryl Stickel is one of the...
2026-04-2051 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving645: Ex McKinsey expert on war games, John Horn. How to read your competitors (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic featuring an interview with the author of Inside the Competitor's Mindset, John Horn, where he shares proven techniques to help businesses think like the competition and understand why they act the way they do. Inside the Competitor's Mindset presents a systematic approach to competitive intelligence that starts with three frameworks to get inside the competitor's mindset, predict their reactions to your moves, and assess whether the competition is getting ready for a spontaneous move of their own. John Horn is a professor of practice in economics at the Olin...
2026-04-151h 00The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving643: Leading with Intent in an AI-Driven World with Louisa Loran, Google's Transformation Growth LeadThis discussion examines how senior leaders can navigate complexity, technology, and organizational change without losing clarity of purpose. Drawing on experience across global consumer brands, logistics, and technology, Louisa Loran outlines a practical approach to leadership that extends beyond execution into shaping direction. Key insights from the conversation: First, career progression at senior levels depends less on exceeding assigned tasks and more on articulating distinct value. Advancement requires a clear answer to a simple question: why should this individual be selected to shape the future of the business? Without that clarity, performance remains reactive and...
2026-04-0853 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving642: Leading for Innovation in Complex Organizations (with Harvard's Linda Hill)Linda Hill, Professor at Harvard Business School, discussed how leadership must adapt to enable innovation in complex organizations. Drawing on research and fieldwork across companies such as Pixar and Pfizer, the conversation reframes leadership as the work of building environments where solutions are co-created rather than directed. Several core ideas stand out: Leadership for innovation begins with purpose, not vision. When outcomes are uncertain, the leader's role is to define the problem and create conditions for others to contribute to solving it. Performance depends less on individual talent and more on how talent works together. Organizations...
2026-04-0656 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving639: Growth at Scale in the Age of AI (with McKinsey's Marc Canal)Marc Canal, a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, examines how long-term economic progress is built and what current shifts in AI, demographics, and productivity mean for senior leaders. He explains that consulting is less about analysis than it appears and more about trust, judgment, and the ability to frame relevant questions. Building a small number of strong relationships is more valuable than broad exposure, particularly when developing a client base. Organizations, he notes, are inherently messy. What appears structured from the outside is the result of distributed decisions and constant adjustment. The role of leadership is...
2026-03-2553 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving637: Growth and Innovation at Scale, with Former IBM, Microsoft, and Salesforce Executive Jason WildJason Wild discusses the discipline of building and scaling businesses through careful capital allocation, operational focus, and a clear understanding of risk. He explains how leaders often misjudge growth by pursuing expansion without fully understanding the underlying economics, noting that "growth only creates value when the returns exceed the cost of capital." He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between revenue growth and value creation, and why many organizations confuse activity with progress. In his view, strong operators develop a detailed understanding of where value is truly generated and concentrate resources there rather than spreading them thinly.
2026-03-1854 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving636: Dr. John La Puma on the Hidden Health Costs of Indoor LivingDr. John La Puma discusses how everyday environmental choices shape sleep, cognition, and long-term health. Drawing on research from medicine, neuroscience, and environmental science, he explains why many professionals unknowingly experience what he calls "cognitive drag," the gradual decline in mental clarity caused by indoor lifestyles, poor light exposure, and excessive screen use. A central theme of the conversation is the biological importance of natural light. Morning sunlight triggers a cortisol activation signal that helps set the body's circadian rhythm and supports deep sleep later in the night. Without that signal, the cycle of melatonin release and...
2026-03-1646 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving631: How Elon Musk Thinks (with Charles Steel) Charles Steel reflects on "more than two decades in private equity, banking," combined with "public service roles, including advising Tony Blair," and how these experiences led him to a late but powerful discovery: "the best way to really find purpose in life is to be creative, to make stuff." He explains that "the things I'm writing about now I am only able to write about because of what I spent the last two decades doing," and how this realization became a turning point. He describes how stepping outside traditional career paths creates "periods where you have perspective,"...
2026-02-2552 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving626: BCG Henderson Institute Senior Director Adam Job on Growth and Strategy in Uncertain TimesAdam Job, Senior Director at the BCG Institute and leader of its strategy research, offers a clear-eyed examination of growth, uncertainty, and value creation in today's business environment. Drawing on long-term empirical research, he explains why growth remains the primary driver of value over time, while also outlining why it has become structurally harder to achieve amid geopolitical tension, demographic shifts, affordability pressures, and changing political priorities. The discussion moves beyond slogans and focuses on decision-making under uncertainty. Job explains that politically driven risk differs from other forms of uncertainty because corporate responses can amplify consequences, both...
2026-02-0955 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving623: Bain's Rishi Dave, the Secret of Top Sellers (Strategy Skills classics) In this episode with Rishi Dave, a partner in Bain's Commercial Excellence practice with deep expertise in B2B marketing and digital marketing, he explains the concept of a "Day 1 List" in B2B sales and marketing and the three things that will get a supplier or seller on the list. Rishi also discussed what a "sales play" is, how to build it, institutionalize the knowledge within the company, and get the sales team to adopt the sales play to fulfill their potential and increase their productivity and sales. Rishi Dave partners with CMOs and management teams...
2026-01-2856 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving621: Business Longevity Principles from Immigrant Entrepreneurs (with University of Oxford's Neri Karra Sillaman)Neri Karra Sillaman, entrepreneurship advisor at the University of Oxford and author of Pioneers: Eight Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs, discusses why immigrant-founded companies are disproportionately successful and tend to last longer than their counterparts. Drawing on her experience as a former child refugee and on research that began with her PhD, she explains how longevity is built through clear vision, perseverance, community, shared value, and disciplined decision-making. She begins with the formative role of vision. At age eleven, while living in a refugee camp, education became her "north star." That clarity helped her interpret...
2026-01-2143 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving619: Founder of McKinsey's Strategy and Corporate Finance Insights Team on Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies (Strategy Skills classics)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...
2026-01-1449 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving618: Rethinking Capitalism, Innovation, AI, and the American Dream (with Elizabeth McBride and Seth Levine)Elizabeth McBride and Seth Levine return to discuss the ideas behind their book Capital Evolution and the shifts they see across capitalism, innovation, and work. They describe conversations with young people who believe "socialism is the right answer," and explain why "nearly half of people under forty now don't think that capitalism works." They share experiences from a World Bank launch event where one attendee "jumped in his car and raced to get there" because he was "so engaged in entrepreneurship and this idea of we need to build things really rapidly." Elizabeth explains that the book...
2026-01-1248 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving616: NYU Stern's Prof on How AI Is Rewriting the Future of Work (with Ben Zweig)When most executives discuss AI, they focus on automation. Dr. Ben Zweig, NYU Stern professor and CEO of Revelio Labs, explains why the real disruption isn't machines replacing people, it's our failure to rethink how work is structured. "Labor markets are not as sophisticated as capital markets," Ben explains. "We allocate capital efficiently, but not labor. That's a huge weakness in how our economy operates." In this conversation, we explore: Why every company must learn job architecture, seeing jobs not as titles, but as bundles of tasks that must constantly evolve. ...
2026-01-0552 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving615: $12B Investment Firm CEO on Saving the American Dream (with Mark Matson)In this conversation, Mark explains that "we often build our lives on things we are certain about that simply are not true." He describes how "we don't actually see the world… we see screens of how we think the world is." He explains that these screens create "a double paradox" shaping what we think is safe, what we think is risky, and how we choose to act. Mark describes the difference between someone who sees a large employer as stability versus an entrepreneur who sees it as danger, saying "which screen is right? Well, it depends on wh...
2025-12-3152 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving614: Why Executive Leaders Feel LonelyAdam McGraw is a Fortune 100 VP turned entrepreneur and co-founder of CREW, a leadership community. "We try and really curate it for folks that are in the VP and above through CEOs as well, founders, etc., so that they have this kind of safe white space atmosphere to really consistently plug in and build community." "Not just transact network-wise in things that are typically narrow and niche… we really love the idea of a melting pot for leaders." "This is kind of the new normal: constant change, constant uncertainty, constant transition." "Be...
2025-12-2955 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving612: How to Have More Hope with Dr. Julia GarciaIn this episode, Dr. Julia Garcia explains why hope is a habit and why it is critical for us to remove what blocks hope. She describes what happens inside teams when leaders lose hope, including "the culture that creates, the burnout that leads to, the discouragement and defeat." Julia shows how unprocessed emotions drain leaders even when they appear high-functioning. "If we emotionally feel disconnected, we're going to start looking elsewhere or we're going to end up in a place of hopelessness where maybe we completely shut down in our career and now we're just...
2025-12-2253 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving611: Former U.S. Intelligence Officer on AI, Leadership, and Thinking Like a Spy (with Anthony Vinci)In this conversation, Anthony Vinci explains that "AI is going to be able to do more and more of what people do." He describes a future where "AI is going to get better and better at doing what people do," and highlights that leaders must understand "how do you figure out what AI is good at and then implement it to do that" and "how do you manage your workforce so that they are able to partner with that AI." He warns that leaders often "overestimate what AI can do and underestimate it at the same time,"...
2025-12-1753 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving610: Cas Holman on Play, Creativity, and the Future of WorkWhen was the last time you played, really played? For Cas Holman, founder and chief designer of Heroes Will Rise and star of Netflix's Abstract: The Art of Design, play isn't childish. It's the foundation of human creativity, resilience, and connection. She worked with LEGO, Disney Imagineering, and the LEGO Foundation and on a mission to help adults rediscover what children know instinctively: that play is how we learn, adapt, and feel alive. "Play isn't what happens after work," Cas explains. "It's how we manage uncertainty. It's how we cope, experiment, and find our way...
2025-12-1555 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving606: CEO Readiness: How Boards Decide Who Gets the Top JobByron Loflin, Global Head of Board Advisory at Nasdaq and co-author of CEO Ready, explained on the Strategy Skills Podcast why many talented executives never make it to the top. " Because you perform well isn't going to automatically get you the job." Boards are looking for more than results. They look for humility, curiosity, and authentic relationships across stakeholders. Byron shared a personal lesson from riding with Ronald Reagan before he was president: "He was genuinely interested in others. And that surprised me. I didn't get the sense that he was a pompous...
2025-12-0155 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving604: How Design Thinking Rebuilt IBM and Reached 400,000 EmployeesPhil Gilbert led one of the most significant cultural transformations in corporate history, as IBM's General Manager of Design, he helped the 400,000-person company reinvent how it thinks, listens, and builds products. In this in-depth interview, Phil shares the playbook behind "Irresistible Change", his approach to scaling design thinking, transforming culture, and helping teams adopt new ways of working that actually work. If you've ever wondered how to lead large-scale transformation that doesn't collapse under politics or mandates, this conversation will show you the operating system behind lasting change. ...
2025-11-2458 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving603: A $3.6B CEO on the "Poverty of Dignity" in Corporate AmericaBob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, explains how he built a $3.6 billion company by placing human dignity at the center of leadership. He describes the moment he recognized that "our history does not give us the future that we deserve," and how this led to a disciplined focus on balance, diversifying customers, industries, and technologies to create a stable enterprise. Bob recounts the insight that reshaped his philosophy: every team member is "somebody's precious child," and leadership is stewardship, not control. Caring, in his view, is an economic principle: "The greatest act of charity is how yo...
2025-11-191h 01The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving602: Harvard's Scott Levy on His Path from Investment Banking to Public Education and Leading in Uncertain TimesScott Levy spent two decades as an investment banker at firms like J.P. Morgan, advising corporate boards and senior executives on risk, growth, and capital decisions. Then he pivoted, serving on a public school board, teaching at Harvard, and writing Why School Boards Matter. In this episode, we discuss: How Levy broke into investment banking and the lessons that carried him through twenty years on Wall Street What he learned about resilience, risk-taking, and long-term thinking at the highest levels of finance Why he left a successful career t...
2025-11-1753 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving600: Jamie Dimon & CEOs Are Rethinking Capitalism – Here's What That Means for YouIs capitalism still working, or is it due for an upgrade? In this must-watch episode, authors Seth Levine and Elizabeth McBride discuss insights from their book Capital Evolution, sharing what they learned from interviewing top CEOs, including Jamie Dimon, Dan Schulman (PayPal), Peter Stavros (KKR), and others who are helping to reshape the social contract of business. They explore: Why Jamie Dimon led 200 top CEOs to declare that companies should serve more than just shareholders. "If you ask Jamie Dimon, are you a capitalist? Because we...
2025-11-1054 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving599: Joy at Work in the Age of AI: The Pain Is Optional (with Bree Groff)"Most people can't remember the last time they went to bed and thought: today was fun." In this conversation with Bree Groff, author of Today Was Fun, we recenter the conversation on joy, pleasure, and meaning at work. Bree shares why her mom always said, "I have the best days," what it taught her about how we spend our lives, and why fun is not frivolous, it's the driver of creativity, performance, and belonging. We also dive into the future of work and AI: "If the AI is a tr...
2025-11-0546 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving598: From Gas Station Cashier to Billion-Dollar CEO with Shirin BehzadiWhat does it really take to go from working as a gas station cashier to leading a billion-dollar company? In this Strategy Skills Podcast episode, host Kris Safarova speaks with Shirin Behzadi, author of The Unexpected CEO and former CEO of Home Franchise Concepts, where she scaled the business to nearly $1B in sales across 12,000 cities. This is a remarkable entrepreneurship journey and CEO story filled with powerful leadership lessons, proof that resilience in leadership is a superpower, and insights into how to do well despite adversity. You...
2025-11-0354 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving596: Ex-Siemens & Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld on AI, Energy & Leading at the Highest LevelFew leaders have run Fortune 500 giants on different continents. Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld has. As CEO of Siemens (Germany) and Alcoa (U.S.), he has led global transformations across industries and advised presidents and heads of state. In this interview, Klaus shares: Why time management is a myth and energy is the real driver of performance How leaders must "AI-ize" their organizations or risk irrelevance What skills will still matter when AI automates analysts, lawyers, and even screenwriters How purpose condenses energy "like a laser beam"
2025-10-221h 01The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving595: What AI Can't Replace: Former design lead at IDEO on Safe Danger, Trust, and the Future of WorkIn this week's Strategy Skills episode, we spoke with Ben Swire, author of Safe Danger and former leader at IDEO. His thesis is trust and psychological safety aren't byproducts. They're designable conditions. And when designed correctly, they create room for calculated risk, creativity, and deeper collaboration. Below are a few insights that stood out: 1. Experiential culture > Instructional culture "There's a difference between handing someone bullet points on how to build trust and giving them a space to practice it." Swire's workshops deliberately use low-stakes emotional challenges to normalize openness...
2025-10-2059 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving594: $2 Billion NYC Real Estate Broker on the Strategy of HomeownershipScott Harris, a New York City real estate broker with more than $2 billion in career sales and author of The Pursuit of Home, reframes buying and selling property as an emotional journey—"a place where life is happening for you"—that requires the same discipline leaders apply to strategy, systems, and people. Drawing on two decades of high-volume practice, he shows how clarity, structure, and empathy turn one of life's biggest financial decisions into a more deliberate, rewarding process. Key insights and practical lessons: Hire with intent. "Take the time to hire a...
2025-10-1551 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving592: London School of Economics Lecturer on AI, Strategy, and the Future of MarketingThis week's podcast features Jenna Tiffany, London School of Economics lecturer, sharing actionable insights on why most marketing misses the mark and what real value looks like in an AI-driven business environment. Key discussion points include: The real reason marketing sometimes fails to deliver measurable value, and why strategy must be linked to clear organizational objectives. How AI is disrupting both the skillset and mindset of marketers, what skills must be protected, and which can be augmented. Practical approaches for using generative AI, including persona-building and campaign analysis, without l...
2025-10-0854 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving580: The Hidden Belief Blocking High Performers: "I'm Not Good Enough"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
2025-08-2554 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving568: The one thing every consulting case study must produce (Strategy Skills classics)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
2025-07-1408 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving517: Digital Transformation Consulting: Technology Leader InsightsIn this episode, we dive into digital transformation consulting, exploring the top digital transformation challenges faced by today's technology leader from a large consulting firm working with C-suite executives on large-scale transformation projects. We'll discuss how emerging tech consulting is shaping the future and how to balance vision and practicality while staying up to date on technology trends, especially the rapid move from AI to generative AI. We cover the challenges of business case development and overcoming ambiguous requirements that often arise in these fast-paced engagements. We also cover the challenges of staying up to dat...
2025-01-1308 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving508: McKinsey's Rise to Prominence Under Marvin BowerMcKinsey's Marvin Bower: Father of Management Consulting | 19 Rules That Shaped McKinsey In this video, we dive deep into the legacy of Marvin Bower, the man who turned McKinsey & Company into the gold standard of management consulting. Known as the "father of management consulting," Marvin Bower's vision, integrity, and groundbreaking leadership set McKinsey apart and established consulting as a respected profession. Discover the 19 rules that Marvin Bower enforced at McKinsey to ensure consultants upheld the highest standards, from wearing specific attire to prioritizing client interests above all else. Learn why these principles helped build McKinsey into a preeminent global firm...
2024-12-1116 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving506: Management Consulting Storyboard | Storyboarding used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC et al.One of the most powerful tools management consultants from firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, et al. use to solve problems and communicate solutions to clients is the consulting storyboard. Whether you're new to consulting or just want to sharpen your storyboarding for consulting skills, this video is for you. Here are some of the topics we covered: - Why you should use consulting storyboard- Where storyboard fit in a consulting strategy study- How corporate strategy studies are different- What is a storyboard? - What are the b...
2024-12-0408 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving487: How publishing a book fast-tracked me to partnership (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings tr...
2024-09-3026 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving441: How do I know what is corporate strategy (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss how to know what is corporate strategy. 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
2024-04-1705 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving440: What is the big picture thinking? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss what big picture thinking is. At least once in your life, you would have received feedback to be a more big picture thinker. The problem is that everyone will have a different definition of big picture thinking and many of the definitions are vague, counter-intuitive, or wrong. Based on advising some of the consultants on the study, this podcast provides a very simple, intuitive, practical, and correct definition of the big picture concept. It also explains why it is so...
2024-04-1511 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving431: Design the value chain you need | value chain analysis (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss value chain analysis. 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 Subscribe to FIRMSconsulting's YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/Firmsconsultingsubscribe
2024-03-1311 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving423: Value chain mapping (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss value chain mapping. We have seen many value chain mapping examples. We have seen good value chain mapping, bad value chain mapping, and incomplete value chain mapping. Ultimately, given the nature of how value chain mapping will work, it can and cannot do a few things. So if value chain mapping is presented to do things it cannot do, then it is flawed. When you do value chain analysis, 1.) it is far more useful to see where profits will shift over time. 2.) assign...
2024-02-1408 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving420: What a strategy workshop will not give you at the end (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss what a strategy workshop will not give you at the end. 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
2024-02-0508 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving419: The one thing every consulting case study must produce (Strategy Skills classics)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
2024-01-3108 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving418: The most important output in a consulting study | management consulting project | benefits case (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss one important thing you always need to present in all of your management consulting projects, a business case. If you are not presenting a business case to a client, or a benefits case, I prefer the word benefits because it makes it clear you are looking for a benefit for a client, if you are not presenting a benefits case to a client you are making it very difficult for the client to make the decision to implement what you are saying in your recommendation...
2024-01-2910 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving416: Consulting workshop best practices (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss consulting workshop best practices. 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
2024-01-2209 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving390: $42 million in fees for one engagement (Problem)In today's Strategy Skills podcast episode, Kris and Michael will share with you some key lessons you need to know related to the upcoming Mega Program called Innovating An Industrial Giant. This particular program is phase two as part of a larger series, phase one is called How to Sell Over $10 Million Consulting Studies, which we also called the Andrew program where all 214 episodes were already published on strategytraining.com. We decided to separate this discussion into three parts: person, assets, and problem. So, in this second episode of this three-part series, our focus will be on problem.
2023-10-1841 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving389: $42 million in fees for one engagement (Assets)In today's Strategy Skills podcast episode, Kris and Michael will share with you some key lessons you need to know related to the upcoming Mega Program called Innovating An Industrial Giant. This particular program is phase two as part of a larger series, phase one is called How to Sell Over $10 Million Consulting Studies, which we also called the Andrew program where all 214 episodes were already published on strategytraining.com. We decided to separate this discussion into three parts: person, assets, and problem. So, in this second episode of this three-part series, our focus will be on assets.
2023-10-1653 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving387: $42 million in fees for one engagement (Person)In today's Strategy Skills podcast episode, Kris and Michael will share with you some key lessons you need to know related to the upcoming Mega Program called Innovating An Industrial Giant. This particular program is phase two as part of a larger series, phase one is called How to Sell Over $10 Million Consulting Studies, which we also called the Andrew program where all 214 episodes were already published on strategytraining.com. In today's session, we will get you up to speed on phase one. We also decided to separate this discussion into three parts: person, assets, and problem...
2023-10-0951 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving385: When should you not brand yourself ex McKinsey (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills where we talk about one of the issues that we deal with at Firmsconsulting and which many ex employees of major consulting firms (e.g. ex McKinsey and ex BCG consultants) encounter as they embark on building their own boutique consulting firms or even when they join other consulting firm as employees. 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/re...
2023-10-0211 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving374: Wharton School Professor of Management and Vice Dean for the MBA for Executives Program, Mauro F. Guillén — Embracing a post-generational mindset to live a long and fulfilling lifeWelcome to Strategy Skills episode 374, an interview with the author of The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society, Mauro F. Guillén. In this book, Mauro unpacks a sweeping societal shift triggered by demographic and technological transformation. Guillén argues that outmoded terms like Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z have long been used to pigeonhole us into rigid categories and life stages, artificially preventing people from reaching their full potential. Mauro F. Guillén is one of the most original thinkers at the Wharton School, where he is Professor of Management and Vice Dean for t...
2023-08-2346 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving373: CEO and co-founder of Reboot.io, Jerry Colonna — Leadership and the Longing to BelongWelcome to Strategy Skills episode 373, an interview with the author of Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong, Jerry Colonna. In this book, Jerry guides us on a journey of reunification with the disowned parts of ourselves, the myths and truths of our ancestors, as well as a deeper connection with those most affected by systems of exclusion. Jerry Colonna is the CEO, and co-founder, of Reboot.io, an executive coaching and leadership development firm whose coaches and facilitators are committed to the notion that better humans make better leaders. For nearly 20 years, he has used the...
2023-08-2144 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving372: Former President of Disney Stores Worldwide Jim Fielding — Leading Consumer Products Groups at the World's Largest Media Companies, Leading Disney Stores Worldwide, Time Management, Biggest Lessons Learned While at DisneyWelcome to Strategy Skills episode 372, an interview with the author of All Pride, No Ego: A Queer Executive's Journey to Living and Leading Authentically, Jim Fielding, where he delivers an inspirational leadership story told from the perspective of an out and proud LGBTQ+ executive. In the book, you'll explore a call-to-action for authentic servant leadership that encourages people to own their truth and bring out the best in themselves and their communities. Jim Fielding is a respected retail and media industry veteran whose expertise combines storytelling, product innovation, merchandising, and consumer experiences. Jim currently serves as a...
2023-08-161h 00The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving371: McKinsey's Emily Field — Power to the Middle, Reimagining the Roles of a Mid Level Manager, The Key to the Future of WorkWelcome to Strategy Skills episode 371, an interview with the author of Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work, Emily Field. In this book, McKinsey thought leaders Bill Schaninger, Bryan Hancock, and Emily Field call for a profound reimagining of managers and their roles. They explain how middle managers are uniquely positioned close to the ground but with a crucial connection to company strategy, enabling them to guide their organizations through periods of rapid and complex change, as well as to help shape the new world of work. Emily Field is...
2023-08-1458 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving370: Harvard MBA Manisha Thakor — Financial Services Thirty Years Career, Hungry Ghost Mindset, How to Stop Being a Workaholic, Dealing with Work AddictionWelcome to Strategy Skills episode 370, an interview with the author of MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your "Enough", Manisha Thakor. In this book, Manisha shares her candid journey out of the Cult of Never Enough—a painful mindset that tells you the money you earn, accomplishments you achieve, and praise you receive is always insufficient. Manisha Thakor has worked in financial services for more than thirty years, with an emphasis on women's economic empowerment and financial wellbeing. A nationally recognized thought-leader in this space, Thakor has been featured in a wide range of publications including the Wall St...
2023-08-0956 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving369: World leading expert on perfectionism, Thomas Curran — The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good EnoughWelcome to Strategy Skills episode 369, an interview with the author of The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough, Thomas Curran. In his book, Thomas calls for both introspection and broader, societal change. He shows what we can do as individuals to resist the modern-day pressure to be perfect, and in so doing, win for ourselves a more purposeful and contented life. Thomas Curran is a professor of psychology at the London School of Economics and the author of a landmark study that the BBC hailed as "the first to compare perfectionism across generations." His TED...
2023-08-0753 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving368: Should I email the full deck to participants before the strategy workshop? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills, where we answer a question, "Should I email the full deck to participants before the strategy workshop?" 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
2023-08-0214 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving367: Are the analyses always the same for a strategy workshop? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills, where we covered a topic about analyses. - Are the analyses always the same for a strategy workshop? In other words, what determines the analyses you should undertake for a strategy workshop? - How does one set objectives for the workshop? - How many strategy workshops should be completed during an engagement? - Why are top-down analyses so important? Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/Over...
2023-07-3119 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving366: What if the client demands more analyses? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills, where we cover a topic about what to do if the client demands more analyses. 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
2023-07-2623 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving365: What happens if the client asks for proof of the strategy? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills, where we cover a topic about what happens if the client asks for proof of the strategy. 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
2023-07-2420 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving364: How confident must I be to lead the workshop? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills, where we cover a topic about understanding the readiness and level of confidence required to go out there and lead. 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
2023-07-1922 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving363: What is corporate strategy? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit one of the classics by Strategy Skills where we discuss the most important concepts you need to understand in order to advance your career. Be reminded about what is Corporate Strategy and how is it different from the other types of strategies. 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...
2023-07-1712 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving362: What is a conceptual thinker? (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we explain what it means to be a conceptual thinker and how to demonstrate this skill. If you work at any major consulting firm – and especially if you want to be promoted – you must prove you are a conceptual thinker. The only problem is that it is hard to define the word conceptual. In this podcast, we explain a similar problem experienced by a consultant on the Corporate Strategy & Transformation Study and how I helped them improve. The definition also explains why a conceptual thinker is a...
2023-07-1210 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving361: Former McKinsey Consultant Darryl Stickel — Building Trust With Consulting Clients, Testing Trust Deficit Within Your Team, Sharpening Trust as a Skill, The Most Effective Levers You Can Pull To Build TrustWelcome to Strategy Skills episode 361, an interview with the author of Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World, Darryl Stickel. In his book, Darryl outlines his groundbreaking Trust Unlimited blueprint for building trust. Stickel moves away from the traditional approach of influencing people's willingness to trust—the con artist's tactic—to employing one or more of ten levers, which leaders can "pull" to close the gap between how much they are trusted and how much they should be. This approach also makes them more trustable and increases trust where it is deficient. Darryl Stickel is one of t...
2023-07-1052 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving347: How to start shifting to the career you've always wanted - Author program Q&A 7 (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-05-1706 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving346: How to write a book even if you're "too junior" - Author Program Q&A 6 (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-05-1510 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving344: Should I wait to publish a solo book? Author Program Q&A 5 (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-05-0811 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving343: Is it expensive? Author Program Q&A 4 (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-05-0311 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving342: What is the ROI? Author Program Q&A 3 (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-05-0109 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving340: Is it a good time now or should I wait until I become more senior? Author Program Q&A 2. (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-04-2406 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving339: Is this good for my career at this point in time? Author Program Q&A 1. (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-04-1906 minThe Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving337: How publishing a book fast-tracked me to partnership (Strategy Skills classics)For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from a 10 episode program to help our clients and customers measurably, radically transform their careers through The Author Program. How would your career, reputation, and earnings change as a published author? Imagine your client interactions when potential and current clients saw your thinking in a published book before they met you? Imagine the time you would save not having to explain your ideas and the value you could add to them? Imagine the fee premium you could earn? Imagine avoiding awkward meetings trying to establish your...
2023-04-1226 min
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking284: Big Changes to Firmsconsulting websiteThis podcast explains the member changes we will soon make to the Firmsconsulting website. We are rolling out a new way to track contributions from members and reward members for their contributions and support.
2015-09-1908 min