Strategy And Leadership Podcast

Have you ever needed to persuade someone to join your team or convince them to support a project? How did you approach the situation, and what did you learn from it? In this interview, we have the privilege of talking to Alastair Wood, Vice-President & General Counsel at Rhino a New-York based real estate startup, looking to bring greater financial freedom to renters everywhere. He shares valuable insights gained from his experience as the Chief of Staff to the General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer at City Legal. Alastair navigated the hierarchical structure of a law firm, where he had to influence and gain buy-in from influential individuals who didn't report to him. Through his stories and experiences, we learn how he honed his persuasive skills and turned them into a powerful asset. As you listen to Alastair's captivating anecdotes, you will realize the significance of identifying and harnessing the unique talents within your team. Discover how diverse skills, such as persuasive communica

What are some fundamental leadership lessons that apply to both the public and private sectors? In this episode, we have an insightful conversation with Laura Terrell, an executive coach with a diverse background. Laura has worked in various industries and even served as a special assistant to the president at the White House. She is now focused on helping individuals succeed as an executive coach. In this episode, We explore her expertise and learn how she helps clients navigate complex situations and seemingly crazy ideas. We also discuss the importance of building the right team and seeking diverse expertise to support decision-making.

Are you struggling with implementing DEI strategies in your workplace? Join us for an engaging conversation with Wema Hoover, President and CEO of B Limitless Consulting LLC. With her extensive experience at top organizations like Pfizer, Athena Myers, Bristol Squibb, and Google. Wema sheds light on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in today's world. Discover how to drive sustainable progress in your organization as we delve into the different stages of DEI implementation and the outcomes you can achieve, such as customer segmentation, diverse talent recruitment, and global market expansion. Wema emphasizes the significance of creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute their unique skills. She debunks the misconception that DEI conversations are accusatory and suggests focusing on removing biases and assumptions while reinforcing organizational values and culture. Prepare for an emotional journey as Wema encourages listeners to reflect on their own biases an

Are you curious about the strategic vision that led to Howdy.com's remarkable $100 million valuation? Join us in this Strategy and Leadership Podcast episode as we interview Jacqueline Samira, the CEO, and founder of Howdy.com. Discover the core concepts behind their success and Jacqueline's journey here. Starting her company in 2018, Jacqueline's strategic approach involved nailing the foundation before scaling it, a decision that proved crucial. With a focus on deliberate growth, Howdy.com gained a reputation for exceptional customer experience and word-of-mouth referrals. In this interview, Jacqueline shares insights on the impact of sales experience, the importance of aligning sales and delivery, and the significance of having a clear strategic vision as a CEO. #strategicvision #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #businessgrowth #leadership #startupsuccess #strategicplanning #scalingbusiness #visionaryleadership #businessstrategy #successstories ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on stra

Looking to turn your organization into a value-driven powerhouse through business transformation? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, we speak with Sanjeev Loomba, the author of "The Ninth Gear." With 27 years of experience, Sanjeev is a transformationalist and former CEO who has helped transform hundreds of organizations and thousands of people. He shares his insights on how to shift your perspective on doing business and drive wealth transformation. Sanjeev understands the challenges that businesses face in today's world, including disappearing market share and slowing growth. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the customer in the current market and notes that businesses must integrate their teams to deliver products that provide value to the customer. Here are some key takeaways from our conversation: - Sanjeev proposes a new perspective on business transformation by finding potential in individuals, teams, and organizations. - Sanjeev shares leadership lessons from running a

In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking work of women in business in their communities. Our guest is Wendy Steele, the founder, and CEO of Impact 100 Global. Wendy shares her incredible journey of overcoming limited resources and building a successful model that gathers at least 100 women who each donate $1000 to create grants of $100,000 or more that stay in their local community. With 65 Impact 100 chapters worldwide and over $123 million in grants given away, Wendy's work has truly made an impact. During the episode, Wendy also discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership and how companies can find leaders who bring unique skills and experiences to the table, regardless of their gender or background. She encourages women to step into their power, overcome barriers, and create positive change. This episode is a must-listen for women in business and female leaders who aspire to make a difference. ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: http

Is your team making optimal decisions? In this episode of the podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Atif Rafiq, a seasoned leader with extensive experience in executive roles at billion-dollar business units such as McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM Resorts. Notably, he was the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500, a pioneering role he held at McDonald’s, and he rose to the president level in the Fortune 300. He is also the author of “Decision Sprint,” where he shares insights on his design process and lessons learned. In this Podcast, we delve into Atif's insights on decision-making: - Understanding the two components of the process: upstream and downstream, involving exploration, alignment, and detailed decisions. - Shifting focus from “what” to “how” in his latest approach, prioritizing collaboration and teamwork over product or service-centric thinking. - Emphasizing the value of exploration before alignment, empowering teams to reach their own conclusions and work towards a

Does your organization have a DEI Strategy, or is looking to create one? Then this podcast is for you. Creating an inclusive workplace involves navigating multiple layers, and it can pose challenges, particularly for large and established organizations that are entrenched in the status quo. So, how can these organizations make progress toward inclusivity? We recently had the privilege of speaking with Joy Fitzgerald, SVP & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at United Health Group, , who recently authored the inspiring book "Finding Authentic Rhythm: How to Win on Your Terms in Corporate America." Join us as Joy shares her journey, insights, and experiences in the human capital space, where she has been a champion for the underserved, underrepresented, and marginalized. Joy's practical and relatable approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion will challenge your assumptions and inspire you to create a more inclusive environment in your workplace and beyond. Through personal anecdotes and

Are you a business owner or entrepreneur looking to build a valuable asset (organization) that can be sold or transferred at your desired valuation? In order to achieve this, you need to focus on creating sustainable, predictable, and transferable cash flow. Unfortunately, many businesses fail to properly manage their finances, leading to negative equity and liabilities that are not immediately apparent. In this podcast episode, Anthony talks to Ryan Tansen, founder of Arkona LLC, about his experience in turning around his father's struggling business and selling it for eight figures. Ryan shares the lessons he learned and the mindset shifts he had to make to transform the business into a financial asset. Ryan emphasizes the importance of knowing if what you're doing is worth it and aligning everyone in the organization towards the same goal. He also talks about his current company, Arkona, which provides training and financial services to help business owners grow the value of their businesses. In this po

What does healthy Leadership Communication look like and how can you become better at it? In this Strategy and Leadership podcast episode, Anthony Taylor interviews Erin Marcus, founder and CEO of Conquer Your Business. We learn about the importance of having uncomfortable conversations in the workplace. When managers are unhappy with their team's performance but are uncomfortable having a conversation about it, it can lead to resentment and the firing of team members, which is expensive and does not solve the problem. Similarly, when team members are having issues with their superiors, but don't feel comfortable expressing themselves, they can become disengaged and eventually leave, which can harm both the employee and the company. The key to having these difficult conversations is to start with the end goal in mind and to focus on what you want to achieve from the conversation. By taking ownership of our relationships and being proactive about having uncomfortable conversations, we can create better outcom

As a business leader, you know that creating and implementing an effective strategic plan can be overwhelming. There are so many things to consider: the field your company operates in and how quickly it changes affect the complexity, length, and scope of your strategic plan. It’s crucial to understand the timelines and interdependencies between different components of your plan, and identifying the most critical areas to focus on first will help ensure that your plan is achievable and impactful. But have you ever wondered what process you need to go through and how long your strategic planning and execution timelines should actually be? If so, you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve invited Tagil Green, the Chief Strategy Officer at Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s Largest Bank to share her insights on how to “Right-size your Strategic Planning” as a large organization. In this podcast, we’ll discuss the following topics with Tagil Green: - How multinational organizations can navigate the complexities of the strategi

Bill Murray fans this is for you! Do you want to know how a community-driven business can build brand loyalty and drive demand? Look no further than Kerry Michaels, the co-founder and CEO of William Murray Golf. In this episode, we sit down with Kerry to discuss the incredible story of William Murray Golf and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way. Kerry shares how William Murray Golf grew into an authentic community of diverse individuals who share a love for golf and the brand's spirit. One of the things that made William Murray Golf stand out was its scarcity model, which built demand for the brand. Kerry shares how they started with limited inventory, buying only a couple of hundred polos, and sold out very quickly. This scarcity model led to demand for the brand, with customers eagerly awaiting new releases and sometimes waiting up to 12 or 18 months to see a popular polo again. Kerry also offers some practical advice for business leaders growing their companies. She emphasizes the importan

How can senior leadership teams create and sustain strong partnerships that endure over time? In this episode, we explore the critical factors that enable effective collaboration, including the importance of complementary skills, the demands of multitasking, and the distinctive roles of CEOs and COOs in both startup and mature company settings. In essence, co-founders must be adaptable and allocate responsibilities based on each other's strengths, while supporting one another in their respective roles to ensure seamless operations. That's why we invited Tanis Jorge, the founder of Co-founders Hub, who brings a wealth of experience from co-founding and leading multiple successful startups, including Twilio. Tanis shares her insights and expertise on how co-founders can strengthen their partnerships and avoid common challenges that arise when leading a company, including the impact of communication on relationships, the importance of building trust, and the role of conflict resolution in senior leadership par

Strategy and Leadership Podcast #214 Are you a CEO or a business leader looking to gain insights on how to lead your organization during uncertain times? Then you won't want to miss this episode of our podcast. We're excited to welcome Liz Hoffman, a business and finance editor at Semaphore and former reporter at the Wall Street Journal. Liz has spent 15 years covering finance and business, with a particular focus on corporate mergers, investment banking, and Wall Street. Her new book, "Crash Landing: The Inside Story of How the World's Biggest Companies Survived an Economy on the Brink," takes readers behind the scenes of some of the biggest corporate stories of the pandemic era. In this episode, Liz shares her experience reporting on the pandemic through the lens of economics and business, and what she learned from talking to CEOs, investors, and policymakers during a once-in-a-lifetime event. She also discusses how leaders can navigate uncertainty and transform their organizations for long-term success

In this episode of the strategy and leadership podcast, We had the pleasure of speaking with a special guest about a topic that is vital to any business: leadership. As we all know, just holding a managerial position doesn't automatically make you a great leader. It's a constantly evolving journey where you need to learn, grow, and push yourself out of your comfort zone. But let's face it, this journey is far from linear. You'll encounter uncertainties, setbacks, and triumphs. So, how do you navigate this journey? This is where Sandeep Chennakeshu comes in. As the former CTO of Ericsson and President of Blackberry, Sandeep has spent over three decades leading teams across fourteen countries, pioneering products in wireless, semiconductors, and mission-critical software. His experience has given him practical insights on how to transform organizations for long-term success. 
In this podcast we talk about: - the different stages of the leadership journey and how to embrace them as they come - Finding a bal

In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony is joined by Douglas Cole to discuss the latest and most effective sales techniques for 2023, The key challenges that sales professionals face in the new attention economy, including opening and closing deals with clients juggling multiple priorities and seemingly limited resources. We also examine the best strategies for influencing corporate buyers. Whether you're a seasoned sales professional or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice to help you succeed in the dynamic and ever-changing world of sales Douglas Cole is an accomplished Enterprise Sales Leader currently serving at LinkedIn Sales Solutions. He is also the esteemed author of "The Sales MBA: How to Influence Corporate Buyers". In addition to his sales leadership role, he actively contributes to internal education at LinkedIn by serving as a distinguished faculty member of LinkedIn's Data-Driven University (DDU) and spearheading the developmen

Strategy and Leadership Podcast Ep. #211 In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership podcast, We talk to Nick Donofrio. He joins us to talk about his lessons learned in leadership from 44 years of leadership at IBM, What to do as a leader while the speed of technological change and digital transformation seems overwhelming, Where to invest your time, and prioritize what areas to improve during uncertain times, and shares some time- tested wisdom on approaching team building and layoffs as a leader. Nick Donofrio is a 44-year IBM veteran who led IBM’s technology and innovation strategies from 1997 until his retirement in October 2008. He also was vice chairman of the IBM International Foundation and chairman of the Board of Governors for the IBM Academy of Technology. Nick is the co-author of the book “If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes”. Where he explains how he led IBM’s global technical team to embrace market-centric, focus redefining innovation and sparking worldwide collaboration. Get his book he

Strategy and Leadership Podcast Ep. 210 In this episode of the strategy and leadership podcast, Martin Birch joins us to discuss, Leadership lessons he's learned from managing a technology business through the pandemic, his approach to talent retention in 2023, and how tech leaders can ensure they get strategy buy-in from their remote and hybrid teams. Martin Birch is the CEO and President of IBML, a company that makes scanning and data capture software that helps you get useful information from even the most complicated documents and speed it up so it can be used right away in business applications. Learn more about our approach:https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-consultant-strategy-facilitator Click here to see how we've helped organizations across North America with their strategy execution: https://clutch.co/profile/sme-strategy-consulting#summary ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confi

Tim joins us in this episode of the strategy and leadership podcast to discuss the disconnect between many organizations' digital transformation objectives and the reality of their strategy implementation, Why you should make proactive rather than reactive digital investments (External pressure or losing market share) and how to successfully link your digital transformation plans with your strategy implementation plans. Tim Bottke is a Senior Strategy Partner at Deloitte and the author of the recently released book Digital Transformation Payday: Navigate the Hype, Lower the Risks, Increase Return on Investments. Tim is also an Associate Professor of Strategy and Digital Transformation at SDA Bocconi, one of the top business schools in the world. Check out his book here: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0BPF7RT7J/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ Read our b

Strategy & Leadership Podcast Ep.108: Loren Martinez joins us to discuss his approach to training and development, their giving back initiative (called Scoop for Scoop), how strategic planning has helped his organization, and much more. Loren Martinez is Director of Operations at Little Man Ice Cream, having overseen the growth and development of new retail locations and production a facility. Be sure to visit a Little Man Ice Cream location in Denver, Colorado Springs, or Fort Collins, Colorado. Learn more about their brands at https://www.littlemanicecream.com/. ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ Read our blog on Strategy and Leadership: https://www.smestrategy.net/blog // Connect with us: ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a m