The Strategy and Leadership podcast, host Anthony Taylor welcomes Nigel Thurlow, CEO of the Flow Consortium, to delve into the nuances of lean thinking and continuous improvement. Nigel shares his extensive experience from Toyota and beyond, offering insights into how Lean principles can apply to various organizational contexts, emphasizing the significance of behavior alongside methodology and tools. This episode is packed with thought-provoking discussions on cultural transformation, the role of human factors, and how organizations can effectively harness their workforce to achieve long-term success.

Nigel explores the concept of viewing organizations as complex adaptive systems and discusses why prescriptive methodologies often fall short in such environments. He emphasizes the importance of human behaviors and culture in achieving continuous improvement, drawing from his collaborations with complexity thinking experts. Listeners will learn about the practical application of lean methodologies beyond manufacturing environments, discover the importance of root cause analysis, and gain insights into how organizations like McKinsey are shifting their focus toward unlocking human potential. Nigel also discusses practical strategies for leaders to engage employees in continuous improvement and empower teams to make impactful decisions.

Lean thinking transcends manufacturing and can be applied to any area with non-value-added activities, focusing on eliminating waste and enhancing processes.

Organizations must adapt to complex systems by shifting from prescriptive methodologies to emphasizing human factors and team dynamics.

Effective leadership involves empowering teams to address problems and contribute to cultural transformation by creating a psychologically safe environment.

Root cause analysis should identify not only the point of occurrence but also the point of cause to effectively address underlying issues.

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

Cindy Anderson, CEO of Think Strategy, shares her expert insights into the world of business transitions and strategic acquisitions. Cindy stresses the importance of preparing an exit strategy well in advance, highlighting a five-year timeline to ensure the business is poised for a successful transition. She delves into crucial considerations business owners need to assess, such as the value of company growth, strategic acquisitions, leadership development, and team readiness, especially in the context of evolving market trends as we approach 2025.

Throughout the conversation, Cindy explores various exit strategies, including the intricacies of ESOPs, helping owners to find tailor-made solutions that align with their business objectives and personal goals. By considering internal transitions or preparing for external sales, she emphasizes the necessity for intentional planning to maximize company value. The discussion extends to the importance of leadership readiness and team development, empowering owners to add significant value to their businesses. Cindy reflects on her personal journey of selling her CPA firm and how those lessons shape her approach today. Listeners will gain a thorough understanding of strategic planning in the context of transitioning out of a business, ensuring the optimal outcomes for both owners and employees.

The Importance of an Early Exit Strategy: Business owners should plan their exit strategies at least five years in advance, providing time to prepare for successful transitions.

Valuing Internal and External Transitions: Every business needs a strategy that aligns with its unique goals and the marketplace, such as implementing ESOPs for suitable companies.

Leadership and Team Development: Building a strong, independent leadership team can enhance a company's value and facilitate smoother transitions.

Timing and Strategy Flexibility: Understanding when to act on a sale offer based on market conditions and readiness can significantly influence the success of the transaction.

Cindy's Personal Experience: Lessons learned from selling her own business highlight the importance of having a comprehensive plan and experienced advisors during transition phases.

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

Thomas Dunlap is the managing partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, an established law firm with around 80 lawyers. His extensive expertise lies in intellectual property law, supported by a diverse professional background as a former CEO of a biotech company, and an army officer with military training. He shares his knowledge by teaching an class on intellectual property for engineers and scientists at Lafayette College.

With a distinguished background in law, business, and the military, Thomas shares fascinating insights into the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and intellectual property (IP), particularly the challenges and opportunities they present. As the discussion delves into the transformative landscape of AI, Taylor and Dunlap consider how businesses can strategically leverage AI technology without compromising their intellectual assets.

Throughout the conversation, Dunlap highlights the "Wild West" nature of AI and its implications for IP protection. He shares valuable perspectives on how AI technologies are reshaping industries, urging companies to adapt and integrate these tools to stay competitive. Dunlap also sheds light on his law firm's innovative management structure, emphasizing the importance of hiring professionals, even non-lawyers, to efficiently manage non-core activities like HR and marketing. His unique approach showcases how legal practices can break traditional barriers and foster a progressive work environment focused on specialization and efficiency.

AI & IP Law: The intersection of AI and intellectual property law poses complex challenges, with the need to clearly define ownership of AI-generated content.

Innovation in Management: Employing non-lawyer professionals for peripheral tasks enhances efficiency and allows specialized professionals to focus on their core strengths.

Adoption of AI Tools: Companies not using AI risk falling behind, as AI is an invaluable tool for creative and operational enhancement in businesses.

Educational Integration: Encouraging future scientists and engineers to utilize AI responsibly can lead to innovative developments and solutions.

Leadership Practices: Building a successful organization involves aligning management practices with core strengths and creating a culture centered around trust and efficiency.

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

Renee Moorfield, PhD

In this enlightening episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor converses with Renee Moorfield, PhD, the CEO of WisdomWorks Group, about the science of thriving leadership. Drawing from three decades of experience and working with industry giants, Renee shares her thought-provoking insights and frameworks that focus on creating thriving work environments. Her passion for promoting well-being, resilience, and effective leadership is evident throughout the conversation.

The discussion dives deep into the differentiating factors between leadership and management, emphasizing the importance of utilizing strategic plans to cultivate successful teams within complex dynamic systems. Renee highlights the significance of nurturing thriving leadership backed by science, rather than relying solely on motivational tactics. Listeners will discover the impact of self-care, resilience, and creating supportive work environments for personal and organizational achievement. Renee underlines that thriving should be considered a standard measure of success in today’s businesses.

Thriving is an innate capacity within all humans, yet individuals often delay focusing on it. Leaders should integrate personal thriving into daily life to contribute positively to their teams.

A thriving culture in organizations doesn’t just mean wellness programming but creating environments where employees can flourish and realize their potential.

Middle managers play a crucial role in cushioning their teams from less supportive corporate structures, making their own self-care and understanding of thriving essential.

Leadership is about cultivating environments and focusing on relationships before business to support each team member's growth and effectiveness.

Simple reflective practices, when embedded into leadership, can lead to significant changes in work dynamics and individual well-being.

"Your capacity to thrive is innate to you as a human being. You're biologically hardwired to do these things."

"One of the groups we kind of worry about the most is middle managers because they're the ones buffering from so many directions."

"Personal reflection is what’s called psychoactive. It already starts to shift how you see how you're designing your life."

"At the end of the day, of course, results matter, but the way we get there is through healthy relationships."

"The role of a leader is to steward environments where all people can thrive."

Website: wisdom-works.com

LinkedIn: Renee Moorfield

Renee Moorfield’s perspectives provide a fresh lens on leadership and thriving. To explore more profound insights shared in this discussion, listen to the full episode and stay tuned for more empowering content from the Strategy and Leadership Podcast.

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

Dawn Reese is the CEO of The Wooden Floor, a creative youth development organization that empowers young people through the transformative power of dance and access to higher education. With over 15 years at The Wooden Floor, Dawn has driven significant organizational growth, guided by her expertise in strategy, business development, and finance. Her career began in the technology sector before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, where she applies her business acumen to make meaningful community impact. Dawn is also a proponent of strategic planning and servant leadership.

In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Dawn Reese, CEO of The Wooden Floor. Dawn shares her incredible journey from the tech sector to leading a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming young lives through dance and education. The episode dives into the strategic planning and leadership approaches that have driven The Wooden Floor's success. Listen in to discover how strategic visioning and a commitment to people-centric leadership can drive meaningful change in both organizations and communities.

Dawn Reese elaborates on how The Wooden Floor is more than just a dance studio; it's a creative youth development organization that supports underserved children through dance education, academic support, and college readiness programs. With 100% of their students enrolling in higher education since 2005, Dawn outlines the organization's strategic growth from its humble beginnings to its current expansive reach. The conversation delves into the importance of a long-term strategic plan that includes chapters allowing for iterative progress, stakeholder engagement, and intentional growth that aligns with the organization's mission.

The episode also emphasizes the crucial role of servant leadership and empathy in cultivating a thriving organizational culture. Dawn's dedication to fostering a supportive and accountable work environment has led to impressive retention rates within her team. She candidly shares lessons learned from past experiences and underscores the importance of living out a clear mission-driven vision. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for leaders aiming to implement effective strategic planning while leading with heart and purpose.

The Wooden Floor goes beyond being a dance studio, transforming young lives through dance education and college readiness, ensuring 100% of students enroll in higher education.

Strategic planning involves a long-term vision with iterative chapters that allow for flexible and responsive growth, rather than rigid SMART goals.

Servant leadership and empathy are key to fostering strong, dedicated teams and ensuring organizational success.

Effective strategic planning requires strong stakeholder engagement, listening, and implementation as insights are gathered.

Having a growth filter ensures decisions are mission-driven and sustainable, aligning with the organization's core values and strategic objectives.

"We inspire and transform young people through the power of dance and access to higher education." – Dawn Reese

"Not a lot of organizations can do a 10-year vision...we set the vision for the organization." – Dawn Reese

"For us, it's been really intentional about how we want it...we don't want to grow for growth's sake." – Dawn Reese

"If they're taken care of, then they'll take care of our mission." – Dawn Reese

"If I'm ever a CEO, I want to be the person that people can talk to and count on." – Dawn Reese

Website: The Wooden Floor

Dawn Reese on LinkedIn: Dawn S. Reese

Tune into this episode for an in-depth look at how strategic planning and servant leadership can transform an organization and its community impact. Whether you're in the nonprofit sector or corporate world, there's a wealth of practical insights and inspiration to be found. Stay tuned

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

Fletcher Wimbush is the CEO of Discovered, a leader in talent acquisition and assessment. With a rich background in entrepreneurship and leadership, Fletcher has spent years perfecting the process of matching the right talent with the right roles. His journey in talent acquisition began at a young age, and he has since built on that foundation with extensive industry experience, including opening 25 delis straight out of college and turning around a failing business unit in the commercial dish machine industry. Under his guidance, his company is known for leveraging assessments to improve hiring processes.

In this engaging episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor invites Fletcher Wimbush, CEO of Discovered, to delve into the intricacies of talent acquisition. Broadcasting from Southern California, Fletcher draws on decades of experience in the field, sharing vital insights into improving recruitment processes and retaining top talent. The conversation is underpinned by the exploration of performance-based job descriptions, structured interviewing, and the pros and cons of leveraging AI in hiring. As Fletcher outlines, understanding the precise requirements of a job through job analysis is crucial to finding the right fit.

Fletcher highlights the significance of structured interviews and performance-based job descriptions as tools to combat common hiring pitfalls — underscoring the financial and cultural repercussions of hiring the wrong candidate. He emphasizes the importance of conducting a thorough job analysis and using resume reviews, performance-based interviewing, and technical assessments to identify a candidate's potential longevity and fit. Fletcher also touches on the innovative use of AI tools like ChatGPT in streamlining hiring processes, while cautioning about the need for skilled oversight to ensure quality results.

Conducting a thorough job analysis and creating performance-based job descriptions are pivotal to successful hiring.

Resumes should be used as an initial screening tool to identify potential longevity and fit.

Structured interviewing and performance-based interviewing are among the most predictive methods to assess candidate suitability.

AI can be a powerful tool in recruitment but requires expertise to leverage effectively.

Hiring processes should consider both demonstrated skills and potential for growth, depending on the role's requirements.

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

• Connect with them when you are looking for a strategic planning facilitator for your next strategy offsite.
  

Chris Hunter is a renowned entrepreneur in the beverage industry, known for co-founding both Four Loko and Koya. With a rich history in business development and brand-building, Chris spearheaded the growth of the iconic Four Loko brand, infamous for its initial high-energy concoction and its prominence in the alcohol market. Transitioning to a focus on health and wellness, he co-founded Koya, a plant-based beverage company aiming to provide nutritious and delicious options. Chris is also an author, sharing his entrepreneurial journey and insights in his newly released book "Blackout Punch."

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

• Connect with them when you are looking for a strategic planning facilitator for your next strategy offsite.
  

Justin Bookey is the founder and CEO of Pongfit, a nonprofit organization that promotes the sport of ping pong for mental and physical fitness. He has a diverse professional background with experience in law, communications management, consulting, content strategy, and brand strategy. As a US Open medalist in table tennis, Justin channels his passion for the sport into leadership development, drawing parallels between successful sportsmanship and executive leadership skills. Recently, he authored a book entitled "Ping Pong Leadership," which explores how to succeed in both business and ping pong.

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The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting.

• Connect with them when you are looking for a strategic planning facilitator for your next strategy offsite.
  

David Edelman is the co-author of "Personalized: The Customer Strategy in the Age of AI." Throughout the conversation, David shares the transformative power of personalization in today’s tech-driven landscape, sharing critical insights derived from his book and extensive professional experience. Their discussion covers how personalization extends beyond simple name mentions to encompass entire customer experience transformations driven by AI and strategic data use.

The episode delves deeply into the theme of empowerment through personalization, emphasizing the role of technology—particularly generative AI—in creating tailored customer experiences at scale. Anthony and David discuss various industries, from transportation to music streaming, and how these sectors utilize personalized strategies to stay competitive. The dialogue also warns against common pitfalls like appearing 'creepy' by mishandling customer data and underscores the importance of developing agile, test-and-learn frameworks to perfect personalization initiatives. As David points out, "Personalization is a lot about testing and learning."

Personalization is much more than individualized marketing—it transforms entire customer experiences by leveraging detailed data insights effectively.

Companies are urged to promise and deliver empowerment, understanding, convenience, and continuous improvement to their customers through personalized strategies.

The balance between privacy and personalization is crucial. Customers should feel empowered and not invaded by predictive technology and data use.

Future trends in personalization will leverage AI to not only provide suggestions but to actively perform tasks, leading to the rise of agentic AI.

Creating data through customer interactions is critical for enhancing personalization while being transparent with data utilization to avoid being 'creepy.'

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveedelman/

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The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting. Connect with them when you are looking for a strategic planning facilitator for your next strategy offsite.

Want to learn how to facilitate your own strategic planning process? Enroll in the Aligned Strategy Course: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Aligned-strategy-course

Connect with the host Anthony Taylor on LinkedIn. 

On this episode of the Strategy and Leadership podcast, Anthony Taylor engages with David Ewing, CEO of Motiv and President of EO Austin, in a compelling discussion on the importance of customer experience as a strategic initiative. David shares insights from his two decades of experience in transforming customer engagement and how small actions, when systemized, can lead to big results. This episode dives deep into the intersection of strategy and customer experience, showcasing how businesses can leverage customer touchpoints to foster enduring loyalty and advocacy.

David emphasizes that creating positive, repeatable customer experiences can be a game-changer for companies looking to do more with less. With references to companies like Chewy.com, he illustrates how smart, strategic decisions, supported by data, can enhance customer lifecycle value. The episode also touches on automation's role in scaling these efforts in larger enterprises. David shares practical steps for businesses large and small to identify and capitalize on moments that matter to their customers, ensuring that even automated interactions feel personal and thoughtful. Throughout, the conversation delves into the significance of combining strategic thinking with empathetic customer engagement to drive business results.

Importance of Customer Experience: David Ewing emphasizes positioning customer experience at the center of strategic business operations, turning it into a strength that can be leveraged for greater business success.

Scaling Care with Technology: Automation and data systems are critical in allowing businesses to replicate personalized customer experiences on a larger scale without losing the personal touch.

Moments That Matter: Identifying and acting on significant customer interactions — both positive and negative — can strengthen customer relationships and brand loyalty.

Cross-Selling Opportunities: Engaging customers during peak emotional moments can unlock valuable cross-selling opportunities, enhancing customer lifetime value efficiently.

Continuous Innovation in Strategy: Businesses should continuously assess and innovate their strategies to realign with the ever-changing customer expectations and industry dynamics.

The Strategy and Leadership podcast is hosted by SME Strategy Consulting. Connect with them when you are looking for a strategic planning facilitator for your next strategy offsite.

Want to learn how to facilitate your own strategic planning process? Enroll in the Aligned Strategy Course: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Aligned-strategy-course

Connect with the host Anthony Taylor on LinkedIn.