What if imagination was the ultimate competitive advantage in business?

In this episode of the Strategy Hero Podcast, Simon Crowther is joined by Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute and a biology-trained strategist with over 36 years at BCG. Martin draws from his background to frame companies as adaptive systems, discussing strategy evolution, the role of imagination, AI's impact on advantage, and blending analytical rigour with creativity for long-term survival.

What You’ll Learn

We explore Martin's books, Your Strategy Needs a Strategy for contextual approaches and The Imagination Machine for cultivating corporate creativity, plus thought experiments on technology's limits. Practical tips include viewing strategy as an ongoing, imaginative process rather than static plans.

Ever wonder how to succeed in a world that’s always changing? Professor Rita McGrath from Columbia Business School is disrupting how many of us think about strategy. Rita shares why holding onto fixed plans or competitive edges doesn’t cut it anymore, with examples like Kodak’s missteps and how companies like Fujifilm stay agile by empowering small teams to innovate fast.

Rita offers her take on how AI is here to boost human creativity rather than replacing it. She also shares practical tips from her upcoming book on navigating the digital economy, urging leaders to spot shifts early and embrace uncertainty to stay ahead in a constantly evolving world.

What does it take to lead with clarity in chaos? Neil Jurd OBE, former British Army officer, Sandhurst instructor, and LeaderConnect founder, shares how he guides global organisations. Shaped by high-stakes military operations, Neil’s philosophy hinges on connection and clear direction.

What drives a project to transform an organization? In this episode, Ray Collis, co-founder of Growth Pit Stop, shares his “super projects” formula—blending ambition, confidence, alignment, complexity, and collaboration. You’ll learn how successful leaders manage bold initiatives by embracing uncertainty and fostering seamless team alignment. Ray’s “pit stop” strategy—pausing to regroup and refocus—offers a practical way to navigate challenges and keep momentum.

From Big Pharma’s hidden innovators to boardroom successes, Ray’s insights reveal how to turn complexity into opportunity, celebrate small wins, and ask, “What does my team need to thrive?” empowering you to lead with clarity and unlock your team’s full potential.

In this episode, Jim Longshore, Vice President at SBTI and author of The ABCs of Strategy Execution, shares insights from over 25 years of driving Lean Six Sigma deployments across manufacturing, healthcare, and insurance.

Jim reflects on his early career experiences at American Standard and Trane, where the integration of Lean and Six Sigma first clicked, and how understanding measurement systems and capability analyses transformed his approach to strategic problem-solving. He outlines the key components of a successful deployment, from having a single project hopper and champion, to building infrastructure that aligns improvement work directly to business strategy.

Drawing from real-world stories, like why recordable injury rates were misleading or how misjudged patient placement disrupted hospital staffing, Jim makes a compelling case for curiosity, clear metrics, and data-driven decision-making. He also weighs in on the future of Lean Six Sigma, the role of AI, and why leaders must resist rewarding heroics over consistency.

For anyone involved in operational excellence or strategy execution, Jim’s advice is simple but powerful: stop fighting fires, start preventing them.

Connect with Jim

In this episode, Hensley Sejour, Principal at Black Tech Nation Ventures, shares how a mindset rooted in curiosity and community has guided his unconventional path—from PhD chemical engineer and 14-year BP veteran to AWS product manager and now venture capital leader.

Hensley reflects on pivotal career moments, including how a move to Alaska unlocked a journey toward an MBA at Carnegie Mellon and a transition into tech and investing. Drawing on experiences in process design, operations, and strategy, he unpacks lessons on stakeholder alignment, human-centered design, and the value of real-world execution before strategic planning.

He also explores the parallels between oil refineries and startups, the role of mentorship in career growth, and how learning—whether from books, people, or setbacks—can be a lifelong competitive advantage. For aspiring leaders navigating career change, Hensley’s advice is clear: you’re capable of more than you think.

In this episode, Anthony Huffman, Enterprise Architecture Strategist at Koch Industries, discusses the transformation of manufacturing through Industry 4.0. With over 20 years of experience in operational excellence and smart manufacturing, Tony shares insights into lean principles, change management, and the integration of digital technologies such as Gen AI and predictive analytics.

Tony outlines the four layers of Industry 4.0—smart assets, smart manufacturing, supply chain integration, and digital transformation—emphasizing the importance of aligning strategy with technology rather than simply adopting new tools. He also highlights common pitfalls in transformation efforts, the role of middle management in change adoption, and how Gen AI can enhance decision-making while avoiding hallucinations.

For leaders looking to leverage Industry 4.0 technologies, Tony advises starting with capability maturity rather than technology-first approaches. He stresses that transformation requires balancing "run, improve, and transform" strategies while ensuring that digital tools augment rather than add complexity to existing workflows.

Roger Longden, founder and chairman of the UK's leading OKR consultancy There Be Giants, brings a wealth of experience in helping organizations excel in strategy execution. From his corporate IT background to a coaching qualification at Henley Business School, Roger's journey has spanned leading project management at Fujitsu, coaching in the North Sea oil rigs, and establishing an international consultancy that empowers businesses to thrive with OKRs.

In this episode, Roger delves into the transformative potential of OKRs, emphasizing their role in fostering alignment, engagement, and cross-functional collaboration. He explains how OKRs offer an alternative to traditional "cascade" methods, empowering teams to devise solutions that connect directly to organizational objectives. Roger highlights the significance of psychological safety, trust, and inclusivity in OKR adoption, while also addressing challenges like maintaining agility in corporate settings.

Connect with Roger

Featuring amazing guests such as Roger Longden of There Be Giants, Enterprise Architecture Strategist for Industry 4.0 at Koch Industries, Anthony Hoffman and Hensley Sejour, Investor at Black Tech Nation Ventures.

James Milsom, host of the Strategy Hero podcast, has spent two seasons uncovering the stories and strategies behind the world of business transformation, operational excellence, and strategy execution. As a seasoned marketer and thought leader at i-nexus, James has connected with practitioners, consultants, and unsung heroes to share their insights and experiences.

In this special episode, James takes the guest seat, reflecting on his journey as a host and the evolution of the podcast. He reveals the inspiration behind the show: creating a platform that replaces the watercooler conversations lost in a remote-first world, while highlighting the voices of those on the frontlines of strategy execution.

James shares lessons learned from the podcast, such as the importance of balancing structure with spontaneity in storytelling, building genuine relationships with guests, and capturing the humanity behind business strategies. He recalls standout moments, from deep conversations about leadership and culture to personal stories like the shared impact of family with Festus Akinbusoye.