In this episode of Strategy Unscripted, we speak with Sarah Carroll, Head of Programs at William Jackson Food Group, about leading strategy, transformation, and change across a portfolio of heritage British food brands. Drawing on her broad experience from multiple industries, Sarah reveals how a clear, aligned mission—“good food proudly made”—drives collaboration and growth across diverse businesses.🎙 🚀Key Topics:🍞 Creating a ‘golden thread’ of strategy that connects senior leadership to frontline teams🤝 Balancing autonomy and alignment across multiple brands with distinct markets🌱 Embedding sustainability and B Corp certification as core business priorities🔄 Adopting an agile, ongoing approach to strategic planning and execution💡 Leveraging cross-industry insights to navigate change and build resilient organisationsSarah shares practical insights on cascading purpose throughout a large organisation, maintaining clarity amid complexity, and driving culture change to enable lasting transformation in a fast-moving food industry.🎧 Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, strategy, and innovation in food manufacturing and retail.#StrategyExecution #FoodIndustry #Transformation #Leadership #StrategyUnscripted

🎙 Strategic Innovation at Scale: Navigating Global Connectivity with Nir Shalom, CEO @ floLIVE 🚀

In this episode of Strategy Unscripted, we sit down with Nir Shalom, CEO of floLIVE, to explore how strategy, innovation, and customer obsession come together in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech sectors. From his time at AT&T to leading a global connectivity disruptor, Nir shares how strategy must evolve dynamically to meet the demands of mission-critical infrastructure, global expansion, and continuous innovation.

Key Topics:

🌍 Scaling global infrastructure in a complex, regulated environment

🔗 Customer-centric strategy: building with and for the user

⚙️ Balancing innovation with stability in mission-critical services

💡 The power of clarity, culture, and accountability in execution

📈 Nir’s strategic journey from corporate leadership to startup scale-up

🎧 Tune in for a rich conversation on how to navigate complexity, align global teams, and stay laser-focused on customer value in a world of constant change.

#StrategyExecution #GlobalGrowth #CustomerCentricity #StrategyUnscripted #Leadership

In this episode we cover;

0:15 Introduction

0:46 floLIVE context3:02 AT&T professional journey

8:33 Overcoming floLIVE's pains

23:56 Strategic choices - Where do we play?

28:18 Importance of clarity

34:38 Balancing needs with innovations

36:44 The future Nir's industry (5–10 years)

40:05 3AM staring at the ceiling problems

42:46 Closing thoughts

🎙 Strategic Vision and Unwavering Focus with Graham Brown, Executive Chairman @ MediaSense 🚀In this episode of Strategy Unscripted, we sit down with Graham Brown, Executive Chairman and co-founder of Media Sense, to explore the journey from corporate advertising to entrepreneurial leadership. Graham shares his insights on building a complementary management team, the critical importance of client service, and the creative strategies that have driven Media Sense’s growth and successful private equity exit.Key Topics:🤝 The power of client obsession and mutual respect in service businesses🎯 Crafting a clear, focused strategy to differentiate in a competitive market📊 Balancing agility and discipline while scaling across new services and geographies🔄 Navigating distractions and staying aligned with core business priorities🌍 The evolving marketing services landscape and future growth opportunities🎧 Tune in for practical wisdom on leading through change, fostering accountability, and sustaining growth in dynamic industries.#StrategyExecution #StrategyUnscripted #MediaSense

🎙 From Transformation to Innovation: Leading UK Manufacturing through Change and AI 🚀

In this episode of Strategy Unscripted, we sit down with Halil Bedevi, the founder and CEO of Manufacturing IQ, to discuss how AI, robotics, and automation are reshaping the manufacturing landscape. With over 30 years of experience, Halil shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities facing UK manufacturing and offers strategies for staying competitive in an evolving global market.

Key Topics:

🤖 The role of AI and automation in modern manufacturing

🌍 Strategies for navigating geopolitical and economic challenges

🔄 The importance of dynamic and realistic strategy in the face of change

♻️ The future of UK manufacturing and the race to Net Zero

📈Halil’s journey and lessons learned from his career in manufacturing and financial services

🎧 Tune in for a deep dive into how manufacturing leaders can adapt to the future of technology and sustainability.

In this episode we cover;

0:15 Introducing Halil Bedevi

0:48 Halil's Leadership Journey

1:44 Current Manufacturing Blame Culture

3:06 Halil’s Previous Roles

5:30 Strategy in Halil’s Work

9:07 "Beyond Strategy" at Santander

12:28 CEO Roadblocks: Halil’s Perspective

14:58 Supporting Organisations' Goals

17:42 AI in Manufacturing: Challenge or Opportunity

19:48 Staying Ahead: Books, Podcasts, Insights

21:19 Future of UK Manufacturing

23:21 Final Thoughts

🎙 Executing Strategy with Precision – A Conversation with Will Casselton 🚀In this episode of Strategy Unscripted, we sit down with Will Casselton, CEO of McKinney Rogers, to explore the critical gap between strategy and execution. Will shares his insights on mission-driven leadership, aligning teams with strategic intent, and creating a culture of accountability. Drawing from his experience in helping organisations translate vision into action, he reveals the key challenges leaders face when driving execution at scale.💡 Key Takeaways:✅ Strategy is about choices—defining critical shifts for success✅ Empower teams by decentralising decision-making within a clear framework✅ Build adaptability into execution—plans will change, but clarity must remain🎧 Watch now for a deep dive into leadership, strategy, and scaling a mission-driven business!

#StrategyExecution #Leadership #MissionDriven #StrategyUnscripted

🎙 From Legacy to Leadership: Scaling Belazu with Purpose 🚀

In this episode of Strategy Unscripted, we sit down with David, MD of Belazu, to explore his journey from food technologist to leading one of the UK’s most respected food brands. He shares how Belazu has evolved while staying true to its mission of inspiring and serving chefs in every kitchen.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✅ From M&S to Belazu – Lessons from a career in food and leadership

✅ Scaling with purpose – How Belazu balances tradition and innovation

✅ Food industry challenges – Navigating supply chains, exports, and AI-driven change

✅ Execution over strategy – The importance of bringing plans to life every day

✅ Empowering teams – Creating a culture of clarity, accountability, and ownership

David also shares his insights on networking, leadership, and the future of the food industry, as well as how Belazu is expanding into retail while staying true to its food service roots.

🎧 Watch now for a deep dive into leadership, strategy, and scaling a mission-driven business!

#Belazu #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #StrategyExecution #FoodIndustry #StrategyUnscripted

Cyrus shares his expert perspectives on identifying emerging opportunities, mitigating critical threats, and leveraging predictive insights to drive smarter, more impactful decision-making. The conversation also dives into the transformative potential of small language models and how they’re reshaping industries.

 Tune in now for actionable strategies to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving business landscape!

This episode is essential for business leaders focused on scaling effectively and executing strategy with precision. Oliver Phoenix, Managing Director (EMEA) @ The Barton Partnership, shares his expert approach to leadership and strategy execution, refined over two decades in the industry.

✅ Align your leadership team around clear strategic priorities that drive success

✅ Build a resilient business strategy that adapts to global challenges

✅ Leverage top talent to fuel growth and sustain long-term success

Gain actionable insights that will help you turn your strategic vision into measurable results.

#Leadership #StrategicExecution #TalentManagement #GlobalGrowth #BusinessStrategy #SiA #StrategyUnscripted

Julien shares his journey from leading strategy at companies like Amazon, Skype, and Meta to his current role, offering invaluable insights on what truly defines effective strategy. His take on how to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and why execution alone isn't enough to succeed, is a must-watch for business leaders navigating complex strategic landscapes.

Tune in now to discover:

✅ What strategy really is (and isn't)

✅ How to sustain long-term success

✅ The importance of aligning execution with strategic direction

This is one conversation you don't want to miss!

Step into the world of luxury fashion and retail as we uncover the complex strategies behind sustainability and innovation in this episode of Strategy Unscripted. Hosted by Ben Davis, we had the privilege of speaking with Neri Karra Sillaman, a renowned expert with deep insights into the unique challenges and opportunities in this sector. Neri has a wealth of experience in luxury fashion, including her leadership roles and academic contributions, offering invaluable perspectives on: