Talking Strategy S5E20: The Primacy of Culture and Leadership in Strategic Success, with Khoi Tu
Jul 16, 2025
Khoi Tu, a senior partner at KornFerry Consultants and author of *Superteams*, shares his insights into the vital roles of leadership and culture in strategic success. He discusses the parallels between military and business strategies, stressing that effective strategy hinges on adaptive leadership and making intentional choices. Tu emphasizes the importance of shared purpose in high-performing teams and highlights the transformational power of organizational culture, using Microsoft's evolution under Satya Nadella as a success story.
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Business vs Military Strategy
- Business and military strategy share core focus on clear objectives, adapting to changing environments, and making critical trade-offs.
- Both rely heavily on leadership and culture to turn plans into effective actions.
Agile Small Units in Strategy
- Top teams and special forces use small, agile units focused on specific tasks to achieve adaptability and speed.
- This approach reduces handovers and builds focus, echoing trends in elite military and business units.
Microsoft's Culture-Led Transformation
- Microsoft missed key tech waves before CEO Satya Nadella transformed its culture to a learn-it mindset.
- This shift aligned strategy and culture, enabling the company to regain innovation and grow tenfold in value.