Inside the Strategy Room

163. The strategy leader's evolving mandate

Jun 23, 2023

40:43

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Quick takeaways

Strategy leaders now take on additional functions like sustainability and digital leadership.

Having a clear mandate and aligning with key stakeholders is crucial for strategy leaders to drive impact and improve company performance.

Deep dives

Expanding Responsibilities of Strategy Leaders

The podcast episode discusses how the responsibilities of strategy leaders have evolved over the past decade. With increasing complexity in their mandates, strategy leaders often take on additional functions like sustainability, transformation, and digital leadership. The episode emphasizes the need for strategy leaders to define their roles and priorities and align them with the CEO and key stakeholders. It also highlights the importance of resource reallocation in turning strategy into action. The episode provides insights from McKinsey's research and surveys, revealing that strategy leaders face challenges in driving company performance and often desire restructuring their teams.

Allocating scarce resources: Impact and focus in government organizations

01:23

The evolving role of the Chief Strategy Officer and Strategy Organizations

01:08

Trends and Mandates for Industry Strategists

01:51

Introduction

2min

How to Maximize Your Impact and Thrive in the New Environment

4min

The Rise of Non-Strategy Roles in Strategy

2min

The Impact of Strategy Leaders on Company Performance

2min

The Rise and Fall of Strategy Roles

2min

How to Be a Successful Strategist Today

2min

How to Be an Effective Strategy Leader

4min

The Top 3 Facets of Strategy Leadership That Deliver Most Impact

3min

How to Approach a Strategy Leader's Role

2min

10.

The Importance of Clarity in Strategy

4min

11.

The Role of a Chief Strategist in a Government Organization

2min

12.

The Impact of Strategy Leaders on Company Performance

3min

13.

How to Set Up a Strategy for Success

2min

14.

The Importance of Experience in Chief Strategy Officers

2min

15.

How to Hire a CSO

2min

16.

The Importance of Adaptability in a Volatile World

3min

The chief strategy officer’s role has expanded significantly over the past decade. We look at what it takes to be a successful strategist today.

In this episode we discuss the ways in which strategy leaders’ responsibilities have expanded significantly over the past decade, with many adding other functions to their roles. Sean is joined by Emma Gibbs, a partner in our London office who leads our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice in the U.K., Ireland, and Israel. Emma serves institutions in highly regulated industries, helping develop strategies at the interface of the public and private sectors. Na'ama Alpert, a consultant in our Southern California office whose client experience spans private equity, technology, and electric vehicles. And Whitney Zimmerman, an associate partner in our London office. Whitney leads our research on the role of the chief strategy officer and strategy organizations. He helps client CSOs define their role and mandate.

Related insights:

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Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick

What Makes a Great Chief Strategy Officer

Rethinking the role of the strategist

Have you tested your strategy lately?

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