The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

Deborah Ancona, a professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management and founder of the MIT Leadership Center, explores the intriguing concept of 'family ghosts' that shape leadership behaviors. She discusses how personal histories influence executives' styles, the struggle between resilience and perfectionism, and strategies for overcoming familial challenges. Ancona emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in navigating today's AI-driven landscape, encouraging leaders to learn from their experiences while fostering effective team dynamics.

Delve into the complexities of strategic brainstorming in the energy sector, where staying focused is crucial. Discover a decision tree technique designed to enhance productivity in executive meetings. Explore effective methods for high-level discussions in banking, emphasizing the importance of structured frameworks. Learn how to tackle environmental constraints while leading critical conversations and making informed decisions. This classic revisit highlights key levers in industry-focused discussions, ensuring no vital detail gets overlooked.

Discover the magic of storyboarding in management consulting! Learn how early storyboards enhance analysis and guide impactful storytelling. Explore the transition from raw data to a compelling narrative, ensuring clarity and organization in your findings. Uncover techniques for crafting effective headlines that resonate with your audience. This insightful journey dives deep into the art and importance of structured communication in consulting projects!

Discover how great firms like McKinsey and BCG define leadership as a legacy-building endeavor. Explore the shepherding role of leaders in nurturing future talent while maintaining ethical standards. The importance of trust, risk-taking, and delegation plays a key role in empowering teams and ensuring smooth leadership transitions. Delve into the philosophy of consulting leadership that emphasizes service and preparation for ongoing success. True leadership is about creating lasting value for future generations.

Dive into the world of strategic visioning and the pitfalls of superficial analysis in corporate strategy. Discover how meaningful analysis can convey powerful messages and the importance of personal accountability in consulting. Uncover the secrets to maintaining a strong business reputation while navigating market trends, and learn how a structured approach can lead to creative insights that drive client success. This discussion highlights the significance of delivering impactful work that truly matters.

In this discussion, Dr. Tessa West, a leading expert in social relationships and Professor at NYU, shares insights from her book, Job Therapy. She explores the emotional complexities of viewing careers as relationships, drawing parallels between dating and workplace dynamics. Dr. West also emphasizes the importance of internal validation over societal pressures, offering practical strategies for navigating career frustrations. Ultimately, she advocates for embracing self-belief to enhance confidence and career satisfaction.

Learn how to convert insights into Strategy Maps to move from consultant to partner. Explore a strategy map for lab market entry in the Southern US, converting insights for effective communication, and using strategy insight maps for discussions with executives.

Former McKinsey partner Viva Ona Bartkus discusses leveraging business in frontline regions to create stability and opportunity. Topics include investing in underserved areas, industries for early investment, business impact in post-conflict Colombia, and lessons from failed projects.

Award-winning marketer and TEDx speaker, Leslie Zane, discusses tapping into the instinctive mind for brand growth. Topics include harnessing the unconscious mind in decision-making, utilizing visual triggers for branding, instinctive marketing in B2B, and reassessing traditional approaches to customer purchases.

Mike Maples Jr, co-founder of FLOODGATE, discusses pattern-breaking success in startups, challenging limiting beliefs, and identifying breakthrough opportunities. He explores the origin of great startup ideas, empowering inflections in startups, and the importance of living in the future for innovation.