

Strategy and Leadership Podcast
SME Strategy Consulting INC
We interview CEOs, business leaders, and thought leaders to get their perspectives on strategy, leadership, management, and other trends that can support your career and help you run a ”best-in-class” business or non-profit.
Be sure to subscribe and tell us what you’re taking away from each episode.
About SME Strategy
We facilitate strategic planning offsite meetings and support the accountability of the plans and the leadership teams who lead them.
Learn more at: https://www.smestrategy.net
Connect with the host, Anthony C Taylor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
Be sure to subscribe and tell us what you’re taking away from each episode.
About SME Strategy
We facilitate strategic planning offsite meetings and support the accountability of the plans and the leadership teams who lead them.
Learn more at: https://www.smestrategy.net
Connect with the host, Anthony C Taylor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 15, 2024 • 23min
Former Dell CIO On Being Passion Struck With John R. Miles
Former Dell CIO John R. Miles discusses the Gardener Leadership Style and Servant Leadership. He highlights the importance of leading with passion, nurturing employees, and achieving small victories. Embrace your flames and radiate strong leadership.

Feb 12, 2024 • 28min
India’s First Unicorn The journey Of Mu Sigma With Dhiraj Rajaram
India’s first unicorn gallops its way into this episode of Strategy and Leadership Podcast. Today, the Founder and CEO of Mu Sigma, Dhiraj Rajaram, takes us into the journey of Mu Sigma in becoming India’s first unicorn and how he leads the company to its success. He also mentions how data and information shape the decisions of leaders and why that is important. Dhiraj explains that organizations should not solely focus on making new things but also learn to create the capacity to build those things. Dhiraj’s prowess in his business radiates the power of data-driven decision-making in paving business growth. Join us in this episode and be inspired to lead your business towards success.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/51lJkLGUZNTl8UtGB3jnNN?si=6e0419d7749148ba
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/indias-first-unicorn-the-journey-of-mu-sigma/id1202449526?i=1000645027538
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community.
https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡️ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Feb 8, 2024 • 37min
Anthony Taylor On Strategic Planning
Strategic planning goes beyond storing binders on shelves; it involves transforming intricate visions into concise one-pagers, harmonizing perspectives, and mastering effective communication strategies. Anthony Taylor, the founder of SME Strategy, is not a typical strategist. He is tough but caring, and he pushes your team to do their best. Today, he sits with us to discuss all about strategic planning. Anthony debunks myths that confine the concept to boardrooms and dusty binders. He explains a five-step method to simplify strategy, emphasizes the importance of celebrating success, guides us through the entire strategic journey, and more. Tune in now and transform your approach to strategy!
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AvzmcnV7as873wkgT9wwG?si=fa109a43793d481d
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/anthony-taylor-on-strategic-planning/id1202449526?i=1000644619728
Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
// Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Feb 5, 2024 • 21min
Canadian Rugby Legend Maria Samson On Leadership
Certain situations will call us forth into leadership. Whether that's in sports, business, or life, we need to be ready for when that time comes. In this episode, Anthony Taylor engages in an insightful conversation with Maria Samson, a distinguished leader in women's rugby. Maria shares her remarkable journey ad her experiences in advocating for women in sports, breaking down barriers, and fostering equitable contributions. The discussion touches upon her leadership roles, both on and off the field, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, trust, and open communication in building powerful teams. Maria's story serves as an inspiration for aspiring leaders, highlighting the transformative impact of sports on leadership development and the ongoing strides in promoting women in rugby and beyond. Tune in and learn from this exceptional leader!
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fT54DACGjOaAnLHfGoizH?si=gaP441XJRAK4gMOD5PY2jA
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/canadian-rugby-legend-maria-samson-on-leadership/id1202449526?i=1000644200526
Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
// Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Feb 5, 2024 • 22min
The Story Of 1906 With CEO Peter Barsoom
1906 is making microdosing more accessible and legal, opening the door to a new era of wellness. In this episode, we hear how CEO Peter Barsoom leads the charge, reshaping industries, one drop at a time. Explore the evolution of 1906 from its roots in the cannabis industry to becoming a leader in microdosing. Peter discusses 1906, how it is about more than just cannabis. He discusses redefining microdosing, bringing up the end of prohibition and the launch of a new direct-to-consumer platform. Find out how the company is making federally legal, microdosed cannabis accessible and breaking down industry barriers. Tune in now!
Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
// Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Jan 25, 2024 • 30min
The Story Of First Command Financial Services With CEO Mark Steffe
Mark Steffe, the CEO of First Command Financial Services, leads with love and believes that success comes from putting your mission first. He also talks about his leadership principles and the company's commitment to military families. They guide military families to financial security and measure their success by what they give back. In 2022, they provided 30,000 financial plans and donated 7% of profits to military charities. First Command encourages team members to lead by example and donate time and resources to help military families.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R7rYKwLrSWhjv2ZQh2bdK?si=21baab4079e6418c
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-story-of-first-command-financial-with-ceo-mark-steffe/id1202449526?i=1000642897853
Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
// Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Jan 22, 2024 • 24min
Being On Offense With Paul Epstein Former NFL And NBA Executive
In today’s uncertain times, we need to take matters into our own hands. This episode’s guest is all about doing that, winning by being on offense. Former NFL and NBA executive Paul Epstein joins us to share a playbook for winning both on and off the field. He shares his 15-year career in professional sports to becoming a sought-after consultant and author. He also shares how to seize 52 opportunities a year with "Win Monday" for personal growth and success, the “head-heart-hands” equation, and more. Tune in now and learn the true mindset for success and why it matters to align head, heart, and hands to define your own playbook for victory.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2aYmTwDxc3tcny6DixyoXj?si=3a2a0ddb94d448b8
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/being-on-offense-with-paul-epstein-former-nfl-and/id1202449526?i=1000642482242
Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
// Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Jan 18, 2024 • 22min
Aligning Mission With Your Product - With Lisa Curtis CEO Of Kuli Kuli Foods
Success isn't just about products on shelves; it's about aligning purpose with every purchase, empowering communities, and shaping a healthier world. Align your mission with your product as Lisa Curtis, the CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods, joins Anthony Taylor in this illuminating episode. Lisa shares the remarkable story behind her mission-driven approach to revolutionizing the superfood industry. From the inception sparked by her personal encounter with Moringa in a Nigerian village to scaling up and stocking products in 11,000 stores nationwide, discover the resilient and innovative path Kuli Kuli Foods has traversed. Gain insights into driving sales dynamics, fostering innovation, and the responsibility of being a female founder in today's entrepreneurial landscape. This episode is a testament to the power of aligning business with a global mission, offering an inspiring narrative on creating purpose-driven enterprises for a healthier, more sustainable world.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/61gHgHFVGVfl0SVzdXnwoc?si=f56b6713d6bd4902
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/aligning-mission-with-your-product-with-lisa-curtis/id1202449526?i=1000642083120
Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
// Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net

Jan 12, 2024 • 23min
How To Deliver Value For An Invisible Product With Keith Farley
Keith Farley, SVP at Aflac, shares strategies for selling invisible insurance claims focusing on customer experience, workplace culture, and technological innovation. He explains how they keep customers informed during claim processing and create connections using a duck mascot. Topics discussed include stability, customer preferences, delivering value, health spending accounts, cultural differences in marketing, and cultural outreach through sponsorship.

Dec 11, 2023 • 28min
Leadership, Purpose, Innovation, And Tech For Good With Marga Hoek
We hear a lot of dystopian narratives around the rapid advancement of technology in this day and age, but we seldom take a pause to reflect on the good things that come with this evolution. Can today’s technology be leveraged as a force for good? In this episode, we dive into the world of purpose-driven leadership and sustainable innovation as Anthony Taylor engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Marga Hoek, a global thought leader on sustainable business and author of Tech for Good: Imagine Solving the World's Greatest Challenges. Among other things, Marga shares insights on leveraging the fourth Industrial Revolution for positive change. Discover the power of purpose, imagination, and collaboration in reshaping our future, and learn how technology can be harnessed to create a world where business becomes a force for good. Tune in for a visionary episode that challenges the status quo and inspires hope for a more sustainable and impactful tomorrow.
Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
// Connect with us:
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW
► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/