Advertise on podcast: The Strategy and Leadership Podcast with Anthony C. Taylor

What happens when success itself starts pulling your company away from its mission? In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Eric Ries, entrepreneur and author of Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad… and How Great Companies Stay Great. Eric is best known for The Lean Startup, a book that reshaped how modern companies are built. In this conversation, he expands on that foundation and challenges one of the most deeply held assumptions in business: that corruption and failure are the result of bad actors rather than flawed systems. Anthony and Eric explore why even well-intentioned leaders and organizations drift toward short-term thinking, how “financial gravity” pulls companies away from their purpose, and what it takes to design organizations that can scale without losing their mission. They also discuss the role of governance as a strategic advantage, why trust is one of the most valuable assets a company can build, and how leaders can rethink profit, accountability, and long-term value creation in a way that aligns performance with purpose. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why good companies go bad even with strong leadershipHow structural design, not morality, drives long-term outcomesWhat “financial gravity” is and how it impacts decision-makingWhy governance should be treated as a strategic function, not complianceHow to build organizations that scale without losing their missionAbout Eric Ries Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Lean Startup methodology, which has influenced how a generation of companies approach innovation and growth. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup, as well as The Startup Way and The Leader’s Guide. Over the past two decades, Eric has worked with founders, executives, and investors to rethink how organizations are built and governed. He is the founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange and has launched multiple companies, including IMVU and Answer.AI. His latest book, Incorruptible, explores how organizations can be designed to resist short-term pressures, build trust, and create long-term value without losing their core mission. About the Strategy & Leadership Podcast The Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony Taylor, a strategic advisor who works with mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America. For more than 15 years, Anthony has been in the room with leadership teams navigating growth, transitions, and the alignment challenges that come with scaling complex organizations. On this show, he interviews CEOs, founders, and senior leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution. If you lead a team and want to get better at it, subscribe. Strategy Resources for Leaders Download the Strategic Alignment Toolkithttps://www.smestrategy.net/toolkit Book a Strategic Alignment Reviewhttps://www.smestrategy.net/contact Learn more about SME Strategyhttps://www.smestrategy.net Connect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productionshttps://www.rednyne.com

Why Your Leadership Team Isn’t Aligned on What Actually Drives Value with Lee Benson What happens when a leadership team can’t agree on what actually drives value? In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Lee Benson, a multi-exit CEO who has built and sold companies ranging from seven to nine figures and developed a practical methodology for aligning teams around what matters most. Lee has spent decades working with leadership teams across organizations of all sizes, helping them close the gap between strategy and execution by focusing on one critical idea: every team must be aligned around a single Most Important Number that reflects the value they are designed to create. In this conversation, Anthony and Lee explore why most leadership teams struggle to clearly define what drives value, how misalignment shows up across departments, and why measuring the wrong things creates friction, slows execution, and limits growth. They also discuss the role of the CEO in driving value, how to cascade priorities across an organization, and why avoiding hard conversations around performance is one of the biggest barriers to alignment and results. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why most leadership teams are not aligned on what actually drives value How to define the Most Important Number for your organization and teams The hidden cost of measuring the wrong metrics across departments Why misalignment creates execution gaps and slows growth How strong leaders handle performance and accountability conversationsAbout Lee Benson Lee Benson is a multi-exit CEO, founder, and leadership advisor. He is the CEO of Execute to Win and the creator of the MIND Methodology (Most Important Number and Drivers), a framework designed to help organizations align teams, improve execution, and increase business value over time. Over the past 25 years, Lee has founded multiple companies with exits ranging from seven to nine figures and has worked with hundreds of leadership teams to accelerate value creation. About the Strategy & Leadership Podcast The Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony Taylor, a strategic advisor who works with mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America. For more than 15 years, Anthony has been in the room with leadership teams navigating growth, transitions, and the alignment challenges that come with scaling complex organizations. On this show, he interviews CEOs, founders, and senior leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution. If you lead a team and want to get better at it, subscribe. Strategy Resources for Leaders Download the Strategic Alignment Toolkit https://www.smestrategy.net/toolkit Book a Strategic Alignment Review https://www.smestrategy.net/contact Learn more about SME Strategy https://www.smestrategy.net Connect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ Produced by Rednyne Productions https://www.rednyne.com

The Creator Economy Is Just Getting Started with Greg Selkoe of XSET What happens when culture, gaming, media, and entrepreneurship converge? In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Greg Selkoe, a serial entrepreneur who has spent his career building culture-driven companies at the intersection of media, commerce, and community. Greg is the Co-Founder and CEO of XSET, a gaming lifestyle brand operating at the intersection of esports, content creation, music, fashion, and digital media. Prior to launching XSET, Greg founded Karmaloop, one of the earliest and most influential streetwear e-commerce platforms, which grew to more than $180 million in annual revenue, and later served as the first President and CEO of FaZe Clan, helping scale one of the most recognizable brands in gaming. In this conversation, Anthony and Greg explore how the creator economy is reshaping modern business, why community has become the most valuable asset for brands, and how gaming culture has evolved into one of the largest entertainment ecosystems in the world. They also discuss what traditional organizations can learn from creator-led brands, how companies can authentically reach younger audiences, and why the next generation of media companies will be built around people, personalities, and communities. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why community has become the foundation of modern business models How the creator economy is transforming media, marketing, and brand building What established companies misunderstand about Gen Z audiences Strategic lessons from building Karmaloop, FaZe Clan, and XSET Why personalities and creators increasingly drive brand growthAbout Greg Selkoe Greg Selkoe is a serial entrepreneur and culture-focused business leader. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of XSET, a gaming lifestyle brand designed to bring together esports, creators, fashion, music, and digital media into a next-generation media platform. He previously founded Karmaloop, a pioneering streetwear platform that reached more than $180 million in annual revenue, and later served as President and CEO of FaZe Clan, helping scale one of the most recognized organizations in gaming. Throughout his career, Greg has built companies centered on community, culture, and digital media innovation. About the Strategy & Leadership Podcast The Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony Taylor, a strategic advisor who works with mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America. For more than 15 years, Anthony has been in the room with leadership teams navigating growth, transitions, and the alignment challenges that come with scaling complex organizations. On this show, he interviews CEOs, founders, and senior leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution. If you lead a team and want to get better at it, subscribe. Strategy Resources for Leaders Download the Strategic Alignment Toolkithttps://www.smestrategy.net/toolkit Book a Strategic Alignment Reviewhttps://www.smestrategy.net/contact Learn more about SME Strategyhttps://www.smestrategy.net Connect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ Produced by Rednyne Productions https://www.rednyne.com

Many organizations focus heavily on strategy, but the real differentiator inside high-performing organizations is culture. While strategy sets direction, culture determines whether teams can collaborate, innovate, and execute consistently over time. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony C. Taylor sits down with Chris Deaver, culture architect, leadership coach, and co-author of Brave Together. Chris is the co-founder of BraveCore and has worked inside some of the world’s most innovative organizations, including Apple, Disney, VMware, and Roblox, helping leaders build cultures that enable creativity, trust, and sustained performance. Chris shares why culture should be viewed as the operating system of strategy rather than a secondary initiative led by HR. Drawing from his experience working with leaders inside Apple and Disney, he explains how culture shapes decision-making, collaboration, and the ability of organizations to innovate under pressure. Anthony and Chris explore how leaders can intentionally design culture to unlock the full potential of their teams. The conversation highlights why most organizations only access a fraction of their team’s potential energy, how fear limits creativity and performance, and why teams that learn to co-create often outperform groups of individual high performers. The discussion also explores the future of leadership in a world shaped by AI and automation. Chris explains why technical expertise alone will not be enough for leaders and professionals going forward, and why the ability to collaborate, build trust, and create shared ownership will become a critical differentiator. In this episode, you will learn: Why culture should be treated as the operating system of strategy How leaders can intentionally design cultures that unlock innovation Why most organizations only tap into a small percentage of their team’s potential How fear inside organizations limits creativity and performance Why collaborative teams often outperform groups of individual high performers How leaders can build cultures where people do the best work of their livesEnroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0! https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team. https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution Connect with Chris Deaver LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-deaver/ Website: https://www.bravecore.co About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With more than 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning sessions and helping leadership teams execute their strategies, Anthony works with organizations around the world to build clarity, alignment, and accountability. Connect with Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. They help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by:https://www.rednyne.com

Applying AI Responsibly Without Overengineering or Chasing Hype with Daniel Hindi, CEO of NOEM.ai Many organizations are rushing to adopt artificial intelligence, but leaders often struggle with where to start and how to apply it responsibly. While AI promises efficiency and automation, the real challenge is using it strategically without overengineering systems, chasing hype, or creating unnecessary fear within teams. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony C. Taylor sits down with Daniel Hindi, CEO of NOEM.ai, founder, software engineer, and operator with more than 25 years of experience building SaaS companies and leading technology innovation. Daniel has founded multiple companies and achieved several successful exits, giving him a practical perspective on how emerging technologies should be integrated into real organizations. Daniel shares how leaders can approach AI adoption in a thoughtful and strategic way. Rather than starting with tools, he explains why organizations should begin with the problems they are trying to solve. The conversation explores how AI can eliminate repetitive, shallow work, improve communication inside organizations, and help teams reconnect with the deeper purpose behind their roles. Anthony and Daniel also discuss why fear is often the first barrier to AI adoption, how prompt engineering reflects leadership communication, and how businesses can deploy AI in practical ways that improve customer support, lead conversion, and operational efficiency. The discussion highlights a key leadership insight: AI is most powerful when it enhances human work rather than replacing it. When implemented well, it removes low-value tasks and allows teams to focus on deeper thinking, better decisions, and stronger customer outcomes. In this episode, you will learn: Why many organizations approach AI adoption the wrong wayHow leaders can reduce fear and resistance when introducing AI toolsWhy removing shallow work helps teams reconnect with meaningful workHow prompt engineering reflects leadership clarity and communicationPractical examples of using AI to improve customer support and lead conversionWhy responsible AI implementation begins with solving real business problemsEnroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0! https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team. https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution Connect with Daniel Hindi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielhindi/ Website: https://noem.ai About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With more than 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning sessions and helping leadership teams execute their strategies, Anthony works with organizations around the world to build clarity, alignment, and accountability. Connect with Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. They help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com

Most leaders believe success comes from better tools, better strategies, or better tactics. But under real pressure, those things rarely determine the outcome. What actually matters is the operator behind them—and whether they can stay focused, disciplined, and effective when conditions aren’t ideal. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Simon Jeffries, former UK Special Forces operator, Royal Marines Commando, and founder of The Natural Edge. After completing Special Forces selection and serving three combat tours, Simon transitioned into entrepreneurship and performance coaching, where he now works with founders and senior leaders to build the capacity to perform consistently under pressure. Simon shares the key lessons he learned moving from elite military environments into the world of business. While many entrepreneurs focus on tactics, productivity hacks, or motivation, Simon explains that elite performers train something different: performance itself. Without systems for focus, discipline, and emotional control, leaders often fall into boom-bust cycles where short bursts of effort are followed by burnout, distraction, or inconsistency. The conversation explores how high-performing environments like Special Forces and professional sports deliberately train performance capacity, while most organizations expect people to simply show up and perform without that preparation. Simon breaks down the three pillars of performance—hardware, software, and habits—and explains how leaders can build systems that make high performance repeatable rather than dependent on motivation. Anthony and Simon also discuss the role of environment in shaping performance, the importance of reducing friction in decision-making, and why preparation and structure allow leaders to stay calm and effective even when pressure increases. The episode closes with a simple challenge for listeners: choose one habit in your physical health, one mindset practice, and one structural routine—and test them consistently for seven days to see how much your performance improves. Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution In this episode, you will learn: How elite environments train performance instead of relying on motivation Why entrepreneurs often fall into boom-bust cycles under pressure The three pillars of performance: hardware, software, and habits How leaders can build systems that make success the path of least resistance Why environment and structure matter more than willpower How small daily habits compound into consistent high performanceConnect with Simon JeffriesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonjeffriesWebsite: https://thenaturaledge.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenaturaledge About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.netPodcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com

For many entrepreneurs, growth means hiring more people, increasing revenue, and expanding into new markets. But what if there were another path to scaling—one that uses capital markets, partnerships, and strategic acquisitions to grow faster and more efficiently? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Callum Laing, partner at Unity Group, investor, entrepreneur, and M&A practitioner who has been involved in more than 100 transactions and helped create over $500 million in shareholder value. Callum specializes in helping ambitious entrepreneurs use the capital markets to scale their companies and unlock new opportunities for growth. Callum explains how small and mid-sized companies can think differently about scaling by leveraging public markets, partnerships, and acquisition strategies rather than relying solely on organic growth. Drawing on decades of experience working with entrepreneurs, investors, and boards, he shares how capital structures and strategic positioning can unlock growth opportunities that many business leaders overlook. The conversation explores Callum’s work building and leading MBH Corporation PLC, a publicly listed holding company designed to help profitable small businesses scale through an agglomeration model. Instead of forcing companies to merge operations, the model allows independent businesses to retain their identity while benefiting from shared resources, capital access, and strategic alignment. Anthony and Callum discuss the realities of mergers and acquisitions, the common mistakes leaders make when approaching deals, and why ego and impatience often undermine successful partnerships. Callum also shares why entrepreneurs must think differently when operating in capital markets, and how the strategic “game” changes once businesses move from private ownership to public market environments. The episode closes with a powerful insight for leaders: scaling a company isn’t only about growing bigger—it’s about building the right structures, partnerships, and strategy that allow businesses to create long-term value. Responsible for strategy? We’ve created Strategic Leadership Foundations — a concise executive course on alignment, decision-making, and execution structure. It’s free, practical, and designed for leaders running the process themselves. Enroll here: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit For in-person strategic planning and leadership alignment programs: https://www.smestrategy.net In this episode, you will learn: How small businesses can use capital markets to accelerate growth Why mergers and acquisitions can be powerful tools for scaling companies How the agglomeration model allows businesses to grow without losing independence The strategic differences between running a private company and operating in public markets Why patience and alignment matter more than speed when structuring M&A deals How entrepreneurs can think differently about partnerships, capital, and long-term value creation Connect with Callum Laing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callumlaing/ Unity Group: https://www.unity-group.com/ Website: https://www.callumlaing.com/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

In business, leaders make decisions every day under uncertainty. But what if the biggest risk isn’t the one you see — it’s the one you misunderstand? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Dr. Michael Orkin, Professor Emeritus of Statistics and author of The Story of Chance: Beyond the Margin of Error, to explore how probability, randomness, and cognitive bias shape executive decision-making. Drawing from decades of experience in statistics, gambling mathematics, and data science, Dr. Orkin explains why leaders often confuse correlation with causation, overestimate their odds of success, and underestimate the role of scale and opportunity in rare events. From lottery math to prediction markets, casino risk models to executive strategy, this conversation reframes how organizations should think about expected value and long-term advantage. Dr. Orkin breaks down why even “positive EV” opportunities can fail if risk is mismanaged, introduces the Kelly Criterion as a disciplined approach to capital allocation, and highlights how cognitive traps can distort judgment at every level of leadership. Anthony and Dr. Orkin explore what it means to increase your “house edge” in business — not through luck, but through disciplined probability thinking, structured decision-making, and clear risk allocation. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: strategy is not about eliminating uncertainty — it’s about making smarter bets under uncertainty. Responsible for strategy? We’ve created Strategic Leadership Foundations — a concise executive course on alignment, decision-making, and execution structure. It’s free, practical, and designed for leaders running the process themselves. Enroll here: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit For in-person strategic planning and leadership alignment programs: https://www.smestrategy.net In this episode, you will learn: • Why rare events happen more often than you think • The difference between correlation and causation in business data • How expected value applies to strategic decisions • Why risk mismanagement destroys even strong opportunities • How the Kelly Criterion informs smarter capital allocation • How leaders can avoid cognitive traps when interpreting data Connect with Dr. Michael Orkin Website: https://drmikeorkin.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mike-orkin-5600584/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

In many organizations, engagement is treated as a morale metric or a human resources initiative. But what if engagement isn’t a byproduct of strategy — what if it is the strategy? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Christine Miller, former CEO of Melinta Therapeutics and seasoned Life Sciences executive, to explore how disciplined strategic planning, structural clarity, and cross-functional alignment can transform enterprise performance. With a background spanning engineering, portfolio leadership, and executive transformation, Christine shares how she helped reshape an organization by building a clear five-year roadmap anchored in four unwavering strategic priorities. Christine explains why engagement cannot be separated from execution. Leaders often chase growth without building the structural foundation required to sustain it. By aligning teams around long-term objectives, reinforcing priorities annually, and resisting the temptation to chase distractions, her organization increased engagement from 69% to 95%, achieved profitability for the first time, and more than doubled revenue. The conversation dives into the realities of leading in complex, highly regulated industries where innovation, regulatory oversight, and stakeholder alignment must coexist. Christine outlines how designing products with patients and payers in mind requires long-term thinking, rigorous data discipline, and iterative strategy — not reactive decision-making. Beyond operational structure, Christine shares insights into leadership visibility and the importance of advocating for both yourself and your team. She reflects on the underrepresentation of women in senior biotech roles and explains how strategic self-promotion, mentorship, and collective amplification can strengthen leadership pipelines across industries. Anthony and Christine explore what it takes to move from vision to execution, why strategic planning is often hardest to start but most valuable over time, and how leaders can create clarity in the face of macro uncertainty. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: growth without foundation is fragile. Engagement, when treated as a strategic lever rather than a scorecard, becomes one of the most powerful drivers of enterprise value. Responsible for strategy? We’ve created Strategic Leadership Foundations — a concise executive course on alignment, decision-making, and execution structure. It’s free, practical, and designed for leaders running the process themselves. Enroll here: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit For in-person strategic planning and leadership alignment programs: https://www.smestrategy.net In this episode, you will learn: Why engagement must be designed structurally, not socially How to build and maintain a five-year strategic roadmap The role of cross-functional alignment in driving enterprise value Why disciplined priorities outperform reactive decision-making How long-term strategy supports innovation in regulated industries The importance of visibility and self-advocacy in leadership progression Connect with Christine Miller LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemiller95/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

In a business world driven by growth targets, dashboards, and scale, leaders are often told that expansion is the ultimate measure of success. But what if the real challenge isn’t scaling bigger, it’s protecting what matters? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Richard Mah, former Global Head of Digital Marketing at ASICS and now steward of Northern Cafe and Grill, a family-run Vancouver diner that has served its community since 1949. With more than 20 years of experience leading digital teams across Asia, aligning global markets, and building performance-driven platforms, Richard has lived the world of multi-million-dollar budgets, executive reporting, and international KPIs. Today, he applies that same strategic thinking to a deeply local, human-centered business. Richard shares what it was like to build digital infrastructure from scratch at ASICS, break down data silos across regions, and align diverse markets around a single performance dashboard. He reflects on the realities of leading inside hierarchical organizations, earning executive buy-in, and balancing global strategy with local cultural nuance. The conversation then shifts from corporate boardrooms to brunch service. Richard explains why he chose to return to Vancouver and join his family at Northern Cafe and Grill, a 1949 diner that has since been named Yelp’s Top Place to Eat in Canada. Rather than chasing rapid expansion, Richard and his family focus on consistency, community, and care. They listen closely to guests, protect the legacy of the brand, and modernize thoughtfully without losing the soul of the business. Anthony and Richard explore the tension between efficiency and hospitality, innovation and stewardship, and scaling versus sustaining. Richard argues that while many businesses pursue hype and growth, long-term success often comes from doing one thing exceptionally well and honoring the vision that built trust in the first place. The episode closes with a powerful reminder that leadership looks different at every scale. Whether managing global teams or greeting guests by name, protecting what matters may be the most strategic decision a leader can make. Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0! https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team. https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution In this episode, you will learn: Why alignment is more challenging than strategy in global organizations How to build digital teams and unified dashboards across multiple markets Why localization and cultural nuance matter in international brand growth The difference between scaling a brand and stewarding a legacy Why consistency often beats hype in long-term brand building How care and hospitality can become strategic advantages Connect with Richard Mah LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahrichard/ Northern Cafe and Grill: https://northerncafeandgrill.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northerncafeandgrill/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

Why good decisions often fail after they’re made — and how leaders can align intuition, planning, and execution so choices actually turn into results. Even strong strategies can fall apart if organizations aren’t designed to execute them. Decisions that look right on paper often fail downstream, not because they were wrong, but because the systems, structures, and judgment required to carry them through were never put in place. In this solo episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor examines why execution breaks down after decisions are made and what leaders can do to prevent it. Drawing on years of experience working with leadership teams, Anthony explains how strategy is less about the plan itself and more about the upstream conditions that allow people to make good decisions consistently. Anthony explores how judgment is shaped by organizational design, why treating all decisions equally undermines execution, and how prioritization, trade-offs, and sequencing determine whether work actually gets done. He challenges leaders to rethink how resources are allocated, how focus is created, and how teams are supported to act with clarity rather than noise. The episode also unpacks the role of meetings, decision rights, and leadership responsibility in surfacing uncertainty before it becomes costly. Anthony makes the case that execution improves when leaders intentionally design environments that reduce friction, eliminate unnecessary choices, and create space for reflection and alignment. This episode is a practical guide for leaders who want their decisions to survive execution and turn strategic intent into measurable progress. Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution In this episode, you will learn: - Why good decisions fail during execution- How upstream structures shape downstream results- Why focus and trade-offs matter more than more initiatives- How leaders can design organizations for better judgment- What it means to align planning, intuition, and execution- How to create conditions that allow teams to execute with clarity About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.netPodcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

In a time defined by rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, and shifting assumptions about work, innovation alone is no longer enough. Leaders are being challenged to rethink not just what they build, but how and why they build it. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with JoAnn Garbin, former Microsoft innovation leader and founder of Regeneris Labs, to explore what comes after traditional innovation models. Drawing on decades of experience inside Microsoft, startups, and now a venture studio, JoAnn shares how her thinking has evolved from driving innovation within large systems to designing entirely new regenerative models for work and value creation. JoAnn reflects on a major personal and professional inflection point that led her to step away from Big Tech and intentionally rebuild from first principles. She explains why her team spent eighteen months in what she calls an “amorphous blob” phase, experimenting, testing, and resisting the pressure to prematurely define a business model. That process ultimately led to the creation of Regeneris Labs, a venture studio designed to remove constraints and allow experienced builders to create at scale. The conversation explores why the venture studio model offers a powerful alternative to consulting, accelerators, and traditional startups, especially in a world shaped by AI. JoAnn makes the case that AI is a disruptive force on par with steam or electrification, but argues that technology alone never creates transformation. Instead, it must be paired with new organizational and economic models, much like the factory system enabled the industrial revolution. Anthony and JoAnn also discuss team design, trust, and why “Swiss Army knife” leaders are essential in periods of uncertainty. Rather than relying too early on deep, narrow expertise, JoAnn explains why adaptive, cross-boundary leaders are better suited to navigate constant change. The episode closes with a forward-looking exploration of capitalism, regeneration, and the opportunity to design new systems that better align technology, work, and human outcomes. Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0! https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team's execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team. https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution In this episode, you will learn: Why innovation alone is no longer sufficient for long-term success How regenerative ventures differ from startups, consultancies, and accelerators Why AI must be paired with new organizational and economic models How to design teams for adaptability and trust in uncertain environments Why experienced builders are often constrained out of meaningful work What leaders can learn from historical technology-driven transformations Connect with JoAnn Garbin Website: https://www.joanngarbin.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanngarbin/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

As organizations grow, management quality often becomes the biggest constraint on performance. Yet most managers are promoted without training, leaving them to navigate people leadership through trial and error. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor speaks with Ashley Herd, former McKinsey HR leader, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and founder of Manager Method, about how organizations can build confident, capable managers at scale. Drawing on her experience across law, HR, and global consulting, Ashley shares a practical perspective on why management capability is frequently overlooked and how that gap impacts culture, performance, and risk. Ashley explains how HR is often viewed as a compliance function rather than a strategic partner, and why that mindset limits organizational effectiveness. She explores how compliance and culture can work together, not in opposition, when leaders focus on transparency, clarity, and human-centered decision-making. The conversation highlights common breakdowns in feedback, performance reviews, and engagement surveys, and why ongoing manager development matters more than annual processes. The episode also looks ahead to the future of people leadership, including how AI is changing expectations for managers and why organizations must clearly define what is expected, allowed, and possible. Rather than replacing human leadership, Ashley argues that technology makes confident, well-trained managers more important than ever. Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0! https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team. https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution In this episode, you will learn: Why most managers struggle due to a lack of training, not a lack of effort How HR and leadership can work together to scale management capability The balance between compliance, culture, and performance Why feedback and recognition cannot be once-a-year conversations How leaders should prepare managers for the future of work and AI Connect with Ashley Herd Website: https://www.managermethod.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com

In mature industries, innovation is often misunderstood as novelty, experimentation, or disruption for its own sake. But for organizations facing margin pressure, increased competition, and slowing growth, innovation is not a buzzword. It is a mechanism for strategic renewal. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor speaks with Bruce Vojak, Managing Director of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, about how established organizations can renew themselves without destabilizing the core business. Drawing on more than four decades of experience across executive leadership, board service, academic research, and advisory work, Bruce shares a pragmatic and disciplined view of innovation that moves beyond hype. Bruce explains why many mature companies default to cost-cutting and optimization when under pressure, and why that approach often accelerates long-term decline. He outlines his framework, built on alignment, simple processes, and innovation exemplars, and shows how leaders can assess whether their organization is truly capable of innovation or merely incremental improvement. The conversation also explores innovation as a deeply human act of discovery, the role of pattern recognition in leadership, and how executives should think about emerging technologies like AI without overcommitting too early. Rather than chasing novelty, Bruce emphasizes renewal rooted in reality, customer needs, and organizational truth. Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0! https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team's execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team. https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution In this episode, you will learn: - Why innovation should be viewed as strategic renewal, not novelty- How mature organizations lose their ability to renew over time- Why cost-cutting is not a sustainable long-term strategy- How alignment determines whether innovation efforts succeed or stall- What role do innovation exemplars play inside established companies- How leaders should approach AI amid uncertainty and rapid change Connect with Bruce Vojak Website: https://www.breakthrough-innovation-advisors.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvojak/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

In a workplace shaped by rapid change, remote work debates, and shifting expectations, many organizations are struggling to define what employee experience should actually look like. In this episode, we explore the future of employee experience and why leaders must return to first principles to build organizations that are truly future-ready. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor speaks with Jacob Morgan, founder of Future of Work Leaders, a professionally trained futurist, and a six-time best-selling author. Jacob shares insights drawn from years of research and conversations with hundreds of CHROs and senior leaders around the world. Together, they unpack how the pandemic reshaped the employee-employer relationship and where many organizations lost their way. Jacob explains why employee experience must be rooted in a mutually beneficial value exchange and why leadership accountability, clarity, and standards matter more than ever. He offers a clear perspective on the power balance between employers and employees, the role of in-person work in long term career growth, and how leaders can better communicate expectations while still supporting flexibility. You will also hear Jacob’s perspective on the impact of AI on the future of work. He breaks down why AI is both a risk and an opportunity, how it changes career development, and why the ability to show value rather than just describe it will become a defining advantage for leaders and professionals alike. Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0! https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit If you want your team's execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team. https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution In this episode, you will learn: Why employee experience needs a reset after the pandemic How leaders should think about the power balance between employers and employees Why in-person work still matters for long-term career growth How leaders can set clearer expectations without sacrificing flexibility What the rise of AI means for careers, leadership, and the future of work Connect with Jacob Morgan Website: https://thefutureorganization.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com