Strategy and Leadership Podcast

How to Truly Understand the Customer at the Deepest Level - Interview with Gunny Scarfo Ep#74

"Most mediocre insight you see in business comes not from bad researchers or faulty techniques.. the question itself was destined to lead to mediocrity".
Gunny Scarfo is the co-founder of Nonfiction Research, a market research firm that is dedicated to uncovering and understanding the uncensored lives of customers, and the information they wouldn't even mention to their friends. Gunny has also held multiple Head of Strategy positions, including one at Carrot Creative, a social media agency acquired by Vice Media in 2014.
On this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Gunny hones in on how to truly understand the hidden desires our customers hold, as well as the symbolic relationships they have with our products and services.
Here are the topic covered in the episode:
- Why you need to have a 'burning question'
- An underused tactic to learn about your customers
- A skill that's necessary to understand your customers
- What you know about your customers is probably wrong
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

How to Drive Change using Custom Communication - Interview with Keith Kitani Ep#73

Keith Kitani is a two-time entrepreneur who built and sold his first business to Adobe. Now, he's the founder and CEO of GuideSpark, a leader in change communication that drives change and results by re-focusing the hearts of minds of employees.
Most business leaders are comfortable creating strategies, along with programs to carry out those strategies. However, it is the employees of an organization that make those strategies happen. Keith believes that communication is the way to drive change, bridge that last mile, and see your strategy implemented.
On this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Keith shares his take on driving change by taking a marketing approach to internal communication, how to track the effectiveness of communication, his biggest challenge as a leader and more.
Here's what we talked about:
- Using a marketing approach to internal communication
- How to track effective communication (and how not to)
- On fighting for attention
- His biggest challenge right now as a leader
- About his company, GuideSpark
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

Why NOW is the time to Niche Down & Re-connect with Your Customers - Interview with Bill Bice Ep#72

"The worst thing to do is to go dark"
Bill Bice is the Executive Chairman of Boomtime Word of Mouth Marketing and the Co-CEO of nQ Zebraworks. Having started or invested in over 25 different businesses over the course of his career, Bill brings some valuable marketing and business-building experience to the Strategy & Leadership Podcast.
On this episode, Bill breaks down his approach to building businesses, understanding & re-connecting with customers, the impact of marketing and much more.
Here's what to look for in this episode:
- Bill's niche approach to building businesses and marketing
- Focusing on your team vs. customers
- His secret to success
- Advice for responding to a crisis
- Two marketing mistakes most companies make
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

Better Leadership in a Crisis - Interview with Matt Sweetwood Ep#71

Matt Sweetwood is a lifetime CEO with over 30 years of experience, and is currently the CEO of LUXnow and author of Leader of the Pack. Having spent the majority of his career in the electronics distribution and retail superstore space, Matt had to re-invent his business multiple times to keep up with digital transformation, which ultimately led to a successful exit for him.
On this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Matt joins us to share his experiences as a CEO, some helpful leadership tips for young leaders and those trying to survive a crisis, as well as the story of his very challenging past, which ultimately led to the writing of his book, Leader of the Pack.
Here's a breakdown of the topics we discussed:
-His background, career and new company
-3 most impactful lessons on leadership
-Leading during a crisis
-About his #1 best seller, Leader of the Pack
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

How to use Proactivity & Innovation to Become Future Ready - Interview with Nick Davis Ep#70

Nick Davis is the Managing Partner of Reaching the Future Faster, the author of Future Ready, and the Faculty Chair of Innovation at Singularity University.
Although Nick wears an impressive amount of hats, there are a couple common themes in his work, which involve using advanced technology and strategy to navigate uncertainty, determine the future of work, and solve the double-pronged problem of food waste and food shortage.
Nick acknowledges the extreme unpredictability of the world we live in, yet believes it's within our power to build the future we want using a common vision of the future, advanced technology, and a proactive mindset.
Some of the topics of our discussion include:
- Having an aligned vision of the future
- Balancing strategic thinking with action planning
- Being innovative and proactive
- Managing disruption
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// WEBSITE & RESOURCES:
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

Why a Long-time Microsoft Exec Believes in Strategy First - Interview with Brad Chase Ep#69

Brad Chase spent over 14 years as an executive at Microsoft, finishing as a Senior Vice President leading a team of over 4,000. Brad was a part of several major project at Microsoft, including the complete turnaround of MSN.com, leading the marketing effort for Windows 2000, Windows 98 and Internet Explorer, as well as developing and executing the award winning marketing strategy for Windows 95.
Brad is now a speaker, marketing and leadership advisor, and the author of Strategy First.
On today's episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, we're super excited to have Brad join us to discuss Microsoft's strategy that led to success, his Strategy First Model, how he turned around MSN.com, and some common roadblocks strategy leaders should watch out for.
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

How Courage is Solving Business Problems for the Biggest Brands - Interview with Ryan Berman Ep#68

Ryan Berman an author and the founder of Courageous, a consultancy that uses a 'special forces' approach to problem solving, storytelling and leadership. Today, Courageous works with well known brands like the National Football League, Caesars Entertainment and Johnson & Johnson.
Ryan joins us to share his experiences writing the book, working in the agency world, and starting his own successful consultancy. Some of the topics covered include:
The Courageous approach to solving business problems
Ryan focuses on three aspects: process, point of view and openness, when talking about Courageous and how they've been able to solve problems for some of the most well-known brands. After starting an agency with zero clients and building it up over a decade, Ryan has learned to trust the process. By telling it like it is and providing a real point of view, he's been able to earn trust and build his business into what it is today.
The 'epidemic of clarity'
Ryan discusses the 'epidemic of clarity' we're living in now, with so many different points of information, so much data, so many key stakeholders to listen to. Ultimately, it is slowing us down. He says many brands are confronted with ten different doors to walk through, and while trying to decide which would be best, their competitors are experimenting, learning and pivoting.
The 'special forces' strategy Ryan has used
Ryan breaks down what it means to use a 'special forces' approach to solving business problems. It starts at the end by having a mission based approach. By clearly identifying the problem at the beginning, it will be easier to pinpoint the mission before embarking on a project. Another aspect of the 'special forces' strategy that Ryan has used is using custom-built teams, specifically people from big companies that bring experience and shared values.
How to build trust
The question Ryan asks when beginning a new relationship with a brand is "Are you a coward brand or a courage brand?" He believes that starting with the hard questions and showing people you're willing to go there is the best way to build trust from the beginning. He also delves into the lengthy and definite impact of not having trust.
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Blog ► https://www.smestrategy.net/blog
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

HR Evolution: How to Guide People and Culture: Interview with Melissa Dreuth - Ep#67

Melissa Dreuth is the SVP of People and Culture at Planful, a leading financial planning and analysis cloud platform. Customers like Bose, the Boston Red Sox, and Del Monte rely on Planful for budgeting, reporting and visual analytics.
Having spent time in similar roles at other companies in Australia and the Bay Area, she's nearly one year into her role at Planful, where she's responsible for the entire employee lifecycle including learning & development, HR, recruiting and people & culture.
During our conversation, Melissa discusses her experience at Planful, HR evolution, how they've been able to adapt to changes like COVID-19, and some of the underlying themes for successfully guiding people and culture.
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// WEBSITE & RESOURCES:
Website ► https://www.smestrategy.net/
Blog ► https://www.smestrategy.net/blog
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation

Leaders (and Followers) that can Manage a Crisis: Interview with Dr. Tracey Jones - Ep#66

Dr. Tracey Jones is the President of Tremendous Leadership, as well as an author and leadership expert. Before taking the reins of Tremendous Leadership, she build an impressive leadership resume for herself in various organizations including the National Security Agency, all after spending 12 years as a maintenance officer in the Air Force.
With an MBA and a PhD, Tracey brings her extensive experience leading people to the Strategy & Leadership Podcast. Whether it be deployed overseas or in a corporate boardroom, Tracey has demonstrated she is a true leadership professional.
Some of the topics discussed include:
Leaders and followers
Tracey talks about the relationship between leaders and followers, and places an equal emphasis on good follower-ship when many tend to focus just on the leader. She believes that no matter how good of a leader a person may be, they need to be surrounded by followers that are willing to co-lead, demonstrate certain behaviours and adapt.
3 roles leaders need to be able to fill
Tracey shares her experience and insights on the different roles leaders need to be able to play on any given day, especially when working trying to manage a crisis. These roles include the 'savior', someone followers can look up to, the 'sense maker', someone who will remain calm and think critically, and the 'ethicist', someone who find away to do good for the most amount of people.
Studying leaders who can manage a crisis
Tracey presents some of her key findings from her PhD research on leaders and how they manage a crisis. When it comes to navigating a crisis, it's not the high-end personality type leaders, but the ones that can build a robust team of followers that are able to work through the crisis and succeed.
3 things needed to build culture
Lastly, Tracey highlights the three things she believes are necessary to build culture within an organization. Personality is one - particularly people who are low in neuroticism and high in extroversion. She also looks for people who have both experienced some type of hardship, and who display a big picture perspective on life.
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Risks & Challenges of the AI Revolution: Interview with Geoffrey Cain - Ep#65

Geoffrey Cain is a business advisor, consultant, and author of Samsung Rising. With experience as an Economist correspondent and contributor to both the Wall Street Journal & Time, Geoffrey brings some exciting overseas expertise in geopolitics and media.
On this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Geoffrey joins us to talk about some of the things he's seen as an international correspondent and writer, the impending impact of artificial intelligence, and his book about the South Korean giant, Samsung Rising.
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// WEBSITE & RESOURCES:
Website ► https://www.smestrategy.net/
Blog ► https://www.smestrategy.net/blog
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// 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. Based out of Vancouver, BC, we've worked with organizations all over North American and beyond in various industries including nonprofits, universities & government organizations.
To learn more about working with a facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-plan-creation