developing strategy

My work here usually takes one of two forms: facilitated client workshops or strategic advisory work.

Facilitated workshops are the core of my strategic work. Each is shaped by its own thematic brief — but all are grounded in pre-workshop conversations with participants, creating early momentum that carries into the workshops.

A hallmark of my facilitation is the ability to inject fresh insights and real-world stories into the conversation.  Clients also value the leadership insights and energy into the conversation.

“David played an outstanding role in engaging across the organisation so that we had a shared view on the ‘why’ and the ‘how’. A year on the organisation has made big progress on that agenda. David is a seasoned operator at the Board level and that was entirely evident throughout the process” … Chris, CEO 

The strategic advisory work is commonly a synthesis of client input and independent analysis, woven into a compelling strategy paper or presentation.  Typical briefs include strategic reviews for clients facing pivotal decisions: M&A; divestment; strategic growth or renewal. 

Thank you for this strategy paper, it reads like a story! It does a neat job of summarising the journey of the BU, and the corporate overlay that has driven the decision-making over the years … Divisional President

Over the years I have developed dozens of executive and board briefing papers and facilitated hundreds of client workshops.

Sense-making in a complex world

What are the most important uncertainties facing your industry? When everything around you is changing, keeping your nose to the grindstone can be dangerous.

“If one is mentally out of breath from dealing with the present, there is no energy left for imagining the future” … Elise Boulding (1978) 

These engagements are typically workshops designed for the client specific context.  In one of the more innovative workshops we worked with external specialists to prepare short videos as ‘new bulletins from the future’ for the global miner.

With a major research organisation we explored how the intersection of three forces – the changing global context; and levels of environmental and technology embrace – could impact the future research agenda.  One scenario: “Planet Elon – nothing technology cannot fix”.

The future of AI is prominent in strategic conversations today.  But too often the conversations are about applications.   The more strategic question: how will AI shape your industry dynamics?  This is fertile ground for scenario thinking.

Each of these workshops is influenced by the continuous environmental scanning which is a cornerstone of my strategic advisory work and my teaching. 

“I’m often asked what’s going to change in the next 10 years … but I almost never get the question: what ‘s not going to change?”  … Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder)

Clients need to hold both conversations.  As Louis Pasteur quipped: success comes to the prepared mind.

strategy execution & leadership

A strong execution culture doesn't emerge from a plan — it is built into the leadership and management routines and practices of the senior team, and sustained through the leadership engagement across the whole organisation. A common issue is lack of shared accountability at the executive level: “my team will deliver, I’m not confident about the others”.

A former CEO reflecting on his own experience commented:

“we always focus on what the choices are … you have to spend at least as much time on explaining the logic behind the choices”.  

Leaders deep in the strategy process imagine the context is obvious — it rarely is. The result is a broader leadership group that is confused, uncertain, and disengaged from the very agenda they are being asked to drive. This is where I spend most of my time in execution work — alongside the senior leadership team.

My students often ask: how do I help my clients move from insight to execution.  My response is always the same: all change happens one conversation at a time.

LEADERSHIP & MENTORING

The best leaders are teachers. The best teachers are leaders. Teaching is at the heart of everything I do. I bring ideas, frameworks and real-world cases into client work and mentoring in ways that add depth and insight to the client’s lived experience. And client work brings strategy and leadership to life in the classroom. And students keep me honest about emerging leaders and their mindsets. Together they create my flywheel in terms of content and insight.

“Hi David, thank you for sparing a few minutes today from your lunch. It was lovely to bump into you in the lobby. As I said, you have been a great & empowering influence during and beyond my MBA” … Kriti, former MBA student