The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast brings you conversations with global executives who lead strategy to share their unique experiences in tackling complex chall...
Mastering M&A: Strategy, Integration, and Effectiveness
Welcome to another episode of The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast! Today, we’re diving into a pivotal topic for strategy leaders: how to approach mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to accelerate your company’s strategic goals. Joining us are two Outthinker CSOs with extensive Strategy and M&A experience. Kevin Ilcisin, has a fascinating career in high tech, most recently as SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development for NI, formerly known as National Instruments, which was recently acquired by Emerson Electric in 2023. Kevin brings a scientific approach and holds a phD in Astrophysical Sciences with a focus on Plasma Physics. Alok Agrawal is the Chief Strategy Officer at Celestica, a $7B multinational leader in the design, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions industries. Alok started his career as a management consultant with Kearney serving industrial clients before taking strategy and M&A executive leadership roles for industry leaders like Johnson Controls, Meritor, and Tenneco. In this episode, Kevin and Alok share their insights and practical experience in the art and science of successful deal-making and integration. In this episode, we explore: The critical distinction between strategy and M&A. (hint- M&A isn’t a strategy- it's a tool to realize your strategy) —What people miss about this and why that matters. How to identify the right acquisition targets and develop relationships with key players like investment banks. Practical tips for building and managing a robust M&A pipeline Insights on navigating cultural integration and realizing post-merger synergies effectively. The unique role a Chief Strategy Officer plays in orchestrating and guiding the M&A process- and advice they have for CSOs and M&A leaders early in their career about what they wish they knew early on and mistakes to avoid Whether you’re new to M&A or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with practical advice and lessons learned from two seasoned leaders. Tune in for actionable takeaways to become masterful at using M&A to accelerate your strategy and execution. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
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32:53
Expanding Your Impact: A CSO's Roadmap to Board Service
In this episode, we’re diving into an increasingly hot topic for chief strategy officers: joining external advisory boards. We feature three accomplished chief strategy officers who serve on numerous public and private boards : Desiree Castillejos, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of M&A for Scutum Group North America; Prasad Padman, Chief Strategy Officer of Moog; and Sukanya Soderland, former CSO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Together, they share their experiences and provide actionable advice for CSOs looking to expand their influence and impact through board service. In this episode we talk about: How to craft a compelling board bio that highlights your unique value The importance of networking in securing board opportunities and practical tips and tactics for “board-specific-networking" The unique attributes and differentiators CSOs can highlight to strengthen their board resume and increase their chances of selection Important considerations, risks, and factors you don't want to overlook when evaluating board service Entry points for strategy officers who are looking to land their first external board position Whether you’re considering your first board position or looking to refine your strategy for securing your next board opportunity, this episode is packed with insights to guide your journey. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
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Making Strategic AI Investments
Welcome to another episode of The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast. Today’s discussion centers on one of the most transformative and rapidly evolving topics in business— artificial intelligence. We’re joined by three distinguished strategy leaders --- Joanne Sheppard of Holtzbrinck, Ed Knapp from American Tower, and Prashant Kelker of ISG, who bring unique perspectives about how organizations can think strategically about making investments in AI to minimize risk and maximize ROI. In this episode, our guests explore the critical considerations for integrating AI into corporate strategy, from navigating the fast-changing AI landscape to evaluating the infrastructure and ethical implications. They share insights on how their organizations are leveraging AI for operational efficiency, data-driven innovation, and enhancing customer experiences. Things We Will Cover: The three areas that you as a CSO should consider applying AI to in your organization. How organizations can build strong data infrastructure that supports AI and enables responsible innovation. Practical steps for CSOs to stay informed and strategically engaged with AI without needing deep technical expertise. Join us to learn how other strategists are navigating the complexities of investing in and implementing AI solutions for their organizations. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
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38:05
Designing and Operating an Effective Strategy Office (Part 2)
In this episode, we're joined by Eric Goldstein, Chief Strategy Officer at TIAA, to explore the challenges and opportunities of setting up and operating a strategy office. With over six years at TIAA and an impressive background in investment banking at JP Morgan and management consulting at McKinsey, Eric brings a wealth of experience to the table. We dive into Eric’s journey of centralizing the strategy office at TIAA, the importance of aligning strategy with business goals, and how he navigates the complexities of managing a large, mission-driven financial services organization. We'll also discuss the role of the strategy office in fostering cross-functional collaboration, setting organizational KPIs, and striking the right balance between strategy development and execution. Key questions and topics we tackle include: A breakdown of the TIAA strategy office responsibilities How to decide whether to centralize or decentralize the strategy office Keys to building a high-performing strategy team A CSOs role in setting KPIs, metrics, and measurements in the organization How to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders Eric’s top 3 recommendations for new strategy officers to drive success Join us for an in-depth conversation with Eric Goldstein as we uncover the secrets behind building and operating a successful strategy office. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
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37:04
Designing and Operating an Effective Strategy Office (Part 1)
In today’s episode, we're diving deep into the intricate process of designing and operating a successful strategy office. This is a critical discussion for any newly appointed CSO or those looking to fine tune their existing strategy office. Our guests today are two seasoned Chief Strategy Officers who have navigated the complexities of building strategy offices in different industries. We’re joined by Roopa Unnikrishnan, the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at IDEX Corporation, and Eric Chesin, the Chief Strategy Officer at Anywhere Real Estate who have both made significant strides in shaping the strategic direction of their organizations.In this episode, we explore how these leaders set up their strategy offices from the ground up, how they adapted to the evolving needs of their industries, and the challenges they faced along the way. We’ll discuss the importance of aligning with the CEO and board, building the right team, and maintaining agility in a constantly changing business environment. We’ll cover: How do you determine the focus areas for a strategy office? Tips for managing stakeholders and building relationships and influence Four filters for managing the capacity of the strategy office and CSOs deciding what problem to work on and which to say “no” to The three things every CSO should do when they get promoted to the role or start at a new company Join us as we uncover the strategies and insights that have helped these leaders successfully navigate the complexities of their roles and drive meaningful change within their organizations. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast brings you conversations with global executives who lead strategy to share their unique experiences in tackling complex challenges, navigating disruptive technologies, and driving impactful growth. The Chief Strategy Officer role can be lonely and misunderstood. In today's interconnected world, no single leader has all the answers. To learn more about how Outthinker's network of leading chief strategy officers can offer you time-saving solutions, trend insights, and invaluable peer connections - visit outthinkernetwork.com.
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