Business Strategy for Senior Executives: Explore how to create multi-million-dollar impacts by leveraging Strategy.

Think about the last time you made a detailed plan for something—a trip, a project, a big life goal. How much of it actually went the way you thought it would?   Now imagine trying to do that on a corporate scale, where market trends shift overnight, new technologies disrupt industries, and global crises can throw everything off track. That’s exactly what happens when companies lean on rigid, long-term strategies. They plan for a future that often doesn’t exist by the time th

When we think of transformation, we often picture big, bold moves—rebranding a company, launching a revolutionary product, or adopting cutting-edge technology that disrupts entire industries.   These dramatic overhauls steal the spotlight and dominate headlines.   But here’s the thing: not all change needs to be loud to be impactful.   Behind the scenes, many high-performing organizations are transforming in quieter, less obvious ways.   They’re not making grand announcements

Running a business today is a juggling act. Markets shift, supply chains wobble, and customers seem to want something new every other day. On top of that, the demand for constant improvement never lets up. So, when companies decide it’s time for a big transformation, cost management almost always comes into play.   But here’s the kicker: it’s not just what  you do to manage costs, but how  you do it that sets you up for real success.    Rethinking Cost Management: Not Just Cu

Anyone can type, but not everyone writes an award-winning novel. Anyone can cook, but not everyone creates a Michelin-star dish. Anyone can take pictures, but not everyone wins a photography award. Strategy is no different. While anyone can devise a plan, not everyone can craft a winning strategy.   Why? The answer lies in mastery.   In any craft, mastery determines the quality of the outcome. And in strategy, high-quality outcomes are what truly matter.   Salmon Nigiri   The

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be thrilling—the promise of growth, new opportunities, and market dominance.   But let's be real: closing the deal is just the beginning.   The real challenge—and the magic—lies in the Post-Merger Integration (PMI) phase.   It’s the make-or-break moment where businesses either capitalize on the deal’s potential or watch value slip through their fingers.   So, how can you make sure your merger lives up to the hype?   Here are ten practical ti

AI currently is a big deal in B2B marketing, sales, and service.   Companies everywhere are pouring in cash, launching pilot projects, and betting big that AI—especially GenAI—will revolutionize how these teams work in the coming years.   But here’s the kicker: a lot of early adopters aren’t seeing the payoff they hoped for.   In fact, nearly half of them are either meh about their GenAI strategy or admit they don’t really have one yet. That’s according to recent research by

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are often the secret sauce for growth, but let’s be honest: most companies are doing it wrong. Studies from London Business School reveal that a whopping 70% of M&A deals destroy value . Ouch.   So, what makes the successful 30% so special? They’ve nailed the fundamentals—strong executive ownership, strategic focus, and a dedicated, well-oiled M&A team. These companies don’t just wing it. They have clear processes, collaborate with business unit

More than six years ago, I wrote a book titled " Quick and Dirty Guide to Deep Learning in R: For Business People ."   In the six years since, we've witnessed an explosion of deep learning use cases for business. At the same time, we also see a massive paradigm shift: Before we were looking to build our own models (i.e., full-DIY ). Today, we are looking at how to leverage foundational models (i.e., standing on the shoulder of a giant ).   Thus, I’d like to take a moment to r

Let’s face it: being a CEO nowadays isn’t a walk in the park.   In fact, with everything going on in the world—from post-pandemic shakeups to the rise of generative AI and the global push for clean energy—leading a team, let alone a whole organization, can feel like trying to juggle flaming torches.   And oh yeah, your workforce? They’re demanding more autonomy, flexibility, and purpose than ever before.   Ten years ago, a CEO might have had less than 10 big issues to tackle

Digital transformation is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a necessity for businesses aiming to stay competitive in the modern era.   But as a CEO, how do you ensure your company gets it right?   Should you hire an "expert" and let them take the reins?   That can work, but it’s risky if the so-called expert doesn’t truly understand the nuances of digital transformation.    To avoid falling into this trap, you need to have a basic grasp of digital transformation yourself.   You

As a CEO in the Manufacturing Industry, you’re no stranger to the relentless pressure of managing costs while seeking growth.    Today’s economic landscape demands a recalibration of your cost structures to seize both organic and inorganic growth opportunities.   The myriad challenges—ranging from fluctuating demand and rising energy prices to labor shortages and supply chain disruptions—require a comprehensive, integrated approach to resetting costs across your entire busine

In today’s fast-paced business world, the question on every CEO’s mind is: “How can I trim costs while still attracting top-tier talent and investing in new opportunities?”   Navigating this financial balancing act is crucial, especially in an unpredictable economy.   So, how do you make these critical financial decisions without undermining the resources needed for future growth?   Enter Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB), an approach that can transform your budgeting process by ens

As a CEO, you know all too well the grueling marathon that is the annual planning and budgeting process.   It often feels like your finance team is striving for an impossible level of precision, crafting an intricate budget that starts to unravel at the first sign of disruption.   The landscape has shifted dramatically from a decade ago when steady growth was almost a given.   Today, the pace of technological advancement, shifting consumer behaviors, geopolitical shifts, and

Dear CEOs, As a leader steering your company toward success, imagine a future where your business isn’t just keeping pace but setting the standard—leaner, faster, and stronger than ever. This is why you need a transformative journey of strategic cost management: crafting a path that aligns your cost structures with your overarching business goals for enhanced agility and competitiveness. A Holistic Approach to Cost Management The first thing you need to do is to shift the app

As CEOs, we are often tasked with steering our organizations through turbulent waters of profitability challenges and market share losses.   This was the scenario faced by a global FMCG company grappling with high operational costs and a complex organizational structure that was stifling its competitiveness.   Here's how they undertook a large-scale cost transformation to streamline operations and reclaim their market position.    The Challenge   Faced with declining profitab

Managing people isn’t easy. In fact, it’s one of the trickiest parts of running a successful business. Whether you’re leading a small team or managing an entire department, the reality is that people management is a skill set —a discipline that takes time and effort to master. It’s not something you can just wing. If you don’t devote the time and energy to learning how to do it well, mistakes are bound to happen. And those mistakes can be costly.   Here are some of the most c

As a strategist, I used to look down on the low-cost strategy. It always felt like the easiest, most basic approach—no need for complex thinking, no need to be fancy or innovative. Just undercut the competition, and people will flock to you. Even if your quality isn’t great, your customer service is lacking, or your website looks like it’s stuck in the early 2000s, as long as your product delivers, customers (at least a lot of them) will still show up. It seemed too simple, a

It took me quite a few years to realize that overtraining can actually be a big danger, especially when it leads to a disconnect from reality.   Don’t get me wrong—training is important. It gives you tools and frameworks to solve problems.   But here’s the catch: if you rely too much on what you’ve learned and don’t take the time to understand the real-world situation in front of you, things can go sideways fast.     The problem with overtraining is that it can make you robot

First-time CEO? Or new CEO for a new company? The below first 100 days action plan may be helpful for you. Treat it as a checklist...

The problem with strategy is that it’s often difficult to tell whether a strategy is good or bad. This is why 97.5% of strategies fail  to deliver results. Many corporate strategies that appear solid on the surface are actually flawed in substance.   This problem persists because strategy is an abstract construct—intangible, invisible, with no immediate payback. It contends with hidden forces, shifting probabilities, and complex interdependencies. Unlike a physical object you

VMOST is potent as it consolidates the company's vision, mission, objectives, strategy, and tactics into a single framework.   Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy, and Tactics  are all interconnected components that help an organization define its direction and execute its plans effectively.   While VMOST is a powerful framework, even seasoned executives with decades of business experience can sometimes confuse its components. This brief post aims to clarify the distinction