Strategy Thinkers

Prof. Davide Sola

Strategy Thinkers, A podcast for ambitious business leaders. Hosted by Professor Davide Sola, alongside thought leaders from across the business, non-profit, and academic sectors. The Strategy Thinkers podcast explores real-world challenges and best practices in impactful strategy execution.

Puntate

  1. 11 H FA

    Why Capabilities Deliver a Compelling Value Story with Jon Waters, Global Workforce Solutions and Commercial Leader

    In this episode of the Strategy Thinkers Podcast, I speak with Jon Waters. Jon is a solutions, business development and commercial leader in workforce/B2B enterprise services. He has spent nearly twenty years helping public and private organisations blend people, process and technology so they have the right resource in the right place at the right time, at the right cost. In his capacity as a strategic business leader for workforce solutions providers, we spoke about what happens when an organisation emerges from a period of intense demand and delivery and has to decide what comes next. Not in theory, but in practice, with real constraints, real people and real accountability.  Jon shared how a five-year plan was built to reconnect ambition, capability and execution, while staying adaptable in a changing environment. Our discussion explores:  ☑️ Strategy starts by clarifying what the organisation is truly capable of  ☑️ Plans work when they create options, not rigid commitments  ☑️ Capabilities help people understand both where to focus and where to stop  ☑️ Execution improves when people can see themselves in the story If you lead strategy, commercial or workforce transformation, this episode offers a practical lens on planning under uncertainty.

    40 min
  2. Building strategic momentum with Dan Figueiredo, Director Global Technology Strategy at Microsoft

    03/12/2025

    Building strategic momentum with Dan Figueiredo, Director Global Technology Strategy at Microsoft

    How do you keep strategy relevant when the world moves faster than your plan? I put that question to Dan Figueiredo, Director, Global Technology Strategy at Microsoft. Dan has spent more than twenty years at the intersection of business and technology, guiding partners and enterprises through AI-enabled transformation while keeping people, outcomes and capability at the centre. We spoke about what it means to build strategy around outcomes, how to sustain direction without over-fixating on targets, and why true change depends on people, not platforms. Key lessons from our discussion: ☑️ Treating technology as capability blocks and keeping outcomes in charge ☑️ Using a North Star and quick wins to build confidence and momentum ☑️ Converting AI hype into operating value through skills and process ☑️ Creating real partnership language and dealing with resistance constructively For senior leaders driving transformation, scale or technology-enabled growth, this discussion brings strategy back to outcomes — and to the people who make them real.

    28 min
  3. Owning the Strategy, Not the Slide Deck with Jonathan Chocqueel-Mangan, CSTO at BSI

    14/11/2025

    Owning the Strategy, Not the Slide Deck with Jonathan Chocqueel-Mangan, CSTO at BSI

    What does it take to make strategy work inside large incumbents under digital threat? In this episode, I speak with Jonathan Chocqueel-Mangan, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at BSI and former CSO at Pearson and Kantar. Jonathan bridges the worlds of engineering, consulting and academia and brings rare depth to the question of how strategy becomes a capability, and not just a document. We spoke about how incumbents can stay adaptive and how to make strategy truly inclusive and emergent, You’ll hear how he: ☑️ Builds strategy as a capability across hundreds of leaders through large-scale scenario planning ☑️ Turns strategic ownership from the “few” to the “many,” creating curiosity and engagement across the organisation ☑️ Aligns strategy, change and innovation so that plans, budgets and people move together ☑️ Measures success not by delivering a plan, but by building organisations that learn and adapt For senior leaders working on transformation, digital adaptation or inclusive strategy, this is a conversation worth your time!

    32 min
  4. Operational Excellence at Scale with Peter O’Sullivan, CEO at Penspen

    28/10/2025

    Operational Excellence at Scale with Peter O’Sullivan, CEO at Penspen

    In this episode of the Strategy Thinkers Podcast, I speak with Peter O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Penspen and Executive Committee Member at Sidara. Peter began his career as a mechanical engineer, moved through consulting and entrepreneurship, and has led Penspen through industry cycles while building a culture that delivers. We discuss how the business stabilised during the 2014–2016 downturn, rebuilt the pipeline, and used data and discipline to improve profitability. In this conversation, you’ll learn how he: ☑️ Reset the operating model with timely data, tighter controls and a stronger bid discipline ☑️ Chose where to play, exited unsustainable regions, and focused scarce talent on advantaged markets ☑️ Treated strategy as horizon bets that compound, including early positioning in hydrogen and carbon capture ☑️ Embedded continuous improvement and a values-led culture so execution keeps pace with ambition For senior leaders balancing core performance with new growth, this is a practical look at strategy that works in the real world.

    28 min
  5. Leading Strategic Transformation at Scale with Simon Pryce, CEO at RS Group

    30/09/2025

    Leading Strategic Transformation at Scale with Simon Pryce, CEO at RS Group

    How do you turn a sprawling conglomerate into a focused value creator with sustained cash returns? I put that question to Simon Pryce, CEO at RS Group and former CEO of BBA Aviation and Ultra Electronics. We focus on his BBA Aviation journey and the move from financial engineering to strategic advantage and scale.In this conversation, you’ll learn how through high performing teams he:☑️ Created a clear reason for change and involved hundreds across the organisation to build momentum☑️ Made portfolio choices using risk-adjusted value and reallocated scarce talent to where it mattered most☑️ Recognised enhanced value opportunity through network extension, service consistency and scale☑️ Led with inquisitive challenge, practical implementation and managed risk taking, including raising fresh equity to consolidate the market🎧 For senior leaders working on transformation, portfolio focus or scale, this discussion connects strategy to execution in plain terms

    37 min
  6. The Long Game in M&A with Giovanni Ghisetti, Head of Global Business Development at Diageo

    17/09/2025

    The Long Game in M&A with Giovanni Ghisetti, Head of Global Business Development at Diageo

    In this episode of the Strategy Thinkers Podcast, I speak with Giovanni Ghisetti, Head of Global Business Development at Diageo and formerly Global SVP M&A at Ferrero. Giovanni led more than €9bn of acquisitions, taking Ferrero from a European chocolate leader to a global player in sweet snacking.We spoke about what it takes to build M&A as a capability and how to make it work in practice. Giovanni is open about failure, about culture, and about the scale effects that only appear with patience.Key lessons from our discussion:✅ A $100m acquisition was initially chosen to embed learning. It led to market leadership and the following $10Bn of acquisitions ✅ Growth synergies create lasting value; cost savings do not✅ Scale economics matter — profitability shifts only once revenue passes ~$2bn in the food and beverage market in US✅ Culture and trust decide whether integration succeedsFor senior leaders thinking about scale, acquisitions or growth, this conversation offers lessons that go beyond theory.

    41 min
  • 6 puntate

Descrizione

Strategy Thinkers, A podcast for ambitious business leaders. Hosted by Professor Davide Sola, alongside thought leaders from across the business, non-profit, and academic sectors. The Strategy Thinkers podcast explores real-world challenges and best practices in impactful strategy execution.

Informazioni

  • Creatore
    Prof. Davide Sola
  • Anni di attività
    2025 - 2026
  • Puntate
    6
  • Classificazione
    Contenuti adatti a tutti
  • Copyright
    © Prof. Davide Sola
  • Sito web del podcast
    Strategy Thinkers