The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast

Outthinker
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  • 一月一更

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. 

  1. 10月23日

    #17—Winning the AI Infrastructure Game

    In today’s episode, we speak with Oreste Donzella, former Chief Strategy Officer of KLA, a global leader in semiconductor process control and inspection. Oreste brings over three decades of experience in the semiconductor industry — a sector that quietly powers every technological advance we see today.  You know, every strategist planning for AI's future is charting a course on assumptions about computational power, cost curves, and technological capability. But few are examining the foundation on which all of it rests: semiconductors. Without understanding where chip technology is headed—and the geopolitical forces reshaping its landscape—you're navigating without checking what lies beneath the waterline. Oreste is a veteran strategy officer with decades navigating the complex semiconductor stack, and here we explore the dynamics shaping foundational technologies—from manufacturing processes to geopolitical tensions—so you can better anticipate the forces that will enable or constrain your AI ambitions.  In this episode we get into:  Why AI’s rise is really a story about semiconductors — and how the industry’s “emotional revenge” is unfolding. The hidden complexity of the semiconductor supply chain — and how a few specialized companies shape global innovation. How geopolitics, national strategies, and power consumption are redefining the industry’s future. The movement toward modular, heterogeneous chip design — and what it means for strategy leaders in every sector. Oreste’s model for the three timeless pillars of great strategy execution: Collaboration, Innovation, and Execution. Oreste’s perspective reminds us that strategy doesn’t live in isolation — it operates often within vast, interconnected systems. And those able to think at the systems level, able to understand how they are evolving, will be the ones able to understand where value is truly pooling and therefore where to play.  Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    33 分钟

  2. 9月25日

    #16—From Fruit to Data: Rethinking Strategy with Claudio Finol

    What does a banana have to do with data strategy? In this episode of the Chief Strategy Officer Podcast, we sit down with Claudio Finol, Chief Strategy Officer at Fyffes, one of the world’s oldest and most recognized produce companies. Fyffes bananas, pineapples, and melons may be a familiar sight in your grocery store, but behind the scenes the company is navigating some of the most complex strategy challenges of our time—climate change, global supply chains, digitization, and the disruptive power of data. Claudio shares how Chief Strategy Officers across industries can learn from agriculture—a sector as old as civilization—about using data to push Michael Porter’s productivity frontier, transform traditional business models, and even create new revenue streams. From John Deere’s reinvention into a data-driven platform company to the strategic tension between optimizing your core and monetizing aggregated data, this conversation uncovers lessons every CSO should hear. Things We Will Cover in This Episode: - How Fyffes is blending tradition with transformation in the global produce industry.  - Why data is no longer just supporting products—it is becoming the product.  - Michael Porter’s productivity frontier and its relevance in the AI era.  - How companies like John Deere turned data into a competitive advantage and 95th-percentile growth engine.  - The two strategic paths with data: optimizing the core vs. creating new data products.  - What CSOs must do today to prepare their organizations for digitization, AI, and data-driven business models.    Why Listen If you’re a Chief Strategy Officer, innovation leader, or executive thinking about the future of business, Claudio’s insights will challenge you to rethink what business you’re really in. Whether you’re managing physical products, digital platforms, or services, this episode shows how data strategy, AI readiness, and organizational culture can define the competitive frontier in the years ahead.  Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    33 分钟

  3. 7月24日

    #15—From Grievance to Growth: Using Restorative Practice to Drive Transformation & Innovation

    In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Credidio, Chief Innovation Officer at Aster Group, to explore how restorative practices can be a powerful lever for culture change, innovation, and organizational performance. Having held the previous role of Chief Transformation and People Officer, Rachel has been at the forefront of embedding inclusivity, trust, and accountability into the DNA of Aster Group. Her leadership has helped make Aster Group most impactful non-profit groups in the UK as they help tackle the UK’s housing shortage by providing affordable, safe, and inclusive housing options, while offering wraparound services to support vulnerable communities.  In this episode we cover:  Why restorative practices reduce conflict and boost engagement across complex organizations How inclusive culture lays the foundation for innovation and decentralized leadership What it means to shift from managing people to empowering them through fair process and shared accountability Why building a culture of voice and trust is a strategic investment—not a “nice to have” How Rachel restructured policies and embedded principles into systems for long-term impact Whether you're navigating transformation, scaling innovation, or building a more inclusive workforce, this episode offers practical tools and inspiration.  Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    34 分钟

  4. 6月26日

    #14—Why Corporate Venture Capital Fails—and How to Fix It

    In this episode, we sit down with Todd Cassler, Chief Growth Officer of Cerity Partners, to explore the growing role of corporate venture capital (CVC) as a strategic tool for driving innovation and growth. With decades of experience in asset and wealth management as a chief strategy and growth officer, Todd is a trusted partner with a front-row seat to how Fortune 500 companies are using CVC not just to diversify financially, but to shape their strategic futures.   Things we cover in this episode:  - Why CVC programs often fail without CEO and board-level buy-in   - How to design a governance model that avoids being pulled back into “business as usual”   - The hidden benefits of CVC, from M&A pipeline generation to competitive intelligence   - What it takes to align siloed innovation efforts with core business objectives   - How to measure the strategic—not just financial—value of your venture investments Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    34 分钟

  5. 5月22日

    #13—Creating the First Penguin Culture: Driving Change in High-Stakes Industries

    In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Beckman, Chief Strategy Officer of Ulteig. Ulteig specialized in infrastructure solutions across power, renewables, transportation, and water. Sarah is an experienced structural engineer, shedesigning energy systems spanning the continental U.S., and also spent time in sales before moving into her current role leading corporate strategy. Her deep technical roots give her a unique perspective on solving complex problems and leading transformation in a traditionally slow-moving, high-stakes industry. Today, she’s focused on preparing Ulteig—and the entire sector—for an era defined by AI, electrification, and the race to build faster than ever before.  Sarah brings a powerful systems-thinking lens to transformation in one of the most critical—and traditionally slow-moving—sectors: energy infrastructure.  Things we’ll cover in this conversation:  How to drive innovation inside mission-critical industries where the cost of failure is high Why aligning strategy to purpose and stakeholder value is key to building urgency without panic How Sarah applied engineering skills to transform a sales strategy and sunset a commoditized offering What CSOs can do to prepare for industry-wide disruption—from AI demands to a nuclear energy renaissance The leadership behaviors and organizational systems that actually make strategy stick Whether you're preparing to pivot, wrestling with internal resistance, or rethinking how to build a transformation-ready culture—this episode is packed with practical wisdom from the front lines. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    35 分钟

  6. 4月24日

    #12—Agile Budgeting: Capital Allocation at the Pace of Change

    Today, we are tackling a topic that holding back most organizations from adapting to our rapidly changing business environments, a topic rooted in a habit that is so engrained in most companies that we don’t even think about changing it: budgeting. In this episode, we sit down with Eric Woodard, Head of Strategy at Primerica and former Bain consultant, to unpack the future of agile budgeting. Eric shares why the old model—locking budgets 12 months in advance—is no longer viable in a world shaped by digital disruption, economic volatility, and shifting priorities. He lays out a practical, compelling alternative: treat strategy as a living, breathing guide for capital allocation. We explore: - Why companies are being forced—not just encouraged—to rethink budgeting cycles  - The key difference between "run the business" and "change the business" spend  - How to structure dynamic, strategy-led funding pools  - What cycle times and KPIs work in an agile budgeting environment  - Why people—not systems—are the biggest barrier to change    Whether you're navigating growth, transformation, or efficiency, this episode will give you the tools to align your budget with your boldest strategic ambitions.  Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    38 分钟

  7. 3月29日

    #11—Working with Investment Bankers: Strategy First, Deal Second

    If you’re a strategy leader stepping into M&A or refining your inorganic growth strategy, there’s one relationship that can either propel you forward or hold you back: your relationship with investment bankers. In this episode, we dive deep into the often opaque world of investment banking with two strategy executives who’ve worked across both sides of the deal table.    Together, our guests bring more than 40 years of combined experience across investment banking, M&A strategy, and corporate development—having led acquisitions and divestitures in both public and private companies, across industries and borders.   Michael Arlotto is the Global Head of Corporate Development and Ventures at Kenvue, an American consumer health company and the proprietor of many brands you’ve heard of, like Band-Aid, Benadryl, Neutrogena and Tylenol.   Chris Nuttall is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Bazaarvoice, an American tech company that helps brands collect and leverage UGC, which stands for user-generated content. Together, the three of us explore: - How to assess and build the right relationship with an investment banker   - What “transformative M&A” really means—and how to pull it off   - The soft skills and cultural fit that matter just as much as deal terms   - How to avoid M&A regret by starting with strategy and ending with integration   - Why successful M&A is less about buying a company—and more about buying into a multiyear business plan      Whether you’re planning your first acquisition or fine-tuning your approach to external growth, this episode will help you build stronger partnerships, avoid costly missteps, and execute deals that deliver long-term value. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networksLearn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    28 分钟

  8. 3月11日

    #10—Making Purpose a Strategic Advantage

    Welcome to another episode of The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast! Today, we’re tackling a topic that sits at the heart of every successful organization: purpose.  For years, the question of what purpose an organization should hold has typically sat outside the auspices of the strategy office. It was the remit of the CEO or board, maybe corporate communications or the HR. But it is increasingly becoming a central strategic lever, especially as the success of strategy depends on activating ecosystem partners, employees, communities … and it is one we need to better understand.   How can companies define a purpose that isn’t just a slogan but a real driver of strategic decisions? How does purpose impact employee motivation, customer engagement, and long-term competitive advantage? And most importantly, how can CSOs play a role in shaping and embedding purpose in a way that creates measurable business impact?  To explore these questions, we’re joined by David Zapata, Corporate Head of Strategy at Grupo Bancolombia, and Claudia Ludovisi, former head of strategy at Disney ABC, assistant Dean of Marketing and Strategy at Pepperdine Business School, who has done interest research into the role of purpose in strategy. Together, they share firsthand experiences and research-driven insights on how organizations can make purpose actionable, sustainable, and truly transformative.  In this episode, we explore:  Why purpose isn’t just about branding—it should drive real business decisions. The biggest mistake companies make when defining their purpose. How to measure whether purpose is actually working inside your organization. The evolving role of AI in shaping personalized and scalable purpose-driven strategies. Insights and a step-by-step approach for crafting a purpose that aligns with strategy and capabilities for your organization. Whether you’re refining your company’s purpose or just starting to explore its role in strategy, this episode is packed with insights to help you take a more structured and impactful approach. Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

    35 分钟
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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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