Strategy That Works

Jabian Consulting
  • 5.0 (10)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

What makes businesses successful? Listen to discussions with business leaders across management, strategy, technology, marketing, and human capital that explore what successful companies are doing to stay on top.

  1. APR 28

    The Human Side of AI: Employee Engagement, Adoption, and Leading in the Age of Agents

    In this episode of Jabian's Strategy That Works podcast, Brian Betkowski and Ed Haines are joined by Fred Jewell, a people and engagement expert, and author of We Can't Do It Alone. Fred created the Jabian Engagement Framework, a six-driver model that helps leaders diagnose and address what's really going on with their people, and in this conversation he applies it directly to the AI adoption challenge. The discussion covers why so many employees freeze when faced with AI, why security and autonomy are the most disrupted engagement drivers right now, and what leaders can actually do about it. Fred and the team also tackle the ROI measurement problem, the fear of being found out once productivity gets tracked, and what it means to manage AI agents the same way you'd manage a junior employee. If you lead people through change, or you're trying to figure out why your AI rollout isn't gaining traction, this episode gives you a practical framework and a refreshingly honest conversation to work from.

    43 min

  2. MAR 30

    The Real Reasons Companies Aren’t Moving Faster on AI

    AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace, but adoption inside organizations is lagging behind. In this episode, Brian Betkowski and Ed Haines sit down with Will Funderburg to unpack why. Drawing from real executive conversations, Will outlines the top reasons companies hesitate to fully embrace AI, from ROI uncertainty and data challenges to workforce concerns and organizational inertia. The discussion reframes these barriers not as irrational fears, but as real, human-centered challenges and offers practical ways leaders can move forward with confidence.

    39 min

  3. MAR 30

    AI, Volatility, and the Future of Supply Chain Decision-Making

    Supply chains have always faced disruption, but today’s environment is fundamentally different. In this episode, Brian Betkowski and Ed Haines are joined by Greg Giesecke to explore why volatility is no longer episodic, but structural. They unpack how demand, supply, and pricing volatility are reshaping business models, and why traditional planning approaches are no longer sufficient. The conversation highlights a critical shift: success in modern supply chains depends less on perfect forecasts and more on speed, frequency, and the ability to continuously adapt using data, analytics, and AI.

    35 min

  4. MAR 30

    Leadership Through Service: Building Trust, Teams, and Impact

    In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, Brian Betkowski and Ed Haines sit down with Dr. Kofi Smith to explore the journey from self-doubt to impactful leadership. Kofi shares his experiences overcoming early struggles with confidence, navigating pivotal career moments, and building high-performing teams through trust and service. The conversation goes beyond business, touching on purpose, mentorship, faith, and the responsibility leaders have to create impact beyond themselves. It’s a powerful reflection on what it truly means to lead.

    44 min

  5. MAR 19

    Navigating AI as an Executive

    AI is advancing at a pace that is overwhelming even the most experienced executives. In this episode, Brian Betkowski and Ed Haines explore a growing pattern: leaders aren’t resisting AI, they’re freezing. Faced with rapid change, fragmented tools, unclear ROI, and unfamiliar technology, many organizations are choosing inaction. The discussion unpacks why this happens, the risks of waiting, and how leaders can shift from hesitation to progress by focusing on experimentation, process transformation, and managed risk rather than perfect solutions.   00:00 – Intro: The Reality of AI Pressure on Executives  01:30 – The “Freeze Response” in Leadership Decision-Making  03:30 – Why Waiting Is Riskier Than Acting  05:30 – Falling Behind: Skills, Data, and Competitive Gaps  07:30 – Learning by Doing: The Unicycle Analogy  10:00 – Iteration vs. Big-Bet Implementations  12:30 – The ROI Problem: Focusing on Outcomes, Not Tools  15:00 – Process vs. Technology: Where AI Actually Creates Value  18:00 – Human Barriers: Fear, Displacement, and Resistance  21:00 – Productivity Gains and the Reality of Adoption  24:00 – Managing Risk: Discreet vs. Indiscreet Systems  27:00 – Designing Guardrails and Human-in-the-Loop Models  30:00 – Treating AI Like a Team Member  32:30 – Final Thoughts: Move Forward, Don’t Freeze

    17 min

  6. FEB 20

    The Human Side of AI Transformation

    AI adoption is accelerating, but most organizations are underestimating the human side of the change. We are joined by Karen Dernavich to unpack why AI transformations stall, how leaders build trust and curiosity, and what it takes to move teams from fear to ownership.

    29 min

  7. FEB 20

    From Synergies to Systems: The Next Era of Deal Making

    Mergers and acquisitions are still active, but the logic behind them is evolving. In this episode, we are joined by Dan Hickey to explore how the next decade of deals will be less about financial engineering and scale, and more about building position, influence, and ecosystem advantage. They unpack the rise of modular “string of pearls” acquisitions, cross-industry convergence, the growing role of data and AI in deal strategy, and how leaders should rethink both buying and selling in a more volatile environment.

    21 min

  8. JAN 30

    From Automation to Orchestration: Rethinking CX with AI

    In this episode of the Strategy That Works Podcast, hosts Brian Betkowski and Ed Haines are joined by Brittany Christian, leader of Jabian’s Customer Acquisition and Retention service area, to explore how AI is reshaping customer experience. The conversation digs into why automation without culture leads to fragmented experiences, how AI can enable true orchestration across channels, and what the future of omnichannel, human-centered customer experience may look like over the next decade.

    24 min
See All (16)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

What makes businesses successful? Listen to discussions with business leaders across management, strategy, technology, marketing, and human capital that explore what successful companies are doing to stay on top.

Information

  • Creator
    Jabian Consulting
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jabian Consulting
  • Show Website
    Strategy That Works

You Might Also Like