The Tech Strategy Podcast

Jeffrey Towson
  • 4.6 (30)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast by TechMoat Consulting on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US and China / Asia. Tech Strategy offers:-Deep dives into the strategies and business models of leading tech companies. -Lessons on important digital concepts.Lots more information available at Jefftowson.com and techmoatconsulting.comTo marketers, I do not have podcast guests. This podcast is not investment advice. Me and any guests may get the numbers or information wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

  1. My Playbook for Digital Growth (259)

    2D AGO

    My Playbook for Digital Growth (259)

    This week’s podcast is about digital growth, which is really a process. It's a weekly grind to capture incremental growth as well and new waves. You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. Much of this thinking is by Chris Zook and Bain’s strategy practice. I am citing these books: Profit from the CoreBeyond the CoreHere is my favorite summary quote. Here's a quick summary of core vs. adjacency. Most all sustainable growth is based on 1-2 strong cores. A profitable core is centered on the strongest position in terms of loyal customers, competitive advantage, unique skills, and ability to earn profits. Growth adjacencies include: New customer segments:Micro-segmentation of current segmentsUnpenetrated segmentsNew segmentsNew geographiesGlobal expansionLocal expansionNew channelsInternetDistributionIndirectNew productsNew to worldComplementsSupport servicesNext generationJust new products / servicesNew BusinessesNew to world needsNew substitutesNew modelsCapability adjacenciesNew value chain stepsForward integrationBackwards integrationSell capability to outside------- I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats. I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here. I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    47 min
  2. Habit Formation and 3 Other Psych Hacks You Can Copy from Gmail (258)

    AUG 24

    Habit Formation and 3 Other Psych Hacks You Can Copy from Gmail (258)

    This week’s podcast is about habit formation. And Gmail is a good example of a moderate version of this that can be copied. You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. Here are the 4 psych hacks: Gmail is Habit Forming via a High Frequency Utility Over a Long TimeGmail is Internally Triggering. That’s the Gold Standard.Gmail Has Task Completion Rewards. Ok But Not as Good as Variable Rewards.Gmail has Infinite Variability. But This Is More Powerful in Entertainment than a Utility.A lot of this is from the book Hooked: How to Build Habit Forming Products, by Nir Eyal.  --------- I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats. I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here. I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    42 min
  3. 4 GenAI Take-Aways from Sangeet Choudary’s Book Reshuffle (257)

    AUG 17

    4 GenAI Take-Aways from Sangeet Choudary’s Book Reshuffle (257)

    This week’s podcast is about generative AI strategy. And it's my summary of some key points of Sangeet Choudary's book "Reshuffle: Who wins when AI restacks the knowledge economy". You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. My take-aways are: GenAI’s Biggest Impact Will Be as a New Technology for Coordination.GenAI Coordination Happens at 3 Levels (Shipping Container Example).GenAI is Dramatically Increasing What Can Be Coordinated. And How (OTA and Construction Examples).GenAI Will Impact How Firms Coordinate Knowledge. And Will Create Brains for Organizations.Photo by Sanket Mishra on Unsplash -------- I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats. I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here. I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    46 min
  4. Cainiao's Big Growth Despite an Uncertain Strategy. An Example of Alibaba’s Management Playbook. (256)

    AUG 7

    Cainiao's Big Growth Despite an Uncertain Strategy. An Example of Alibaba’s Management Playbook. (256)

    This week’s podcast is about Cainiao's rapid rise from 2014-2022. Despite having a pretty unclear strategy. It's another example of Alibaba's Management Playbook. You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. Here is the case study from CEO Wan Lin. Wan Lin: My Practice On Strategy ——– I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats. I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here. I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    42 min
  5. Understanding Pinduoduo and Search vs. Engagement-Focused Ecommerce (255)

    JUL 27

    Understanding Pinduoduo and Search vs. Engagement-Focused Ecommerce (255)

    This week’s podcast is about search-focused vs. interaction / engagement focused ecommerce. And a lot about Pinduoduo. You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. Interaction / engagement-focused product has three dimensions: Recommendations. This is passive consumption, not active searching. So that means machine learning-powered newsfeeds. Basically, just like TikTok and Instagram.Entertainment. That means features, games, and videos.Community. This is about tapping into group behavior. You want active communication and sharing between users. And on social networks. You also want livestreaming with friends. And, if possible, you want group buying.I think there are two archetypes for interaction-focused ecommerce. Type 1: Newsfeed based. That’s TikTok. That’s the sushi train restaurants. This is TikTok Shop is a good example of this. With lots of little purchases. Mostly based on whose videos you like to watch and what surprises show up in your feed.Type 2: Carnival based. That’s early PDD. It’s lots of games. Which is very different than TikTok Shop.Alibaba has three interesting use cases for ecommerce. The Power of Livestreaming in EcommerceImage-Based Search Changes the Way We Find ProductsConversational SearchPhoto by Hugh Han on Unsplash ——-- I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats. I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here. I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    53 min
  6. 3 Lessons from My Visit to Tencent AI Cloud (254)

    JUL 18

    3 Lessons from My Visit to Tencent AI Cloud (254)

    This week’s podcast is about my visit to Tencent AI Cloud in Beijing. You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. My are my 3 take-aways: Take-Away 1: Tencent Cloud is Doing “Fast-Follower with Advantages” in AI.WeChat and Tencent Cloud Are Going International Leading with Tech Services.I Expect Tencent Cloud to Be One of the World’s Top 5 AI Cloud Companies. --------- I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats. I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here. I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    39 min
  7. How Alibaba.com Re-Ignited Growth with the Alibaba Management Playbook (253)

    JUL 7

    How Alibaba.com Re-Ignited Growth with the Alibaba Management Playbook (253)

    This week’s podcast is about how Alibaba.com restructured its business and re-ignited growth in 2017-2018. You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. My summary of the Alibaba Management Playbook: Diagnose the problem:What is the chief complaint?Stagnant growth? Low NPS?What is the differential diagnosis?1-Re-clarify and re-focus customer value. This includes:Customer segmentation. Who are you targeting? What are you after (revenue)? Traffic? Data?What do they most care about? Map out the process.Is what customers want changing? Tech change? PC to mobile changed what maps could do.What is the competitor offering and how you are going to take their customers?2-Launch 2-3 key strategic initiatives to increase refocused customer value.3-Improve production. Fix the big pain points of customers, staff, suppliers, etc. Requires data-driven decision making and iteration.4-Change the org structure, talent and culture. Improve production relations.Increased communication and coordination.5-Have early wins (small phased victories). Important to test the strategy and get data. And to re-enforce culture and org changes.6-Agile tactics and speed are key.You win chess with 2x the moves.Tactical brilliance and guerrilla execution.7-Build a powerful biz model or operating flywheel. Maybe access multi-growth curves.Measure OutcomesFinancial and operationalStrategic——--  I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here. My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    42 min
  8. How Amap Beat Baidu Maps. My Summary of the Alibaba Playbook. (252)

    JUN 27

    How Amap Beat Baidu Maps. My Summary of the Alibaba Playbook. (252)

    This week’s podcast is about how Alibaba's Amap quickly dethroned market leader Baidu Maps. You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts. Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting. Here is the link to our Tech Tours. Here is the Amap case study. My summary of the Alibaba Management Playbook: Diagnose the problem: Stagnant growth? Negative NPS? Low engagement?1-Unwavering focus on customer value. Re-clarify customer value. This includes:Customer segmentation. Who are you targeting? What are you after (revenue)? Traffic? Data (Amap)?What do they most care about? Map out the process.Is what customers want changing? Tech change? PC to mobile changed what maps could do.What is the competitor offering and how you are going to take their customers?2-Fix the Big Pain Points. Requires Data-Driven Decision Making and Iteration.3-Do cultural change and increased communication and coordination.4-Agile teams and tactics are key. Tactical brilliance and guerrilla execution.5-Have early wins.6-Build a powerful biz model or operating flywheel.---------  I write, speak and consult about how to win (and not lose) in digital strategy and transformation. I am the founder of TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that helps retailers, brands, and technology companies exploit digital change to grow faster, innovate better and build digital moats. Get in touch here. My book series Moats and Marathons is one-of-a-kind framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses. This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research. Support the show

    48 min
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4.6
out of 5
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About

A podcast by TechMoat Consulting on the strategies of the best digital companies in the US and China / Asia. Tech Strategy offers:-Deep dives into the strategies and business models of leading tech companies. -Lessons on important digital concepts.Lots more information available at Jefftowson.com and techmoatconsulting.comTo marketers, I do not have podcast guests. This podcast is not investment advice. Me and any guests may get the numbers or information wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeffrey Towson
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Tech Strategy Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Tech Strategy Podcast

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