About this episode

The episode explores the disconnect between formal education in business and the practical application of strategic thinking in the workplace.

Annie’s hands trembled as she reread the email from her CEO. “Let’s talk about developing your strategic capabilities.” She’d just earned her MBA with honors, landed a promotion to Chief Marketing Officer, and crushed her Strategic Planning course with an A-. Now, three weeks before Christmas, her boss wanted to discuss her lack of strategic thinking. The meeting went poorly. “You’re just not being strategic enough,” he said, arms crossed. “Can you give me specific examples?” Annie asked, pulling out her notebook. He waved his hand vaguely. “It’s hard to explain. I just know it when I see it.” She pressed for details. He offered hollow phrases about “seeing the big picture” and “thinking long-term.” Nothing concrete. Nothing actionable. By the time she left his office, both were frustrated. Now it’s January. Annie sits at her desk, surrounded by expensive textbooks and highlighted case studies, completely lost. She can recite Porter’s Five Forces backward. She built financial models that made her professors weep with joy. Yet somehow, she’s failing at the very thing her degree promised to teach. The brutal irony? Her CEO can’t articulate what strategic thinking actually is…

People in this episode

Host: Francis Wade

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CEO, MBA

Books & works: Porter’s Five Forces

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