The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

• 559: Professor of Finance at London Business School, Alex Edmans, on Why ESG and DEI Data May Contain Lies

  In this episode, finance professor and author, Alex Edmans, offers a rigorous examination of the narratives surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate strategy. Drawing on his critique of widely cited studies, including those from McKinsey and BlackRock, Edmans illustrates how flawed data interpretations and confirmation bias contribute to the persistence of questionable claims. He warns against relying on correlation-based research that lacks causal rigor, especially when such findings are used to justify high-stakes decisions in boardrooms and policy circles.   Edmans identifies three recurring issues in the current DEI discourse: cherry-picked performance metrics that ignore long-term shareholder value; reverse causality, where strong performance leads to more diversity, not the other way around; and omitted variable bias, such as industry effects that confound diversity claims. He also critiques the narrow definition of diversity, which often reduces individuals to surface-level demographic traits while ignoring cognitive and experiential variation that may be more relevant to performance.   The conversation extends beyond DEI to explore the structural incentives within academia, consulting, and media that reward oversimplified narratives. Edmans notes that when ideas become dominant, dissenters face not only reputational risk but also institutional hurdles that discourage honest debate. The result is a professional ecosystem in which flawed research is amplified and poorly contextualized advice is recycled across geographies and sectors without regard for applicability.   Other key themes include: The difference between demographic and cognitive diversity in strategic decision-making The dangers of universalizing business practices without accounting for local context Why flawed performance metrics (e.g., EBITDA) misrepresent firm success How misaligned incentives distort executive behavior and perpetuate ineffective initiatives The role of institutional culture in suppressing dissent and reinforcing groupthink   For senior leaders navigating complex decisions, Edmans’ commentary offers a timely reminder: even widely accepted practices warrant scrutiny. In environments where performance is difficult to measure and cause-effect relationships are opaque, intellectual discipline, not ideological alignment, is essential.   Learn more about Alex Edmans here: https://alexedmans.com/   Get Alex’s book here: May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases—And What We Can Do about It.  https://maycontainlies.com/   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

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• 558: Founder of McKinsey's Strategy and Corporate Finance Insights Team on Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies

  In this episode, Tim Koller, co-author of Valuation and a leading authority on corporate finance, offers a substantive examination of capital allocation decisions under real-world constraints. The discussion moves beyond theory to explore how CEOs and CFOs should approach resource deployment in mature, capital-rich companies—where investment opportunities are limited not due to lack of ambition but due to economic reality.   Key insights include: - Share Buybacks as Rational Policy: Many firms undertaking significant buybacks—particularly in tech, life sciences, and consumer products—do so because they generate more cash than they can reinvest profitably. Koller argues that, in such cases, returning excess capital to shareholders is not a sign of strategic failure but of disciplined decision-making. - The Fallacy of Diversification Without Advantage: Koller highlights repeated failures by capital-rich companies that expand into unrelated sectors to deploy cash, citing historical missteps in energy, utilities, and industrials. He emphasizes the need to assess whether the firm has a genuine competitive advantage before moving beyond its core business. - Granular Leadership in Resource Allocation: Effective CEOs are directly engaged with capital allocation at the business-unit level. Delegating such decisions without maintaining enterprise-wide oversight often leads to underinvestment in high-return growth areas and misaligned incentives at the divisional level. - The Perils of Uniform Cost-Cutting Mandates: Broad directives to improve margins often result in cuts to product development and customer experience—leading to long-term degradation despite short-term financial gains. Koller stresses the importance of distinguishing between cost efficiencies that enhance value and those that erode it. - Timing and Judgment in Capital Deployment: In cyclical, capital-intensive sectors such as chemicals and energy, building capacity in sync with competitors can destroy value. Koller calls for contrarian timing, grounded in independent analysis, even when boards and markets are predisposed to follow the cycle.   Additional themes include the underuse of postmortems in capital projects, the misalignment between project planners and operators, and the distinction between executional and experimental failure. Throughout, Koller reiterates that sound capital allocation depends not only on financial modeling, but also on institutional learning, leadership judgment, and clarity of strategic intent.   This conversation offers practical, senior-level guidance for executives, board members, and investors who must navigate capital planning amid structural constraints, investor pressures, and organizational complexity.   Get Tim’s book here: https://shorturl.at/nk7Z9 Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

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• 557: CEO of The Turk Group on Becoming the Leader Others Want to Follow

  In a world that often rewards taking, James Turk believes the most powerful leaders are the ones who give clarity, opportunity, second chances, and their full attention.   In this episode, I speak with James Turk, who is an executive coach, CEO of The Turk Group, and author of The Giving Game, about what it truly means to become the kind of leader others want to follow.    We explore: Why most new leaders struggle and how to set them up for success from day one The difference between “getting” and “giving” leadership and why it changes everything Why he nearly didn’t make the phone call that launched his business How to lead through imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and personal doubt What to do when your definition of success starts to shift and how to build a business that matches it How giving away the spotlight can strengthen your brand, your business, and your people James also shares the personal story behind The Giving Game, and how his childhood experiences gave him a lifelong belief in second chances and in the power of helping others see what they’re capable of.   Whether you’re an experienced CEO, a first-time manager, or a consultant striking out on your own, this conversation will challenge how you lead and who you choose to become in the process.   Get James’ book here: https://shorturl.at/c5oRT The Giving Game: Becoming The Leader That Others Want To Follow   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

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• 556: Award-Winning Strategist Hernan Tagliani on What Brands Get Wrong About Multicultural Marketing

  What if cultural relevance isn’t just a marketing strategy but a business imperative?   In this episode, I speak with Hernan Tagliani, a multicultural marketing expert, award-winning strategist for Fortune 500 companies, and author of The Hispanic Market for Corporate America and Multicultural Mainstream, that explains how brands can drive lasting growth by truly understanding and serving Hispanic consumers.   Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Hernan shares how he rebuilt his career from the ground up after moving to the U.S., started his agency with a single client, and went on to lead multicultural strategy for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. His approach? Culture before language. Data before assumptions. And storytelling that builds trust, not just transactions.   We explore: Why many brands are missing out on long-term growth by overlooking multicultural strategy The biggest myths corporate leaders still believe about U.S. Hispanic consumers Why translating a campaign isn’t enough and how “transcreation” builds loyalty across generations How Hernan helped a national brand go from pilot campaign to national success by earning trust first What it takes to create a brand that reflects, and respects, the communities it serves How AI and digital media are reshaping what it means to be culturally relevant in real time   Hernan also shares personal insights on leadership, reinvention, and why taking risks, even when it’s uncomfortable, is key to becoming a purpose-driven entrepreneur.   Whether you’re building a brand, scaling a business, or trying to connect with today’s fastest-growing consumer segment, this episode offers practical strategies and a powerful reframe on what it means to lead with culture, not just campaigns.   Get Hernan’s book here: https://rb.gy/jjvvs4 Multicultural Mainstream: The Power of Hispanics In Consumer Marketing   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

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• 555: How a Billion-Dollar CEO Thinks and Leads (with Bill Canady)

  Your company’s next breakthrough isn’t about doing more, but doing less with purpose.   In this episode, I speak with Bill Canady, CEO of two major industrial companies (OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products), a former U.S. Navy officer, and author of From Panic to Profit, about the operating system he’s used to turn around billion-dollar businesses and lead through uncertainty.   Bill brings a rare blend of military discipline, private equity strategy, and grounded human leadership. With more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in revenue under his care, he shares what really drives growth, and why focus, not frenzy, is the secret to long-term results.   We talk about: How Bill used 80/20 thinking to stabilize a struggling company during the pandemic Why “doing everything” is the death of momentum and how to identify your critical few The real reason most teams fail to deliver (hint: it’s not effort) How AI is helping leaders focus on what matters and where human judgment still matters most Why you may need to say no to good ideas to unlock great outcomes The leadership triangle: visionary, operator, and prophet, and how to build teams that thrive   Bill also shares personal reflections on learning through failure, navigating high-stakes decisions, and how he’s applying his own advice as a continuous learner and leader of leaders.   Whether you’re in a turnaround, scaling up, or simply trying to get more focused in your business or career, this episode offers both strategic clarity and deeply practical tools for creating profitable, people-centered growth.   Bill Canady is the CEO of both OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products (AEP). With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in driving organizational growth, cutting costs, and boosting profitability. At OTC, he led a 43% increase in revenue and an 80% rise in earnings, with annual sales now exceeding $1 billion. At AEP, he oversees more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in sales. A U.S. Navy veteran, Bill holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from Elmhurst University. His Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS) has helped countless organizations overcome challenges and seize new growth opportunities.   Get Bill’s book here: https://rb.gy/3a4mou From Panic to Profit: Uncover Value, Boost Revenue, and Grow Your Business with the 80/20 Principle   Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

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