The Strategy and Leadership Podcast with Anthony C. Taylor

Hosted by SME Strategy Consulting INC

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Jun 2026

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The Strategy & Leadership Podcast with Anthony C. Taylor explores strategic planning, strategy execution, and executive leadership in complex organizations. Hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, Founder & Principal of SME Strategy, the show features conversations with CEOs and senior leaders on business strategy, organizational alignment, leadership development, and change management. Episodes examine real trade-offs, decision-making, and the practical structures that turn strategic plans into measurable results and sustained team performance. Designed for CEOs and executive teams responsible for making strategic plans work in the real world. Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/

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June 16, 202619 min

A Navy Captain on Trust, Self-Doubt, and Leading Under Pressure | Jenn Donahue

What does it actually take to lead when the stakes are life and death, and what happens when those same pressures show up in a boardroom? According to Jenn Donahue, the answer starts not with strategy or skill, but with the voices inside your own head.In this episode, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with Jenn Donahue, PhD, PE, retired U.S. Navy captain, international keynote speaker, business coach, and USA Today bestselling author of Becoming the Warrior: Harnessing Your Inner Strength to Silence Self-Doubt. Jenn commanded an 800-personnel battalion in Afghanistan, built a bridge across the Euphrates River during the Iraq War, survived enemy fire and a contract on her life, and led teams through decisions where the cost of hesitation was measured in lives, not quarterly results.Anthony and Jenn explore the two inner voices that quietly undermine leaders at every level, why self-doubt gets louder the higher you climb, how military preparation maps directly to business leadership, and what a 360 review revealed about her own leadership that changed everything.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeThe two inner voices that hold leaders back, what they are, how they work, and why one is harder to catch than the other.Why self-doubt gets proportionally louder as the stakes get higher, and what neuroscience says about rewiring that response.How military briefing and debriefing practices translate into business leadership and why most organizations skip the step that matters most.What Jenn learned when a subordinate called her out for not trusting her team under stress, and how that feedback transformed her command.Why trust determines how well an organization actually performs, and what it looks like when leaders build it versus let it erode.How to mentally prepare for high-pressure conversations so you stay grounded instead of falling into fight, flight, or freeze.The Warrior Framework Jenn developed from combat training: perceive, assess, ready, act, and how leaders can use it to move from stuck to decisive.About Jenn DonahueJenn Donahue, PhD, PE is an international keynote speaker, retired U.S. Navy captain, business coach, and one of North America's leading voices on leadership and personal growth. Over a 27-year military career, she commanded an 800-personnel battalion in Afghanistan, built a bridge across the Euphrates River during the Iraq War, and led the construction of combat outposts in hostile terrain. Her USA Today bestselling book, Becoming the Warrior, draws on her battlefield experience to build a four-part framework that helps leaders move past self-doubt and take decisive action.Connect with Jenn Donahue: https://www.jenndonahue.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndonahue-phd-pe/Instagram: @iamjenndonahueAbout the Strategy & Leadership PodcastThe Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, a strategic advisor to mid-market leadership teams ($30M to $300M) across North America. Anthony works directly with CEOs and senior leaders to help them align their teams, clarify priorities, and execute strategy effectively in complex organizations.Work with a Strategic Planning Facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitatorConnect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productions: https://www.rednyne.com

June 9, 202626 min

Selling Zico to Coca-Cola and Buying It Back | Mark Rampolla

What happens when you build a global brand, sell it for $200 million, and realize it's not what you want? According to Mark Rampolla, the real lesson isn't about the exit or buyback. It's about understanding that growth isn't something you do. It's something you become.In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with Mark Rampolla, founder and CEO of ZICO Coconut Water, co-founder and managing partner of GroundForce Capital, and author of An Entrepreneur's Guide to Freedom. Mark spent nine years building ZICO into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the world, sold it to Coca-Cola in 2013, and later bought it back for a fraction of the sale price when the company was divested.What Mark has learned from backing nearly 100 companies at GroundForce Capital, sitting on 40+ boards, and helping raise over $1 billion in capital changes how you think about what separates founders who break through from those who don't. Anthony and Mark explore why self-reflection and curiosity are the most powerful indicators of future success, why the founder to CEO transition breaks most people, and what it really means to treat people the way they want to be treated.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeWhy growth is an inside job and what that means for foundersThe surprising pattern across nearly 100 companies that separates high performersWhy strategy and execution matter far less than people thinkHow to spot real indicators of someone's future successWhat Mark learned building Zico twice and why the second time was differentThe founder to CEO transition and what determines who makes itHow to identify the niche that makes your brand resonateWhy the platinum rule changes how you leadWhat a $600 million asset management firm looks for in founder teamsAbout Mark RampollaMark is co-founder and managing partner of GroundForce Capital, a $600 million institutional asset management firm. He has backed nearly 100 companies, served on 40+ boards, helped raise over $1 billion in capital, and contributed to creating over $5 billion in enterprise value. Before GroundForce, Mark founded and led ZICO Coconut Water from 2004 to 2013, selling it to Coca-Cola before buying it back years later as ZICO Rising. His investment portfolio includes Liquid Death, Osoba, Vive Organic, OWYN, Flying Embers, and Partake Brewing. Mark holds an MBA from Duke University and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America.Connect with Mark RampollaWebsite: https://www.markrampolla.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marksrampolla/Instagram: @markrampollaBook: An Entrepreneur's Guide to FreedomAbout the Strategy & Leadership PodcastThe Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, a strategic advisor to mid-market leadership teams ($30M to $300M). On this show, he interviews founders, executives, and industry leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.Strategy ResourcesStrategic Planning Facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitatorAnthony Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productions

June 2, 202622 min

Fighting for Flawless: A Fighter Pilot and F1 Insider on Building High-Performance Teams

What separates teams that chase perfection from those that settle for good enough? According to Jason Richardson, it comes down to three things: the culture you build from the roots up, the trust you earn before you need it, and the ownership every leader takes for the environment their team lives in.In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with Jason Richardson, a former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot, Cathay Pacific captain, and performance consultant who has worked inside a Formula One team, about what high-performance culture actually looks like when lives and championships are on the line.Jason flew F/A-18s with No. 77 Squadron, earned his command on the A330 and A350, and during COVID brought his aviation expertise into Formula One. He now runs Richardson Human Performance Solutions, helping organizations build the foundational conditions for sustained high performance.Anthony and Jason explore the tree model of organizational performance, why trust, psychological safety, and culture are the root structure everything else depends on, and how aviation's 7,000-page operating manual is a masterclass in delegation. They dig into what it took to align an entire F1 team around a single mission, why trust cannot be enforced, and the counterintuitive move that builds it fastest.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeWhy high performance is a mindset before it is a method, and how that mindset is built, not inheritedThe tree model of organizational performance: what belongs in the roots, the trunk, and the leavesHow aviation systemized delegation and emergency response, and what business leaders can take from itWhat Jason's work inside a Formula One team revealed about aligning large organizations to a single missionHow to build trust quickly, and why acting against your own self-interest is the most powerful moveWhy high performers want challenge more than money, and how leaders can use thatThe leadership fractal: why you own the operating environment at every level of the organizationWhy culture change has to start at the roots before anything else will stickAbout Jason RichardsonJason Richardson is a former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot, qualified flying instructor, and current Cathay Pacific captain on the Airbus A330 and A350. He served with the RAAF from 1992 to 2007, flying F/A-18s with No. 77 Squadron before transitioning to commercial aviation.In 2024 and 2025, Jason worked exclusively with a Formula One team on a culture and identity project, during which time the team climbed two positions in the constructors championship. He founded Richardson Human Performance Solutions in 2019 and is an ICF accredited organizational coach.He is the author of Fighting for Flawless: A Fighter Pilot's Manual for Leading in High-Stakes Environments, available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.Connect with JasonWebsite: https://www.richardsonhps.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardsonhps/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richardsonhpsAbout the Strategy and Leadership PodcastThe Strategy and Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, a strategic advisor to mid-market leadership teams ($30M to $300M) across North America. Anthony works directly with CEOs and senior leaders to help them align their teams, clarify priorities, and execute strategy in complex organizations. On this show, he interviews founders, executives, and industry leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.Strategy Resources for LeadersWork with a Strategic Planning Facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitatorConnect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productions: https://www.rednyne.com

May 26, 202620 min

Your Team Is Watching You Panic: A 36-Year CEO on Leading Through Chaos

What separates the leaders who scale from the ones who stall? According to Jim Remley, it comes down to three things: the expectations you set, the people you develop, and the financial discipline you build before you need it.In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with Jim Remley, founder of the largest independent real estate brokerage in Oregon and nationally recognized coach at eRealEstateCoach.com, about what it actually takes to build and lead a high-performance organization through growth, adversity, and market disruption.Jim brings 36 years of experience scaling to 17 offices, 3,000 annual transactions, and $1.4 billion in sales volume, having navigated 9/11, the dot-com crash, the Great Recession, and COVID. He breaks down why most leaders are operating with dangerously low standards, how to differentiate in a commoditized market, and why speaking to the self-interest of the people you lead is not a compromise — it is the strategy. He also shares the 4-month war chest rule, how proprietary value and people training protect a business from competing on price alone, and why a leader's composure sets the performance ceiling for the entire organization.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeWhy leaders and managers are fundamentally different and which one your business actually needsHow to create proprietary value in a commoditized industryWhy your people are the most important competitive differentiator you haveHow to recruit top talent by speaking directly to their self-interestThe 4-month war chest rule and why building it should be a non-negotiable priorityHow to lead calmly through market shocks when everything around you is uncertainWhy world-class expectations produce world-class resultsHow to personalize automated outreach using video so it actually gets watchedAbout Jim RemleyJim Remley is a nationally recognized real estate broker, coach, and author whose career began at age 19. He quickly ranked in the top 1% of REALTORS® nationwide, listing over 150 properties in his first year. At 24, he founded his first real estate company, which grew to 17 offices and became the largest independent real estate brokerage in Oregon, closing 3,000 transactions annually with a sales volume exceeding $1.4 billion.Jim is a sought-after instructor for the National Association of REALTORS, co-founder of the Luxury Home Council, and author of the Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS) designation and three bestselling books, including Sell Your Home in Any Market. He has appeared on CNN's Open House and now coaches office leaders and brokers nationally through eRealEstateCoach.com.Connect with Jim Website: https://erealestatecoach.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-remley YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eRealEstateCoach TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erealestatecoach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erealestatecoachAbout the Strategy & Leadership PodcastThe Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, a strategic advisor to mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America.Anthony works directly with CEOs and senior leaders to help them align their teams, clarify priorities, and execute strategy effectively in complex organizations.On this show, he interviews founders, executives, and industry leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.Strategy Resources for Leaders Work with a Strategic Planning Facilitator: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator Connect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ Produced by Rednyne Productions: https://www.rednyne.com

May 19, 202629 min

How a 102-Year-Old Real Estate Company Stays Relevant: Lessons from Sage CEO Jonathan Iger

What if the secret to building a company that lasts over a century isn't disruption, technology, or even capital — but the discipline to put relationships before transactions, every single time?In this episode, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with Jonathan Iger, CEO and President of Sage, a 102-year-old commercial real estate company that has outlasted every recession, market shift, and industry disruption since 1924. Jonathan shares how Sage has stayed relevant by reading macro shifts before they hit, doubling down on what makes the office irreplaceable, and treating every tenant relationship like a long-term partnership rather than a lease agreement.Anthony and Jonathan explore how elevated consumer expectations are reshaping the workplace, why the best office environments take cues from the hospitality industry, and how a 102-year track record is built not on grand slam moments but on consistently hitting singles across every customer touchpoint.What You'll LearnWhy relationship always trumps transaction, even in transactional businessesHow to read macro shifts before they disrupt your industryWhy competing with remote work is the wrong strategy — and what to do insteadHow customer journey mapping drives better experiences at every touchpointWhy the best office environments are built on the hospitality modelHow Sage has retained tenants for over 30 years through deep partnership thinkingWhy time is the most valuable commodity you can give your customersHow a 102-year-old company thinks about long-term bets and strategic focusConnect with Jonathan IgerWebsite: https://sagerealty.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathaniger/Strategy Resources for LeadersDownload the Strategic Alignment Toolkit: https://www.smestrategy.net/toolkitBook a Strategic Alignment Review: https://www.smestrategy.net/contactLearn more about SME Strategy: https://www.smestrategy.netConnect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productions

May 12, 202619 min

The Three Levels of Financial Acumen That Separate Leaders from Operators with Tim Vipond

Most executives will tell you they understand their business. Ask them to walk you through their financial statements, and the room goes quiet.In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with Tim Vipond, Co-Founder and CEO of Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), about why financial acumen is a non-negotiable leadership skill and why the rise of AI is making it more critical, not less.Tim breaks down the three levels of financial acumen every leader needs, regardless of role or background, and why most executives are operating with a dangerous gap in their foundational knowledge.Anthony and Tim explore how financial literacy creates alignment across leadership teams, why understanding the numbers leads to shorter and more effective meetings, and how the three financial statements function as the foundation of executive thinking. They also address one of the most common misconceptions in the age of AI: that technology can replace the need for financial understanding, and why leaders who believe this are setting themselves up to be outpaced.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeThe three levels of financial acumen and where most leaders get stuckWhy financial literacy is a universal leadership skill, not just a finance functionHow the three financial statements change the way executives thinkWhy AI makes financial knowledge more important, not lessWhy you can't ask the right questions if you don't understand the numbersWhy clarity is the real goal of good financial analysis, not more dataAbout Tim VipondTim Vipond is the Co-Founder and CEO of Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), a global finance education platform serving over 2.8 million learners across 180 countries and the creator of the globally recognized FMVA® certification. Before CFI, Tim worked in investment banking at CIBC, corporate development at Goldcorp, and as VP of Finance at Shoes.com, participating in over $3 billion in transactions.Connect with TimWebsite: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timvipondAbout the Strategy & Leadership PodcastHosted by Anthony C. Taylor, strategic advisor to mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America. On this show, he interviews founders, executives, and industry leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.Strategy Resources for LeadersStrategic Alignment Toolkit: https://www.smestrategy.net/toolkitBook a Strategic Alignment Review: https://www.smestrategy.net/contactSME Strategy: https://www.smestrategy.netAnthony Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productions: https://www.rednyne.com

May 5, 202629 min

3x Inc 5000 Founder: Stop Buying Software. Start Buying Outcomes, with Dustin Domerese

66% of tech projects never launch. 70% of the ones that do fail to deliver what leadership expected. The problem isn't the technology — it's the C-suite.3x Inc 5000 founder Dustin Domerese joins Anthony C. Taylor to unpack why mid-market tech rollouts keep failing and what CEOs of $30M–$300M companies need to do differently.In this conversation:- Why your frontline workers aren't the adoption problem (and who is)- The marketing director who walked into a room and silenced 15 people- The "technology troublemakers" already solving problems you don't know exist- How to hire smart, humble, hungry over expensive senior consultants- What questions every leadership team should ask before the next software investmentAbout Dustin DomereseDustin Domerese is Managing Partner at Dynamic Consultants Group, a 3x Inc. 5000 Microsoft consulting firm. He is a thought leader, bestselling author, and technology innovator within the Microsoft ecosystem, delivering his experience in CRM, ERP, and software development to business leaders and technical teams.Dustin has consulted for more than 300 companies across a wide range of industries and has worked with organizations across the Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and Salesforce ecosystems. Prior to founding multiple companies, he worked with organizations including Barclays, EMC2, HP, and Microsoft.He is also the founder of PowerLearn Academy, where he helps train and develop the next generation of technology consultants by focusing on building internal talent and capability.Dustin is a global speaker on technology and digital transformation and has presented at conferences around the world. Outside of work, he is an accomplished musician, outdoor enthusiast, and a self-described mostly terrible golfer.Connect with DustinWebsite: https://dynamicconsultantsgroup.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-domerese-a0039011/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dynamicconsultantsgroup4151About the Strategy & Leadership PodcastThe Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, a strategic advisor to mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America.Anthony works directly with CEOs and senior leaders to help them align their teams, clarify priorities, and execute strategy effectively in complex organizations.On this show, he interviews founders, executives, and industry leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.Strategy Resources for LeadersDownload the Strategic Alignment Toolkit: https://www.smestrategy.net/toolkitBook a Strategic Alignment Review: https://www.smestrategy.net/contactLearn more about SME Strategy: https://www.smestrategy.netConnect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productionshttps://www.rednyne.com

April 28, 202626 min

Augment, Automate, Aspire: The 3 Tiers of AI Every Leadership Team Must Understand

What if the biggest mistake leadership teams are making with AI isn’t about the technology at all?In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Jeroen De Flander, international expert in AI Strategy and Strategy Execution, keynote speaker, and co-founder of The Performance Factory.Jeroen has worked with more than 500 companies worldwide and has spent decades helping organizations close the gap between strategy and execution. In this conversation, he breaks down a simple but powerful framework for thinking about AI inside your organization: Augment, Automate, Aspire.Anthony and Jeroen explore why most leadership teams are still focused on the wrong level of AI adoption, how strategy is ultimately about making clear choices, including what not to do, and why delegating AI decisions to IT is one of the biggest risks in today’s boardrooms.They also discuss how AI should be treated as a strategic capability, not just a tool, how leaders can use it to improve processes and create new value for customers, and why the real opportunity lies in rethinking business models entirely.What You Will Learn in This Episode Why strategy is fundamentally about making clear choices that last The importance of defining what your organization will not do Jeroen’s 3 A framework: Augment, Automate, Aspire Why most companies are stuck at the lowest level of AI adoption How AI can improve both internal processes and customer value Why leadership teams must own AI strategy instead of delegating it How AI is reshaping business models and long-term competitive advantageAbout Jeroen De FlanderJeroen De Flander is an international expert in AI Strategy and Strategy Execution, and a keynote speaker who has inspired audiences in more than 45 countries.He is a professor at TIAS School for Business and Society and Academic Director for both the Strategy Execution Master and the AI Strategy Program. Jeroen is the bestselling author of several books, including Strategy Execution Heroes, The Execution Shortcut, and The Art of Performance, and creator of The 8 Model.As co-founder of The Performance Factory, he supports organizations in developing practical AI strategies and achieving stronger execution results. He has worked with more than 500 companies worldwide and contributes to the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.His current work focuses on how AI reshapes strategic thinking and execution inside organizations.Connect with Jeroen:Website: https://www.jeroen-de-flander.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroendeflander/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeroendeflander1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeroendeflander/X: https://x.com/JeroenDeFlanderAbout the Strategy & Leadership PodcastThe Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony Taylor, a strategic advisor who works with mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America.For more than 15 years, Anthony has been in the room with leadership teams navigating growth, transitions, and the alignment challenges that come with scaling complex organizations.On this show, he interviews CEOs, founders, and senior leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.If you lead a team and want to get better at it, subscribe.Strategy Resources for LeadersDownload the Strategic Alignment Toolkithttps://www.smestrategy.net/toolkitBook a Strategic Alignment Reviewhttps://www.smestrategy.net/contactLearn more about SME Strategyhttps://www.smestrategy.netConnect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productionshttps://www.rednyne.com

April 21, 202630 min

Eric Ries on Why Most ‘Best Practices’ Are Quietly Killing the Companies That Follow Them

What happens when success itself starts pulling your company away from its mission?In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Eric Ries, entrepreneur and author of Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad… and How Great Companies Stay Great.Eric is best known for The Lean Startup, a book that reshaped how modern companies are built. In this conversation, he expands on that foundation and challenges one of the most deeply held assumptions in business: that corruption and failure are the result of bad actors rather than flawed systems.Anthony and Eric explore why even well-intentioned leaders and organizations drift toward short-term thinking, how “financial gravity” pulls companies away from their purpose, and what it takes to design organizations that can scale without losing their mission.They also discuss the role of governance as a strategic advantage, why trust is one of the most valuable assets a company can build, and how leaders can rethink profit, accountability, and long-term value creation in a way that aligns performance with purpose.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeWhy good companies go bad even with strong leadershipHow structural design, not morality, drives long-term outcomesWhat “financial gravity” is and how it impacts decision-makingWhy governance should be treated as a strategic function, not complianceHow to build organizations that scale without losing their missionAbout Eric RiesEric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Lean Startup methodology, which has influenced how a generation of companies approach innovation and growth. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup, as well as The Startup Way and The Leader’s Guide.Over the past two decades, Eric has worked with founders, executives, and investors to rethink how organizations are built and governed. He is the founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange and has launched multiple companies, including IMVU and Answer.AI.His latest book, Incorruptible, explores how organizations can be designed to resist short-term pressures, build trust, and create long-term value without losing their core mission.About the Strategy & Leadership PodcastThe Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony Taylor, a strategic advisor who works with mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America.For more than 15 years, Anthony has been in the room with leadership teams navigating growth, transitions, and the alignment challenges that come with scaling complex organizations.On this show, he interviews CEOs, founders, and senior leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.If you lead a team and want to get better at it, subscribe.Strategy Resources for LeadersDownload the Strategic Alignment Toolkithttps://www.smestrategy.net/toolkitBook a Strategic Alignment Reviewhttps://www.smestrategy.net/contactLearn more about SME Strategyhttps://www.smestrategy.netConnect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/Produced by Rednyne Productionshttps://www.rednyne.com

April 14, 202626 min

How a 9-Figure Founder Aligns Leadership Teams Around What Actually Drives Value

Why Your Leadership Team Isn’t Aligned on What Actually Drives Value with Lee BensonWhat happens when a leadership team can’t agree on what actually drives value?In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Lee Benson, a multi-exit CEO who has built and sold companies ranging from seven to nine figures and developed a practical methodology for aligning teams around what matters most.Lee has spent decades working with leadership teams across organizations of all sizes, helping them close the gap between strategy and execution by focusing on one critical idea: every team must be aligned around a single Most Important Number that reflects the value they are designed to create.In this conversation, Anthony and Lee explore why most leadership teams struggle to clearly define what drives value, how misalignment shows up across departments, and why measuring the wrong things creates friction, slows execution, and limits growth.They also discuss the role of the CEO in driving value, how to cascade priorities across an organization, and why avoiding hard conversations around performance is one of the biggest barriers to alignment and results.What You Will Learn in This Episode Why most leadership teams are not aligned on what actually drives value How to define the Most Important Number for your organization and teams The hidden cost of measuring the wrong metrics across departments Why misalignment creates execution gaps and slows growth How strong leaders handle performance and accountability conversationsAbout Lee BensonLee Benson is a multi-exit CEO, founder, and leadership advisor.He is the CEO of Execute to Win and the creator of the MIND Methodology (Most Important Number and Drivers), a framework designed to help organizations align teams, improve execution, and increase business value over time. Over the past 25 years, Lee has founded multiple companies with exits ranging from seven to nine figures and has worked with hundreds of leadership teams to accelerate value creation.About the Strategy & Leadership PodcastThe Strategy & Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony Taylor, a strategic advisor who works with mid-market leadership teams ($30M–$300M) across North America.For more than 15 years, Anthony has been in the room with leadership teams navigating growth, transitions, and the alignment challenges that come with scaling complex organizations.On this show, he interviews CEOs, founders, and senior leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.If you lead a team and want to get better at it, subscribe.Strategy Resources for Leaders Download the Strategic Alignment Toolkit https://www.smestrategy.net/toolkit Book a Strategic Alignment Review https://www.smestrategy.net/contact Learn more about SME Strategy https://www.smestrategy.net Connect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ Produced by Rednyne Productions https://www.rednyne.com