Episodios

  • Beyond the Margin of Error: Risk, Probability & Strategic Decision-Making with Professor Emeritus Dr. Michael Orkin

    Beyond the Margin of Error: Risk, Probability & Strategic Decision-Making with Professor Emeritus Dr. Michael Orkin
    Mar 3 2026

    In business, leaders make decisions every day under uncertainty. But what if the biggest risk isn’t the one you see — it’s the one you misunderstand?

    In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Dr. Michael Orkin, Professor Emeritus of Statistics and author of The Story of Chance: Beyond the Margin of Error, to explore how probability, randomness, and cognitive bias shape executive decision-making.

    Drawing from decades of experience in statistics, gambling mathematics, and data science, Dr. Orkin explains why leaders often confuse correlation with causation, overestimate their odds of success, and underestimate the role of scale and opportunity in rare events. From lottery math to prediction markets, casino risk models to executive strategy, this conversation reframes how organizations should think about expected value and long-term advantage.

    Dr. Orkin breaks down why even “positive EV” opportunities can fail if risk is mismanaged, introduces the Kelly Criterion as a disciplined approach to capital allocation, and highlights how cognitive traps can distort judgment at every level of leadership.

    Anthony and Dr. Orkin explore what it means to increase your “house edge” in business — not through luck, but through disciplined probability thinking, structured decision-making, and clear risk allocation.

    The episode closes with a powerful reminder: strategy is not about eliminating uncertainty — it’s about making smarter bets under uncertainty.

    Responsible for strategy?

    We’ve created Strategic Leadership Foundations — a concise executive course on alignment, decision-making, and execution structure.

    It’s free, practical, and designed for leaders running the process themselves.

    Enroll here:

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit

    For in-person strategic planning and leadership alignment programs:

    https://www.smestrategy.net

    In this episode, you will learn:

    • Why rare events happen more often than you think

    • The difference between correlation and causation in business data

    • How expected value applies to strategic decisions

    • Why risk mismanagement destroys even strong opportunities

    • How the Kelly Criterion informs smarter capital allocation

    • How leaders can avoid cognitive traps when interpreting data

    Connect with Dr. Michael Orkin

    Website: https://drmikeorkin.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mike-orkin-5600584/

    About the Host

    Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.

    Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

    About SME Strategy

    SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

    Learn more: www.smestrategy.net

    Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com
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    29 m
  • Engagement as Strategy: Driving Enterprise Value with Life Sciences CEO Christine Miller

    Engagement as Strategy: Driving Enterprise Value with Life Sciences CEO Christine Miller
    Feb 24 2026
    In many organizations, engagement is treated as a morale metric or a human resources initiative. But what if engagement isn’t a byproduct of strategy — what if it is the strategy?In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Christine Miller, former CEO of Melinta Therapeutics and seasoned Life Sciences executive, to explore how disciplined strategic planning, structural clarity, and cross-functional alignment can transform enterprise performance. With a background spanning engineering, portfolio leadership, and executive transformation, Christine shares how she helped reshape an organization by building a clear five-year roadmap anchored in four unwavering strategic priorities.Christine explains why engagement cannot be separated from execution. Leaders often chase growth without building the structural foundation required to sustain it. By aligning teams around long-term objectives, reinforcing priorities annually, and resisting the temptation to chase distractions, her organization increased engagement from 69% to 95%, achieved profitability for the first time, and more than doubled revenue.The conversation dives into the realities of leading in complex, highly regulated industries where innovation, regulatory oversight, and stakeholder alignment must coexist. Christine outlines how designing products with patients and payers in mind requires long-term thinking, rigorous data discipline, and iterative strategy — not reactive decision-making.Beyond operational structure, Christine shares insights into leadership visibility and the importance of advocating for both yourself and your team. She reflects on the underrepresentation of women in senior biotech roles and explains how strategic self-promotion, mentorship, and collective amplification can strengthen leadership pipelines across industries.Anthony and Christine explore what it takes to move from vision to execution, why strategic planning is often hardest to start but most valuable over time, and how leaders can create clarity in the face of macro uncertainty.The episode closes with a powerful reminder: growth without foundation is fragile. Engagement, when treated as a strategic lever rather than a scorecard, becomes one of the most powerful drivers of enterprise value.Responsible for strategy?We’ve created Strategic Leadership Foundations — a concise executive course on alignment, decision-making, and execution structure.It’s free, practical, and designed for leaders running the process themselves.Enroll here:https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-ToolkitFor in-person strategic planning and leadership alignment programs:https://www.smestrategy.netIn this episode, you will learn:Why engagement must be designed structurally, not sociallyHow to build and maintain a five-year strategic roadmapThe role of cross-functional alignment in driving enterprise valueWhy disciplined priorities outperform reactive decision-makingHow long-term strategy supports innovation in regulated industriesThe importance of visibility and self-advocacy in leadership progressionConnect with Christine MillerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemiller95/About the HostAnthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604About SME StrategySME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.Learn more: www.smestrategy.netPodcast produced by: www.rednyne.com
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    31 m
  • Protecting What Matters: From Global Brand Leadership to Vancouver’s Top Restaurant w/ Richard Mah

    Protecting What Matters: From Global Brand Leadership to Vancouver’s Top Restaurant w/ Richard Mah
    Feb 17 2026
    In a business world driven by growth targets, dashboards, and scale, leaders are often told that expansion is the ultimate measure of success. But what if the real challenge isn’t scaling bigger, it’s protecting what matters?In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Richard Mah, former Global Head of Digital Marketing at ASICS and now steward of Northern Cafe and Grill, a family-run Vancouver diner that has served its community since 1949. With more than 20 years of experience leading digital teams across Asia, aligning global markets, and building performance-driven platforms, Richard has lived the world of multi-million-dollar budgets, executive reporting, and international KPIs. Today, he applies that same strategic thinking to a deeply local, human-centered business.Richard shares what it was like to build digital infrastructure from scratch at ASICS, break down data silos across regions, and align diverse markets around a single performance dashboard. He reflects on the realities of leading inside hierarchical organizations, earning executive buy-in, and balancing global strategy with local cultural nuance.The conversation then shifts from corporate boardrooms to brunch service. Richard explains why he chose to return to Vancouver and join his family at Northern Cafe and Grill, a 1949 diner that has since been named Yelp’s Top Place to Eat in Canada. Rather than chasing rapid expansion, Richard and his family focus on consistency, community, and care. They listen closely to guests, protect the legacy of the brand, and modernize thoughtfully without losing the soul of the business.Anthony and Richard explore the tension between efficiency and hospitality, innovation and stewardship, and scaling versus sustaining. Richard argues that while many businesses pursue hype and growth, long-term success often comes from doing one thing exceptionally well and honoring the vision that built trust in the first place.The episode closes with a powerful reminder that leadership looks different at every scale. Whether managing global teams or greeting guests by name, protecting what matters may be the most strategic decision a leader can make.Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-ToolkitIf you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-ExecutionIn this episode, you will learn:Why alignment is more challenging than strategy in global organizationsHow to build digital teams and unified dashboards across multiple marketsWhy localization and cultural nuance matter in international brand growthThe difference between scaling a brand and stewarding a legacyWhy consistency often beats hype in long-term brand buildingHow care and hospitality can become strategic advantagesConnect with Richard MahLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahrichard/Northern Cafe and Grill: https://northerncafeandgrill.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northerncafeandgrill/About the HostAnthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604About SME StrategySME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.Learn more: www.smestrategy.netPodcast produced by: www.rednyne.com
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    26 m
  • Decisions, Decisions: Making Choices That Survive Execution

    Decisions, Decisions: Making Choices That Survive Execution
    Feb 10 2026

    Why good decisions often fail after they’re made — and how leaders can align intuition, planning, and execution so choices actually turn into results.

    Even strong strategies can fall apart if organizations aren’t designed to execute them. Decisions that look right on paper often fail downstream, not because they were wrong, but because the systems, structures, and judgment required to carry them through were never put in place.

    In this solo episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor examines why execution breaks down after decisions are made and what leaders can do to prevent it. Drawing on years of experience working with leadership teams, Anthony explains how strategy is less about the plan itself and more about the upstream conditions that allow people to make good decisions consistently.

    Anthony explores how judgment is shaped by organizational design, why treating all decisions equally undermines execution, and how prioritization, trade-offs, and sequencing determine whether work actually gets done. He challenges leaders to rethink how resources are allocated, how focus is created, and how teams are supported to act with clarity rather than noise.

    The episode also unpacks the role of meetings, decision rights, and leadership responsibility in surfacing uncertainty before it becomes costly. Anthony makes the case that execution improves when leaders intentionally design environments that reduce friction, eliminate unnecessary choices, and create space for reflection and alignment.

    This episode is a practical guide for leaders who want their decisions to survive execution and turn strategic intent into measurable progress.

    Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit

    If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

    In this episode, you will learn:

    - Why good decisions fail during execution- How upstream structures shape downstream results- Why focus and trade-offs matter more than more initiatives- How leaders can design organizations for better judgment- What it means to align planning, intuition, and execution- How to create conditions that allow teams to execute with clarity

    About the Host

    Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.

    Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

    About SME Strategy

    SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

    Learn more: www.smestrategy.netPodcast produced by: www.rednyne.com
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    14 m
  • From Microsoft Innovation to Regenerative Ventures with JoAnn Garbin

    From Microsoft Innovation to Regenerative Ventures with JoAnn Garbin
    Feb 3 2026

    In a time defined by rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, and shifting assumptions about work, innovation alone is no longer enough. Leaders are being challenged to rethink not just what they build, but how and why they build it.

    In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with JoAnn Garbin, former Microsoft innovation leader and founder of Regeneris Labs, to explore what comes after traditional innovation models. Drawing on decades of experience inside Microsoft, startups, and now a venture studio, JoAnn shares how her thinking has evolved from driving innovation within large systems to designing entirely new regenerative models for work and value creation.

    JoAnn reflects on a major personal and professional inflection point that led her to step away from Big Tech and intentionally rebuild from first principles. She explains why her team spent eighteen months in what she calls an “amorphous blob” phase, experimenting, testing, and resisting the pressure to prematurely define a business model. That process ultimately led to the creation of Regeneris Labs, a venture studio designed to remove constraints and allow experienced builders to create at scale.

    The conversation explores why the venture studio model offers a powerful alternative to consulting, accelerators, and traditional startups, especially in a world shaped by AI. JoAnn makes the case that AI is a disruptive force on par with steam or electrification, but argues that technology alone never creates transformation. Instead, it must be paired with new organizational and economic models, much like the factory system enabled the industrial revolution.

    Anthony and JoAnn also discuss team design, trust, and why “Swiss Army knife” leaders are essential in periods of uncertainty. Rather than relying too early on deep, narrow expertise, JoAnn explains why adaptive, cross-boundary leaders are better suited to navigate constant change. The episode closes with a forward-looking exploration of capitalism, regeneration, and the opportunity to design new systems that better align technology, work, and human outcomes.

    Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit

    If you want your team's execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

    In this episode, you will learn:

    • Why innovation alone is no longer sufficient for long-term success

    • How regenerative ventures differ from startups, consultancies, and accelerators

    • Why AI must be paired with new organizational and economic models

    • How to design teams for adaptability and trust in uncertain environments

    • Why experienced builders are often constrained out of meaningful work

    • What leaders can learn from historical technology-driven transformations

    Connect with JoAnn Garbin

    Website: https://www.joanngarbin.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanngarbin/

    About the Host

    Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.

    Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

    About SME Strategy

    SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

    Learn more: www.smestrategy.net

    Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com
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    23 m
  • Building Confident Managers at Scale with Ashley Herd, Former McKinsey HR Leader

    Building Confident Managers at Scale with Ashley Herd, Former McKinsey HR Leader
    Jan 27 2026

    As organizations grow, management quality often becomes the biggest constraint on performance. Yet most managers are promoted without training, leaving them to navigate people leadership through trial and error.

    In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor speaks with Ashley Herd, former McKinsey HR leader, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and founder of Manager Method, about how organizations can build confident, capable managers at scale. Drawing on her experience across law, HR, and global consulting, Ashley shares a practical perspective on why management capability is frequently overlooked and how that gap impacts culture, performance, and risk.

    Ashley explains how HR is often viewed as a compliance function rather than a strategic partner, and why that mindset limits organizational effectiveness. She explores how compliance and culture can work together, not in opposition, when leaders focus on transparency, clarity, and human-centered decision-making. The conversation highlights common breakdowns in feedback, performance reviews, and engagement surveys, and why ongoing manager development matters more than annual processes.

    The episode also looks ahead to the future of people leadership, including how AI is changing expectations for managers and why organizations must clearly define what is expected, allowed, and possible. Rather than replacing human leadership, Ashley argues that technology makes confident, well-trained managers more important than ever.

    Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit

    If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

    In this episode, you will learn:

    • Why most managers struggle due to a lack of training, not a lack of effort

    • How HR and leadership can work together to scale management capability

    • The balance between compliance, culture, and performance

    • Why feedback and recognition cannot be once-a-year conversations

    • How leaders should prepare managers for the future of work and AI

    Connect with Ashley Herd

    Website: https://www.managermethod.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/

    About the Host

    Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.

    Connect with Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/

    About SME Strategy

    SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

    Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net

    Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com
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    25 m
  • Innovation as Strategic Renewal with Bruce Vojak of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors

    Innovation as Strategic Renewal with Bruce Vojak of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors
    Jan 20 2026

    In mature industries, innovation is often misunderstood as novelty, experimentation, or disruption for its own sake. But for organizations facing margin pressure, increased competition, and slowing growth, innovation is not a buzzword. It is a mechanism for strategic renewal.

    In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor speaks with Bruce Vojak, Managing Director of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, about how established organizations can renew themselves without destabilizing the core business. Drawing on more than four decades of experience across executive leadership, board service, academic research, and advisory work, Bruce shares a pragmatic and disciplined view of innovation that moves beyond hype.

    Bruce explains why many mature companies default to cost-cutting and optimization when under pressure, and why that approach often accelerates long-term decline. He outlines his framework, built on alignment, simple processes, and innovation exemplars, and shows how leaders can assess whether their organization is truly capable of innovation or merely incremental improvement.

    The conversation also explores innovation as a deeply human act of discovery, the role of pattern recognition in leadership, and how executives should think about emerging technologies like AI without overcommitting too early. Rather than chasing novelty, Bruce emphasizes renewal rooted in reality, customer needs, and organizational truth.

    Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit

    If you want your team's execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

    In this episode, you will learn:

    - Why innovation should be viewed as strategic renewal, not novelty- How mature organizations lose their ability to renew over time- Why cost-cutting is not a sustainable long-term strategy- How alignment determines whether innovation efforts succeed or stall- What role do innovation exemplars play inside established companies- How leaders should approach AI amid uncertainty and rapid change

    Connect with Bruce Vojak

    Website: https://www.breakthrough-innovation-advisors.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvojak/

    About the Host

    Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.

    Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

    About SME Strategy

    SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

    Learn more: www.smestrategy.net

    Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com
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    29 m
  • The Future of Employee Experience with Jacob Morgan, Founder of Future of Work Leaders

    The Future of Employee Experience with Jacob Morgan, Founder of Future of Work Leaders
    Jan 14 2026

    In a workplace shaped by rapid change, remote work debates, and shifting expectations, many organizations are struggling to define what employee experience should actually look like. In this episode, we explore the future of employee experience and why leaders must return to first principles to build organizations that are truly future-ready.

    In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor speaks with Jacob Morgan, founder of Future of Work Leaders, a professionally trained futurist, and a six-time best-selling author. Jacob shares insights drawn from years of research and conversations with hundreds of CHROs and senior leaders around the world. Together, they unpack how the pandemic reshaped the employee-employer relationship and where many organizations lost their way.

    Jacob explains why employee experience must be rooted in a mutually beneficial value exchange and why leadership accountability, clarity, and standards matter more than ever. He offers a clear perspective on the power balance between employers and employees, the role of in-person work in long term career growth, and how leaders can better communicate expectations while still supporting flexibility.

    You will also hear Jacob’s perspective on the impact of AI on the future of work. He breaks down why AI is both a risk and an opportunity, how it changes career development, and why the ability to show value rather than just describe it will become a defining advantage for leaders and professionals alike.

    Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit

    If you want your team's execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.

    https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

    In this episode, you will learn:

    • Why employee experience needs a reset after the pandemic

    • How leaders should think about the power balance between employers and employees

    • Why in-person work still matters for long-term career growth

    • How leaders can set clearer expectations without sacrificing flexibility

    • What the rise of AI means for careers, leadership, and the future of work

    Connect with Jacob Morgan

    Website: https://thefutureorganization.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8/

    About the Host

    Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.

    Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

    About SME Strategy

    SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

    Learn more: www.smestrategy.net

    Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com
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    24 m