Culture trumps strategy every single time. Wayne Levings joins David outside the boardroom to unpack this statement.

Wayne is Chief Client Officer and CEO of North America at Kantar. Wayne shares his extensive journey across global markets, offering unique insights into cultural integration and leadership around the world.

Three key takeaways you’ll get from this episode:

1. Adaptation and Learning:

Wayne emphasizes the importance of adapting to different cultural and business environments, illustrating his transitions from South Africa to the UK, and later to the US and Singapore. His narrative underlines the significance of flexibility and continuous learning in leadership.

2. Building a Global Mindset:

His career at Procter & Gamble and subsequent roles involved significant shifts in geographical and operational focus, demonstrating how leaders can benefit from a global perspective and understanding diverse markets.

3. Navigating Corporate Changes:

Wayne discusses the challenges and strategies involved in navigating through mergers, acquisitions, and organizational changes, particularly during his time with Kantar and WPP. His insights into integrating different corporate cultures and aligning new teams are particularly valuable for leaders undergoing similar transitions.

As Wayne says, "you need to listen, and you need to listen to different voices across organizations."