Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

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Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Mike Jones

33 episodes

2 days ago

In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Julian Chender—organisational design expert, strategy advisor, and founder of 11A Collaborative—to explore how to make strategy work in the messy reality of organisational life. Julian draws on years of experience helping purpose-driven organisations redesign themselves to stay viable. They unpack the challenges of structure, capabilities, and leadership transitions—revealing how real constraints can actually sharpen strategic...

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In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Julian Chender—organisational design expert, strategy advisor, and founder of 11A Collaborative—to explore how to make strategy work in the messy reality of organisational life. Julian draws on years of experience helping purpose-driven organisations redesign themselves to stay viable. They unpack the challenges of structure, capabilities, and leadership transitions—revealing how real constraints can actually sharpen strategic...

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Episodes (20/33)

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Freedom Within Constraints: Julian Chender on Strategy, Capabilities and Navigating Organisational Reality

In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Julian Chender—organisational design expert, strategy advisor, and founder of 11A Collaborative—to explore how to make strategy work in the messy reality of organisational life. Julian draws on years of experience helping purpose-driven organisations redesign themselves to stay viable. They unpack the challenges of structure, capabilities, and leadership transitions—revealing how real constraints can actually sharpen strategic...

1 week ago

50 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Rethinking Value: Andy Wilkins on the Future of Health and Strategy That Learns

What if the future of health isn’t just about fixing sickness—but creating value in how we live? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Andy Wilkins—founder of Future of Health, futures strategist, and author—to rethink what strategy means in health and care systems. They explore why efficiency often works against long-term health outcomes, how integrated care and lived experience must shape policy, and why the next generation of strategy must learn faster than the...

2 weeks ago

51 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Reclaiming Strategy: Mike Jones on Perception, Structure, and the Return to Coherence

Strategy isn’t a performance—it’s a practice. In this special solo episode, host Mike Jones reflects on what 30 episodes of Strategy Meets Reality have revealed about the state of modern strategy. He explores why strategy fails first in perception, not execution, and how organisations confuse alignment with coherence, performance with action, and control with orientation. Drawing on lessons from Boyd, Sun Tzu, and the 30+ guests who’ve shaped this journey, Mike challenges the branding-led vie...

3 weeks ago

37 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

The Thinking Brain: Dr. Delia McCabe on Neuroplasticity, Nutrition, and the Neuroscience of Leadership

The brain is your most powerful strategic tool—if you know how to use it. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones talks with Dr. Delia McCabe—neuroscientist and expert in nutritional neuroscience—about how neuroplasticity, nutrition, and stress shape leaders’ ability to think, decide, and adapt. They dive deep into the biology of creativity, the traps of mental fatigue, and why the structure of your brain determines the structure of your strategy. Dr. McCabe explains how chronic...

4 weeks ago

58 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Against the Grain: Saul Betmead de Chasteigner on Strategy, Structure, and the Psychology of Change

Success can be blinding. Strategy is often where complacency hides best. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones speaks with Saul Betmead de Chasteigner—strategic advisor and transformation leader—about the hidden traps in organisations that seem to be “winning.” They unpack how strategy becomes theatre, why organisations resist feedback when things are going well, and how real transformation depends on psychological safety, clarity, and structural intent. From autonomy and stru...

1 month ago

1 hour

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Beehives and Viability: Mick Brian on Strategy, Feedback, and Emergent Learning

Viability doesn’t come from vision. It comes from feedback, iteration, and the courage to learn. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Mick Brian—a consultant with a military background and a passion for learning systems—to unpack how organisations can survive and thrive in complex environments. They explore what bees can teach us about decentralised decision-making, how the OODA Loop supports learning under pressure, and why real-time feedback is the foundation o...

1 month ago

53 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Beyond OKRs: Radhika Dutt on the Performance Trap and the Puzzle Mindset

Are your goals helping you adapt—or just perform? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Radhika Dutt joins Mike Jones to expose the hidden trap of OKRs and KPI-led management. Drawing on her latest work and the OHL Toolkit, Radhika introduces a radical shift: move from setting performance targets to setting puzzles. They explore how metrics create fragility, why freedom of action matters, and how to scaffold real learning without losing direction. From military concepts to corporate lead...

1 month ago

54 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

The Illusion of Progress: Paul Sweeney on Magnetic Nonsense, Corporate Culture, and Critical Thinking

Most nonsense in organisations isn’t malicious—it’s magnetic. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Paul Sweeney—author of Magnetic Nonsense: A Short History of Bullshit at Work—to unpack the rituals, myths, and illusions that derail progress inside organisations. They dive into the dangers of detached leadership, the myth of heroic CEOs, and why so many change programmes fail before they begin. From performance theatre and wellbeing platitudes to the real impact ...

2 months ago

59 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Antifragile by Design: Janka Krings-Klebe on Governance, Autonomy, and Building Ecosystem Organisations

Antifragile is more than a buzzword—it’s a design principle. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones sits down with Janka Krings-Klebe—author of The Antifragile Organization—to explore what it means to design organisations that thrive under stress. They unpack why most governance systems constrain innovation, how financial incentives can block adaptability, and why autonomy and accountability must go hand in hand. From ecosystem design to cultural enablers, this is a practical l...

2 months ago

52 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

When Strategy Meets Security: Glenn Wilson on Technical Debt, Developer Voice, and Defensive Thinking

Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about enabling execution under pressure. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Glenn Wilson—cybersecurity expert, OODA loop practitioner, and founder of Dynaminet—to explore how the challenges of security mirror those of strategy. From technical debt to tool overload, commander's intent to learning loops, they unpack how poor decision-making, misaligned incentives, and lack of feedback erode both resilience and e...

2 months ago

54 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Strategy Is What We Do, Not What We Have: Donald MacLean on Emergence, Emotion, and Execution

Most strategy documents belong in a drawer. Real strategy is lived, spoken, and constantly adapted. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Professor Donald MacLean—physicist, strategist, and founder of Strategy Story—to unpack what makes strategy real, why we confuse it with policy and vision, and how governance is quietly killing adaptability. Donald shares why strategy is emotional before it’s intellectual, why leadership is about enabling sensemaking, and why co...

2 months ago

57 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Wayfinding in Complexity: Elsa Henderson on Strategy, Capacity, and Practical Wisdom

Most strategy frameworks promise clarity—but what happens when there is no map? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Elsa Henderson—consultant, facilitator, and PhD researcher on “wayfinding” in complexity. Drawing on her work with impact networks and her doctoral research into real-world leadership practice, Elsa explores what it means to make decisions, build strategy, and lead effectively when the future is unclear. They unpack why traditional navigation fails...

3 months ago

58 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Value as the Compass: Hunter Hastings on Systems Thinking, Autonomy, and Organising for Impact

Most organisations measure success by profit. Hunter Hastings says that’s the wrong compass. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Hunter Hastings—strategist, author, and leading voice in systems thinking—to challenge the way businesses define and deliver value. They unpack why profit maximisation blinds leaders to opportunity, how autonomy unlocks creativity, and why removing barriers is the real work of leadership. From shifting the paradigm away from efficiency...

3 months ago

56 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Planning to Adapt: Johan Ivari on Strategy, Narrative, and the Set-Based Approach

Planning isn’t about precision—it’s about possibility. In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Johan Ivari—Swedish Armed Forces officer, lecturer at the Swedish Defence University, and author of A Set-Based Approach: Searching for the Problem–Solution Eclipse. Together, they explore how strategy and execution can remain viable in a world shaped by unpredictability and complexity. Johan challenges the illusion of control, unpacks why detailed plans often collapse on contact with reality, and ...

3 months ago

53 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Brave Builders of the Future: Louise Le Gat on Shapeshifting Leadership and Navigating System Shifts

Leadership is no longer about maintaining the old—it’s about shapeshifting into the new. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Louise Le Gat, creator of the purpose-led roadmap, to explore how leaders must evolve in the face of global disruption, systemic shifts, and societal transformation. Louise challenges us to stop being good soldiers of the status quo and become brave builders of the future. From mental model upgrades to organisational reinvention, this is a...

3 months ago

55 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Critical Thinking as a Strategic Weapon: Marcus Dimbleby on Red Teaming, Engagement, and Execution

Engagement isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Marcus Dimbleby—former RAF, red teaming expert, and founder of Effective Direction—to explore how critical thinking and challenge cultures sharpen execution in complex environments. Marcus explains why most organisations suffer from self-inflicted complexity, why outputs are mistaken for outcomes, and how empowerment without clarity or capability leads nowhere. From psy...

4 months ago

53 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Futures, Fit, and Fragility: Norman Chorn on Strategy, Scenarios, and Organising for Uncertainty

Viability isn’t about predicting the future—it’s about preparing for many. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Norman Chorn—strategist, scenario thinker, and author—to challenge conventional planning and explore how leaders can make better strategic decisions under uncertainty. Norman explains why conventional alignment makes organisations fragile, why strategic adaptability depends on coherence, and how low-regret bets create resilience without wasting effort. ...

4 months ago

49 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Reconceptualising Strategy: Ben Zweibelson on Strategy, Complexity, and Multi-Paradigm Thinking

We don’t just fight wars with weapons, we fight them with ideas, metaphors, and assumptions we don’t even question. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Ben Zweibelson—veteran, military strategist, and author of Reconceptualizing War—to explore why our dominant paradigms of strategy are failing us. They unpack the hidden structures behind military thinking, why complexity demands more than doctrine, and how multi-paradigm design can unlock radically different way...

4 months ago

1 hour 10 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Diagnosing the Real Problem: Michael Negendahl on Risk, Control, and Leading in Complexity

Control is comforting, but in complexity, it’s often a trap. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Michael Negendahl, founder of Exaptive Labs and a former emergency nurse, to explore why many leadership responses are performative rather than practical. They unpack the psychological need for certainty, the danger of chasing tidy plans in messy environments, and the difference between solving a problem and solving the wrong one. This is a candid conversation about ...

4 months ago

59 minutes

Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

Rethinking Innovation: Paul Frobisher on Strategy, Thinking better, and Organising for Uncertainty

Innovation isn’t a brainstorm. It’s a way of thinking, organising, and acting in uncertainty. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones sits down with Paul Frobisher—engineer, strategist, and founder of Strategic Innovation—to explore how organisations often misdiagnose the innovation challenge. From solving the wrong problems to collapsing under performance pressure, Paul breaks down the real reasons innovation fails—and what leaders can do instead. They explore the value of TRIZ...

4 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes