Outthinker

This audio was recorded by AI.   In hosting the Outthinkers podcast, I get to speak with some of the world’s most strategic minds. But few conversations have reshaped my own understanding of leadership the way my recent dialogue with Mark Thompson did. Mark is a CEO coach to many of the world’s highest-performing executives […]

This audio was recorded by AI.   Over the past few months, as I’ve worked with executives across sectors, from finance to healthcare, manufacturing to technology, the same quiet realization keeps emerging: we are approaching a rational inflection point in strategy. The ground beneath us is shifting. The levers we once relied on, such as

This audio was recorded by AI.   At Outthinker, we pride ourselves on our ability to identify the forces that are truly shaping competitive advantage today. Rather than relying on predictions or opinions, this year we began with a rigorous analysis of the 2025 Outthinker List: 45 companies that consistently outperform across growth, profitability, and

This audio was recorded by AI.   As I look back on 2025, I find myself reflecting on both personal milestones, like being named one of this year’s Thinkers50, and the ongoing conversations with strategists each year that continue to push my thinking forward. It was a year that invited reflection not just on what

This audio was recorded by AI.   The strongest companies do more than survive economic cycles. They design systems that turn volatility into momentum. Once again, my research for the Outthinker List surfaced an under-the-radar strategy giant: PulteGroup, better known as its main brand, Pulte Homes. It has grown sales faster than 90% of its

This audio was recorded by AI.   The morning after Thanksgiving in Philadelphia carried a lively, restless energy. We had spent the week with family, sharing meals, stories, and gifts that somehow multiplied in our suitcases. As we packed for our flight home, it became obvious we needed one more bag — a simple, collapsible

This audio was recorded by AI.   For decades, business leadership has been shaped by clear, established roles. A CEO leads. A CFO manages the financial engine. A COO runs the operational machine. But the chief strategy officer and the broader strategy function remain emerging and evolving parts of the organizational landscape. Through the Outthinker

This audio was recorded by AI.   When we launched the Outthinker List, a global recognition of companies that are redefining how strategy gets done, we did so with a simple belief: strategy is reshaped by those who see shifts early, translate them into action, and build organizations capable of evolving with the moment. At

This audio was recorded by AI.   I just got back from Carlsbad, California, after giving the keynote speech at a gathering of home builders. These are people who shape physical communities and, in many ways, shape the future itself. They decide how we live, how neighborhoods evolve, and how cities grow. At the end

This audio was recorded by AI.   Deere & Company, also known as John Deere or Deere, is not only an icon of industrial excellence. It is also a member of the Outthinker List, a group of organizations we recognize as redefining what strategic leadership looks like. The Outthinker List highlights companies that challenge conventional