WHERE LEADERS RETHINK HOW STRATEGY WORKS IN THE REAL WORLD
The traditional approach to strategy is broken.
In a world that won’t sit still, leaders can’t rely on outdated models built for stability and control.
Strategy Meets Reality is a podcast for leaders, strategists, and thinkers who want real insight—not theory. Hosted by organisational psychologist and systems thinker Mike Jones, each episode cuts through the noise with honest conversations from people who’ve lived the complexity, made the tough calls, and rethought what strategy means in practice.
🎧 New episodes every Tuesday
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Latest Episode
Ep. 25 – Antifragile by Design: Janka Krings-Klebe on Governance, Autonomy, and Building Ecosystem Organisations
Guest: Janka Krings-Klebe
“Antifragility means getting stronger through disruption—but only if you design for it.”
In this episode, Janka Krings-Klebe—systems thinker and author of The Antifragile Organisation—joins Mike Jones to explore what it takes to build organisations that thrive in uncertainty. From ecosystem structures to learning cultures, they unpack how to rethink governance, funding, and leadership to enable innovation and resilience. It’s a grounded conversation for leaders shaping the future of work.
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Ep. 19 Brave Builders of the Future: Louise Le Gat on Shapeshifting Leadership and Navigating System Shifts
Most leaders are still managing the old system—while the world has already shifted.
In this episode, Louise Le Gat—creator of Positive Impact Leadership—joins Mike Jones to challenge the role of leadership in a shapeshifting world. From upgrading mental models and dismantling survival mechanisms to reinventing value itself, they explore what it takes to lead when the old playbook no longer fits. A grounded and powerful conversation for leaders ready to shape the future—not just survive it.
Ep. 18 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, Marcus Dimbleby—former RAF and red teaming expert—joins Mike Jones to challenge the way organisations approach execution. They explore how critical thinking, psychological safety, and challenge cultures help teams cut through complexity, improve decision-making, and deliver real outcomes. From quiet quitting to decision rights, this is a grounded conversation on leadership that works under pressure.
Ep. 17 Futures, Fit, and Fragility: Norman Chorn on Strategy, Scenarios, and Organising for Uncertainty
Efficiency can make you fragile. Coherence makes you viable.
In this episode, Norman Chorn—strategist, educator, and scenario thinker—joins Mike Jones to explore why traditional alignment fails in uncertainty, and how strategic coherence can help organisations adapt and thrive. From low-regret bets to common capabilities, they unpack how leaders can design for resilience, not prediction.
Ep. 08 Ben Ford on Why Military Thinking Still Matters: Command, Control, and Competing in Chaos
Military principles aren’t relics—they’re strategic assets. In this episode, Ben Ford joins Mike Jones to explore how mission clarity, decentralised execution, and adaptive command can give organisations the edge in chaotic environments shaped by technology, disruption, and rapid change.
Meet your Host:
Mike Jones
Mike Jones is a systems thinker, organisational psychologist, and former British Army soldier.
He’s worked as a strategy and execution advisor to senior executives across rail, tech, and government to rethink how strategy actually works in complexity.
He founded LBI Consulting and author of the upcoming book When Strategy Meets Reality.
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