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In a world that won’t sit still, leaders can’t rely on outdated models built for stability and control.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.
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Latest Episode
Ep. 12 Designing Strategy: Leanne Sobel on Fusing Design Thinking with Strategic Practice
Guest: Leanne Sobel
"Strategy needs to be usable, not just deliverable."
In this episode, Leanne Sobel—Director of Strategic Design at Snowmelt and PhD researcher—joins Mike Jones to explore how design thinking can make strategy more reflective, adaptive, and human.
They unpack why traditional strategies often fail to engage those they affect, and how design practices like stakeholder sensemaking, iterative planning, and reflective decision-making can unlock commitment and capability. This is a conversation about fusion, not opposition, and why strategy must be shaped with people, not just for them.
All Episodes
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.
Ep. 07 Reimagining Risk with Stefan Gershater: How to Make Risk an Enabler, Not a Hindrance
Risk isn’t just about avoiding failure—it’s the fuel for growth. In this episode, Stefan Gershater joins Mike Jones to unpack how leaders can reimagine risk as a strategic enabler by linking it to objectives, decision-making, and long-term resilience.
Ep. 06 Why Management Isn’t a Dirty Word: Adam Thompson on Sequencing, Overload, and Real Execution
Management isn’t obsolete—it’s essential. In this episode, Adam Thompson joins Mike Jones to explore why real execution depends on sequencing work, reducing overload, and enabling adult conversations. A candid, practical conversation about bringing clarity, courage, and real leadership to complex environments.
Ep. 05 Mission Command in Reality: Don Vandergriff on Building Thinking Leaders
Mission command isn’t a process—it’s a culture. In this episode, Don Vandergriff joins Mike Jones to explore how real leadership is built through trust, empowerment, and experiential learning. From military history to modern organisations, this conversation dives deep into building adaptable, thinking leaders in complexity.
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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