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In a world that won’t sit still, leaders can’t rely on outdated models built for stability and control.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. 09 Futures, AI, and the Illusion of Certainty: Rethinking Strategy with Matt Mullan
AI won’t give you certainty—but it can sharpen your imagination.
In this episode, Matt Mullan joins Mike Jones to explore how leaders can use AI and futures thinking not to predict the future, but to expand strategic options, build agency, and challenge outdated decision-making rooted in the past. From human-machine teaming to scenario planning, this is a call for leaders to rethink how they make sense—and take action—in uncertainty.
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.
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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