Focus on Growth: Sage Insights

Your Board Should Be an Asset In today’s environment of massive, fast, and continuous change, boards can no longer be satisfied operating in its traditional role. Oversight remains essential—but it is no longer enough. In this episode, I sit down with former AT&T CEO John Donovan, who now serves on the boards of Palo Alto Networks, Lockheed Martin, and U.S. Steel. Drawing on his unique perspec...

Over the past year, we have explored the reality that leaders face today:• Change is massive, rapid, and permanent.• Traditional strategic planning models no longer work.• Leaders need a Change Agenda to provide direction when certainty is impossible. But understanding the challenge is only the beginning. To lead successful change, leaders must:• Make the Case for "Why"—and "Why Now...

To face off against the powerful forces of change pummeling us all, ask yourself this question: Do you have your enterprise ready for change? Really? If so, don’t waste your time on this podcast. But if not, and in our experience, most of you are not, then:You need this. Really! Sage Partner John Hansen and I describe the process you’ll need to ensure your enterprise can handle the stress of chang...

Most leaders hesitate in uncertainty. The winners act. For the third year, Barry Winer , Deloitte’s Head of M&A Research, joins me to explore how disruption in M&A is creating real opportunity—for those prepared to move. Drawing on Deloitte Consulting’s deep experience and Sage Partners’ perspective, we cut through the fog to show how leaders can identify, evaluate, and execute deals in un...

In times of massive, fast-moving change, leaders are expected to provide direction—but the old model of fixed plans no longer works. In the fog, certainty is elusive. What matters most is not just about being right—it’s more about being ready. In this episode, I’m joined by Sage Partner Larry Bennigson to explore how leaders can create a Change Agenda—a clear, adaptable framework that sets directi...

After a year of exploring the turbulence reshaping our world — technological disruption, geopolitical instability, cultural shifts and economic uncertainty — we believe it’s time to move  to action in new deliberative ways. In this pivotal episode of Navigating the Fog of Change™, I’m joined by three of my Sage Partners to introduce a practical approach for leading through chaos. Drawing on our de...

Navigating the Fog of Change™: Lessons from 2025 to Leadership in 2026 We’re not lacking information—we’re overwhelmed by it. In this special episode of  Focus on Growth: Navigating the Fog of Change™ , Tom Doorley looks back on the most important insights from his 2025 conversations with CEOs, founders, board members, and change leaders—and asks a critical question: How do we lead effectively in...

Seeing Through the Fog: Why Citizen Knowledge Matters “In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” — George Washington In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change™, I’m joined by Jeff Jacoby, veteran columnist for The Boston Globe and author of the influential Arguable column. Together we dive into a...

From Oversight to Insight—or Irrelevance: The Board’s Challenge | Navigating the Fog of Change™When the fog of change thickens—technology upheaval, geopolitical shocks, shifting expectations—the easy temptation is for boards to retreat into oversight. But that’s not enough; not anymore. In this episode of Focus on Growth, Tom Doorley of Sage Partners is joined by governance experts Bob Kueppers (f...

When change feels constant and chaotic, how do leaders find clarity? In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change™, Tom Doorley talks with Rick Maurer, a true master of change, about how to move people from resistance to commitment—and lead with trust, clarity, and courage when the world won’t stop changing. To learn more about Rick and his work, visit: https://rickmaurer.com Navigating The Fog...

Navigating the Fog of Change™: How a Small Company Fights Its Dragons In this episode of Focus on Growth, I speak with Tom and Monica Rogan, founders of Goodnow Farms Chocolate, about the realities of leading a small business through today’s fog of change — where uncertainty, volatility, and disruption test every assumption. From Hollywood and real estate to handcrafting award-winning chocolate on...

In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change, I’m joined by John Donovan — former CEO of AT&T, investor in AI and technology firms, and now a board member of U.S. Steel. We explore how AI has evolved over the past year, the hype versus the reality, and why leaders must move beyond “doing the same with less” to finding new opportunities for growth. John shares insights on the critical role o...

How do leaders cut through the fog of digital transformation? In this episode of Navigating The Fog of Change™, George Young of Rockwell Automation and I explore why  proof of value  matters more than  proof of concept , how to cascade change from the C-suite to the shop floor, and a truly Big Idea: what it will take to reskill people in an AI-driven world.  Practical insights, real examples, and...

In this episode of Navigating The Fog of Change™, Tom Doorley of Sage Partners is joined by global governance expert Dr. Peter Crow for a compelling conversation about the board's role in times of rapid and disruptive change. Together, they explore:• How boards can help leadership shape the narrative during uncertainty, to create the Leader’s Change Agenda• The importance of establishing a cle...

In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change, I’m joined by Don Plumley , our COO at Sage Partners and leader of our Venture Practice. We explore one of the most critical—and challenging—transitions in the life of a growing company: the founder’s shift from hands-on builder to strategic leader. Don shares insights from years of guiding young companies through this evolution, highlighting the mi...

Leadership Is Personal with Jennifer BarronNavigating The Fog of Change | Episode 3In this episode of Focus on Growth, Tom Doorley is joined by leadership coach Jennifer Barron to explore how leaders can guide their teams—and themselves—through today’s uncertainty. They discuss how to: Let go of the need to “know” Stay calm and focused under pressure Reframe stress through mental fitness Take resp...

A Call For Leadership with Cordell BennigsonNavigating The Fog of Change | Episode 2 Massive disruption. Relentless change. Confusion at every turn. In this urgent episode of Focus on Growth, Sage Partners’ Tom Doorley and leadership expert Cordell Bennigson tackle how leaders can stay clear-headed—and drive results—when everything is in flux. Learn the 5 essential leadership moves that cut throug...

Navigating The Fog of Change: Massive, Fast, Forever—Now What? Episode 1 | A New Series from Sage PartnersWelcome to Navigating the Fog of Change—a new podcast series from Sage Partners designed for enterprise leaders facing a world that’s shifting faster and deeper than ever before. In this kickoff episode, host Tomm Doorley lays the foundation for the series, unpacking the forces behind today’s...

In this episode of Focus on Growth, Tom Doorley talks with Kate Morga n, COO of Magid, a digital consumer marketing firm, about her leadership journey—from rugby consulting to hedge funds to tech startups. Kate shares how embracing discomfort, staying curious, and leading with authenticity have shaped her success. She reveals what she looks for when building high-performance teams—and why kindness...

In this episode of Focus on Growth, Tom Doorley welcomes Barry Winer , head of M&A research at Deloitte, to discuss the evolving landscape of mergers and acquisitions. Drawing on Deloitte’s “Time to Pivot” survey, they explore how dealmakers are shifting from reactive to proactive strategies—adapting with strategic, financial, and geographic pivots. They also highlight integration planning as...

Strategic Roadblocks—How Leaders Respond When your strategy hits a roadblock, and it is likely to do so, what comes next? In this episode of Focus on Growth, Tom Doorley talks with Gregg Makuch of Sound Thinking about navigating political and reputational threats. Their smart, layered response—including customer advocacy—offers a masterclass in defending mission-critical innovations while reinforc...

Growth is the superior value-creating strategy—and it starts with innovation. Join me and Professor and entrepreneur Darrell Velegol as we explore how to build a repeatable, robust innovation process. Innovation is a gamble. Here’s how to stack the odds in your favor. To learn more about Darrell and his work, visit https://www.che.psu.edu/department/directory-detail-g.aspx?q=DXV9 https://www.knowl...

In this episode of Focus on Growth, host Tom Doorley of Sage Partners is joined by sales strategist Doug C. Brown to explore how fast-growing companies can go beyond founder-led selling to build scalable, high-performance sales teams. Doug shares hard-won insights from helping clients generate over $1 billion in revenue, offering a clear framework for identifying top sales talent, empowering them...

How can the private sector strengthen America’s global impact?   🇺🇸 In this episode of  Focus on Growth ,  Jim Hake , founder of  Spirit of America , shares how his nonprofit fills critical gaps in U.S. diplomatic and military missions worldwide.  Entrepreneurship, innovation, and national security—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!  🎧 Focus On Growth: Sage Advice is hosted by Tom Doo...

We live in an age of accelerating, disruptive change. GenAI, Synthetic Biology and Quantum Computing are reshaping our world faster than our institutions can adapt. Assembling Tomorrow is an important new book that helps us move beyond confusion and toward action. Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter, who teach this methodology at Stanford University's d.school, join me in a conversation about the...