Strategy Candy: Strategy | OKR | Product Management

What separates teams that talk about OKRs from those that actually use them to change how they work? In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Mälsjö , founder of FutureWorks , whose mission is simple, eliminate bad execution .   Daniel and his team coach leaders and build OKR software designed to drive focus, rhythm, and culture change. He shares how OKR reboots have become more common than first-t...

How does a company of 15,000 people keep strategy, goals, and execution moving in the same rhythm? In this episode, Amber Morey-Wu, Principal Program Manager at Atlassian, takes us behind the curtain.   We talk about Atlassian’s “Business Rhythms” team and their rolling four approach to planning. Every quarter, they review results, reset priorities, and look forward four quarters, keeping strategy...

Juan Sanchez, CIO at Inteleos, joins us to break down how OKRs are powering real change in the nonprofit sector. Inteleos, a global leader in medical certification, is using OKRs not just to track progress, but to redefine what impact looks like across borders. Juan shares how Inteleos shifted from traditional project thinking to outcome-driven impact, scaled their remote workforce across six coun...

Lucus West, COO at AutoGuru, takes us under the hood of how a disruptive Aussie startup reshaped its approach to goals, strategy, and getting everyone pulling in the same direction. From early OKR chaos and bloated to-do lists to a metrics-driven, tightly aligned rhythm that actually fires up the team—this episode is a practical blueprint for any business on the brink of outgrowing its goal-settin...

In this laid-back and insightful crossover episode with Natasha Redman , Tim breaks down what OKRs actually are, why they’re worth the effort—and what most people get completely wrong. From defining meaningful goals to building habits that stick, the conversation covers real stories from inside big orgs, the traps of to-do list masquerading as OKRs, and the magic that happens when teams get aligne...

In this episode, Tim joins Andrew Murphy for a live chat all about making OKRs work in the messy, real world of business—not just the theory. They unpack the early days of OKRs, what makes them powerful, and how the wrong leadership culture can quietly kill them. Tim shares the moment in his career that flipped his mindset from outputs to outcomes (spoiler: it involves 18 years of work that never...

What do scenic design, customer experience and OKRs have in common? According to Mat Lawrence, everything . In this episode, Tim sits down with Mat—COO at Shippit and former head of props at Opera Australia—to talk about how storytelling transforms leadership, decision-making and alignment inside fast-growing teams. Mat shares how he went from building physical props for live shows to building tea...

If you’ve ever struggled to write clear, focused OKRs that actually drive business results, this episode is for you. Tim and Péter break down the biggest mistakes teams make when setting OKRs and share a practical, step-by-step approach to writing better ones. Learn why OKRs should feel like a newspaper headline , how to track progress before the quarter is over , and why measuring outputs (instea...

OKRs sound simple—set a goal, track progress, win. But the reality? Much harder. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Henry , product leader and OKR practitioner, to unpack what it really takes to embed OKRs in a high-performing organization like SEEK . Mark shares the challenges of getting leadership alignment, keeping teams focused, and ensuring customer outcomes drive product decisions. Whethe...

Stories aren’t just for Hollywood—they’re the key to better leadership, communication, and culture in the workplace. In this episode, I sit down with Shawn Callahan , storytelling expert and author of Putting Stories to Work , to unpack the power of business storytelling. Shawn shares why the traditional hero’s journey doesn’t work in business, how to naturally weave stories into your communicatio...

In this episode of Strategy Candy , Tim Newbold dives into one of the most debated topics in business leadership—should OKRs be tied to performance management? Tim breaks down the benefits and risks of linking these two critical processes, offering a fresh perspective on how to drive results without stifling creativity or stressing your team out. With practical tips on creating accountability, tra...

In this episode of Strategy Candy , Tim Newbold sits down with Samantha McIntyre, a seasoned CIO who’s held leadership roles at powerhouse companies like L’Oreal, Woolworths, and Suzanne Group. Samantha shares her unique journey from starting on a help desk to becoming a major player in Australia’s corporate world. She’s got a knack for authentic, people-first leadership, and in this conversation,...

Summary: In this episode, Tim sits down with Peter Forbes, founder of HR Onboard, which he grew from a startup into a thriving business acquired by Elmo Software. Peter shares his path from a young developer to a tech entrepreneur, offering insights into what it takes to create a purpose-driven, people-first company. This conversation goes beyond typical startup advice to reveal why a strong compa...

Summary: In this episode of Strategy Candy , Tim Newbold sits down with Mike Ilczynski, former CEO of Seek Asia and Redbubble, for a deep dive into leadership, OKR, and building a purpose-driven culture in high-growth companies. Mike shares his personal journey from strategic roles to CEO, including the wins, challenges, and lessons learned. Together, Tim and Mike discuss the importance of alignin...

In the debut episode of Strategy Candy , host Tim Newbold dives deep into the essentials of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Discover why this game-changing framework has powered companies like Google and LinkedIn to incredible growth and how you can implement it to unlock focus, alignment, and measurable progress. Tim shares the foundational steps, the most common pitfalls, and practical insigh...

In the debut episode of Strategy Candy , host Tim Newbold introduces the podcast that’s all about strategy, high-performing product teams, and achieving bold goals using the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework. In this episode, you’ll get a glimpse of what's coming up—foundational insights on strategy, change management tips, and inspiring interviews with top industry leaders. Whether y...