The Leaders in Strategy Podcast

Most business leaders think winning is about working harder and selling more. But what if the secret to sustainable growth isn't doing more but thinking differently before you act? In Episode 3 of our Art of War mini-series, we translate Sun Tzu’s timeless principles into a practical framework for modern business. We dive deep into why most strategies fail and how to bridge the dangerous gap betwe...

Most businesses think they lose opportunities because of a poor pitch, a weak proposal, or stronger competition. The reality? Most deals are won or lost long before the meeting ever takes place. In this episode of the Art of War series, you will get an insight into what content becoming a member of our Patreon community can give you, while we explore one of Sun Tzu's most powerful strategic princi...

Are you tired of throwing money at marketing campaigns that just don’t deliver? You aren't alone. In this episode of Leaders in Strategy, we tackle the real fears, industry distrust, and overwhelm that business owners face when trying to scale online. We are joined by Jess Williams, Director of Design in the Shires, a website and digital marketing expert who handles our very own website. We dive d...

Most leaders think strategy is about working harder, selling more, or outperforming the competition. But what if the best leaders don't win because they do more, but because they think differently before they ever act? Welcome to the first episode of our exclusive mini-series diving deep into Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and translating its ancient wisdom into modern business realities. In this episod...

Unlock the secrets to effective strategy, goal setting, and business growth. Today, we dive deep into our recent guests, showcasing their range of knowledge on how to transform your vision into reality, navigate the complexities of digital marketing, and leverage cutting-edge tools like AI to drive their success. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode provides bite-siz...

Most business leaders know they need to adopt AI to stay competitive, but very few understand how to integrate it without getting generic, cheap results. In this episode, Mike Harris is joined by Oli Wood, an AI and automation expert and entrepreneur, to tackle the massive challenges and opportunities that AI brings to business leadership. They discuss why off-the-shelf software often falls short...

What are the biggest challenges business leaders are facing right now? In this special Patreon insight episode, Mike Harris answers 10 real questions submitted by business owners, professionals, and leaders from the Leaders in Strategy community. The discussion covers leadership, AI, customer retention, LinkedIn strategy, business planning, and how to make better decisions in uncertain markets. Mi...

Most businesses say they want to upgrade their operations, but few know how to make improvement a regular part of their daily work. In this episode, Mike Harris is joined by Dave Stubberfield, an award-winning expert in customer experience and continuous improvement, to talk about why they should be an inbuilt part of your business and become part of how your company operates every day. They discu...

When businesses become overwhelmed, reactive or uncertain, the problem is not always productivity. Often, it’s a lack of strategic clarity. In this episode, Mike Harris explores the moments when strategy stops being something businesses can put off and becomes essential for sustainable growth. From slowing sales and shrinking profit margins, to overwhelmed teams, increased competition and uncertai...

Most businesses are marketing constantly. Few stop to ask whether their marketing strategy actually supports the wider goals of the business. In this episode, we sit down with marketing strategist, presenter and LinkedIn expert Gus Bhandal, founder of The M Guru, to explore how businesses can use digital marketing more effectively to build relationships, strengthen their brand and attract more cus...

Most businesses focus heavily on winning new customers. Yet the real opportunity for growth often sits with the customers you already have. In this episode, we break down why client retention is one of the most powerful drivers of profitability, loyalty and long-term success. While acquisition plays a role, retention is what builds a stable and scalable business. The numbers are clear. It can cost...

Most business strategies fail for one simple reason. Lack of clarity. In this episode, I share the exact checklist I use when assessing businesses and their strategy. It’s a framework that forces clarity, challenges assumptions and creates consistency across the organisation. This isn’t theory. It’s the same approach used to help businesses sharpen their direction, make better decisions and unlock...

AI is everywhere right now. But what does it actually mean for your business? In this episode, we break down one of the biggest challenges facing business owners and leaders in 2026: artificial intelligence. Not the hype. Not the headlines. The reality of how AI is already shaping business strategy, decision-making and growth. I’m joined by Oli Wood, Co-Founder of ExposeIQ and Founder of Revived L...

Most business leaders believe they know who their competitors are. But what if the real threats to your business aren’t external at all? In this episode, we tackle a question that came directly from a business owner struggling to apply strategy in practice: Who is the real enemy in business? This conversation breaks down the hidden forces that quietly hinder businesses. Not obvious competitors, bu...

One of the fastest ways to grow your business is to learn from people who have already done it. In this episode, I’m joined by Jeannette Linfoot, business advisor, investor and founder of Brave Bold Brilliant. With over 30 years of global experience and a track record that includes leading major organisations such as TUI, Thomas Cook and Saga, Jeannette brings a level of insight most business lead...

What can a 2,500-year-old military text teach modern business leaders? Quite a lot. In this episode, we explore the timeless strategic principles from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and why they remain surprisingly relevant for businesses navigating today’s competitive environment. From global uncertainty to rapid technological change, the challenges facing leaders in 2026 require sharper thinking, bett...

What separates businesses that grow from those that stall? In this episode of the Leaders in Strategy podcast, I share five more leadership lessons that regularly come up when advising business owners and leadership teams on strategy and growth. This is the kind of guidance organisations usually pay thousands for, but I’m sharing it openly to help you think differently about how you lead, scale an...

Juggling family and scaling a company is one of the biggest challenges for business leaders & entrepreneurs. In this episode I’m joined by Sian Brennan-Todd, award winning, business woman & confidence coach. Together we discuss strategy, leadership, and balancing work and family. If you’re a founder, business owner or leader looking to learn how to scale your business, then this strategic...

Company culture is one of the most talked-about topics in leadership. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, I challenge the idea that the CEO owns the culture. Too often, culture becomes something that’s dictated from the top or shaped around a single personality. When that happens, it creates fragility, dependency, and long-term problems for the business. This episode is a can...

Your website is one of the most powerful growth tools in your business. Yet for many leaders, it becomes a digital brochure rather than a commercial engine. In this episode, I’m joined by Jess Williams, co-founder of Design in the Shires, an award-winning website design and digital marketing agency based in Malvern, Worcestershire. Together, we unpack what actually makes a website work for a busin...

Most business leaders don’t fail because they lack ambition. They fail because they focus on the wrong things. This episode breaks down five core principles that consistently show up in successful businesses. Not trends. Not theory. Practical leadership advice that helps you build long-term value for your clients, your team and the business itself. We explore what it really means to define a clear...

Most businesses and professionals are active on LinkedIn. But very few are making money from it. In this episode of the Leaders in Strategy podcast, we get practical about what LinkedIn is really for and how to turn activity into revenue. Brand awareness alone doesn’t pay the bills, and posting consistently isn’t the same as building a pipeline. I’m joined by Gus Bhandal, Founder of The M Guru and...

What will really challenge business leaders in 2026? We asked AI to analyse the landscape ahead and identify the biggest pressures facing entrepreneurs and leadership teams over the next year. In this episode, we break down the six challenges that consistently rise to the top and, more importantly, how you should respond to them. We cover: - Economic uncertainty and its impact on decision-making -...

Most businesses believe growth comes from more leads, more sales activity, and more pipeline. In reality, many are leaking value long before any new customer ever needs to be found. In this episode of the Leaders in Strategy podcast, we explore why customer management is one of the most overlooked drivers of sustainable business growth and why focusing purely on sales often creates more problems t...