In this podcast, we talk to strategy makers to demystify the myth of strategy and at the same time show how you can win with strategic work in volatile times.
Success is no coincidence.
For a company to be successful in the market, it needs a sound strategy.
But who is able to develop strategies that can survive in the long term?
Which hurdles must be overcome and which turns and curves must be mastered? How can you cope with heights and how do you get back on track from a low?
We explain all this in our podcast "Hope is not a strategy".
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In the latest episode of “Hope Is Not a Strategy”, Christian Underwood speaks with Deniz Schütz and Dr. Sascha Haggenmüller about a critical question: Why are companies still hiring despite the AI boom—and how is AI really transforming M&A and value creation?
The discussion centers around one key insight: technology is not the bottleneck—data is. Without clean data, efficient processes, and a solid infrastructure, AI often falls far short of its potential.
Together, the three experts explore data-driven deal sourcing, AI-powered financial due diligence, the importance of data warehouses, and the role of human expertise in an increasingly automated world. They explain why many AI initiatives fail and why companies should focus on taking action today instead of waiting for the “perfect” solution.
This episode is essential for entrepreneurs, investors, CFOs, and business leaders who want to understand how AI creates real business value—and why data, processes, and people remain the foundation of every successful AI strategy. 🎧 Tune in now and discover how AI is reshaping value creation and strategic decision-making.
Is your company killing innovation without knowing it?
jeudi 21 août 2025 • Durée 33:03
In this episode of “Hope Is Not a Strategy”, Christian Underwood is joined by Prof. Ben Bensaou from INSEAD Business School to explore a fresh perspective on innovation - one that moves beyond Silicon Valley buzzwords and elite R&D departments.
Ben Bensaou shares insights from over 20 years of research with more than 100 companies across the globe - from hidden champions to global corporations. His key message: Innovation isn’t limited to a select few — it’s a way of thinking and working that everyone can embrace.
Together, we dive into the myths surrounding innovation, how to unlock creative potential at every level of an organization, and why shifting from “innovation” to “innovating” can lower the pressure and spark real change. You’ll learn how to build a culture where employees are encouraged, supported, and recognized for contributing new ideas.
Whether you’re a business leader looking to make your company more future-ready or a manager wanting to empower your team, this episode offers fresh perspectives, practical examples, and actionable steps to help make innovation a daily habit - not a distant goal.
Tune in now and discover how to build a truly innovative organization from the inside out.
#80 Leadership and strategy: Insights from Willie Peterson
jeudi 21 novembre 2024 • Durée 39:18
In this episode of Hope is Not a Strategy, Christian Underwood and Jürgen Weigand welcome strategy consultant Prof. Willie Pietersen, whose “Strategy Frame” model has strongly influenced their work. Pietersen, a renowned expert in strategic learning and business management and a long-time lecturer at Columbia Business School, has used his philosophy to inspire leaders around the world to put their values at the center of their work.
A central aspect of the “Strategy Frame” model is strategic flexibility. Pietersen explains how important it is for companies to remain adaptable in a fast-moving world and to develop their strategies on a regular basis. His model emphasizes a culture of learning and openness to new ideas. He sees strategic alignment as a dynamic process that is based on continuous learning and must constantly evolve in order to remain relevant in the long term.
Another key topic is the culture of error. Pietersen emphasizes that mistakes should not be seen as failures, but as opportunities. An open error culture not only strengthens trust within the team, but also promotes creativity and innovation, as employees can act without fear of sanctions. For Pietersen, it is crucial that managers exemplify this culture by being transparent about their own mistakes. This is the only way to create a climate in which the team can safely experiment and learn.
Pietersen also talks about the importance of authenticity and ethical behavior in leadership. For him, authenticity means that managers know their own values and consistently act in accordance with them. Companies that integrate ethics as an integral part of their strategy create trust and credibility - not only internally, but also with customers and partners. Pietersen does not see ethics as an add-on to strategy, but as the basis for long-term and stable business relationships.
Finally, Pietersen emphasizes the importance of continuous learning as a strategic success factor. In a globalized and constantly changing world, it is not enough to define a strategy once. He recommends regular strategy retrospectives to reflect on past successes and challenges and adapt the strategy if necessary. This strengthens the commitment of employees and actively involves them in the future of the company.
This episode offers valuable insights into future-oriented and human leadership. Pietersen's “Strategy Frame” model and philosophy emphasize the connection of strategy with values, ethics and learning. In doing so, he encourages leaders to develop a dynamic and flexible leadership style that will endure in the long term. For anyone looking for a sustainable, value-based leadership strategy, this episode is an inspiring source of practical ideas and inspiration.
#11 Human is the next big thing: The Birkman Method's Role in Strategy and Leadership
jeudi 26 octobre 2023 • Durée 26:43
In this episode of "Hope is Not a Strategy" Christian Underwood is interviewing Sharon Birkman, Owner and Chair of the Board of Birkman International. We delve deep into the world of strategy and leadership. Join us as we explore the essence and uniqueness of the Birkman method, a transformative assessment approach that enhances deeper self-awareness as well as awareness for the needs of others. Learn how that has the potential to bring your strategy from creation to a successful implementation.
Discover the fascinating history of the Birkman method, pioneered by Dr. Roger Birkman starting his entrepreneurship in the fifties. Learn how this method, designed to boost efficiency and healthy relationships within organizations, has evolved over the years and ultimately becoming the first online assessment tool which is today still driven by innovation and its own core purpose: people.
Explore the crucial role of understanding motivation and relationships in achieving success, particularly in today's landscape, where Generation Z seeks meaningful work and purpose. Sharon Birkman also hints at exciting innovations becoming a key tool for personal and professional development.
Gain concrete insights from Sharon Birkman herself on the transformative strength of human connection for personal and entrepreneurial growth.
Join us in this insightful exploration of the Birkman method's transformative power and learn how it enhance the values and purpose of your organization. In the realm of strategy the human factor is indeed the next big thing.
#10 The New Face of Strategy Consulting
jeudi 14 septembre 2023 • Durée 20:44
In the latest episode of "Hope is not a Strategy," hosts Christian Underwood and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Weigand explore the fascinating world of strategy consulting and take a look at the ever-evolving landscape of this industry. At a time when the business world is characterized by uncertainty, strategy consulting is becoming increasingly important and relevant. Here are some of the key points from this insightful episode:
1. the evolution of strategy consulting.
The hosts begin by examining the evolving role of strategy consulting. They point to the significant growth of the global strategy consulting market, particularly in Germany, where the industry has seen a remarkable 15% increase in revenue. This indicates that companies are increasingly relying on external expertise to help them navigate a turbulent business world.
2 Competition and changes in the industry
Another intriguing discussion revolves around competition in the industry. The fact that large accounting firms are entering the strategy consulting space raises questions about how the landscape is changing and how consulting firms are responding to this challenge. It also addresses the role of specialized consulting practices and the impact of digital transformation.
3. innovation through technology
Presenters will also highlight exciting developments in the industry, such as combining software and consulting expertise to optimize business processes. Companies such as Celonis are cited as an example of this transformation and show how technology is redefining strategic consulting.
4. competition for talent
Another important aspect discussed is the competition for talent in the consulting industry. The increasing demand for diverse skills, especially in technology-related areas, is highlighted. The importance of sustainability and social purpose in consulting is also addressed.
5. the future of consulting
The episode ends with a look at the future of consulting. The hosts emphasize the role of scenario analysis, automation, and empowering clients to direct their own strategies. The focus is on delivering value instead of selling hours, empowering organizations to take ownership of their strategies.
This episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of strategy consulting and how this industry is adapting to changing needs and challenges. It is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of strategy consulting.
Listen to this compelling episode of "Hope is Not Strategy" and keep your finger on the pulse of the changing world of strategy consulting.
#09 Pedro Stark: AI-powered strategic planning for your startup with gotely
jeudi 6 juillet 2023 • Durée 31:41
In this episode of HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY, we host Pedro Stark, the founder and brain behind gotely, the first AI-powered strategy platform for startups. Pedro tells us how he went from his music career to strategy consultant and finally to the development of gotely.
gotely originates from Sweden, complies with German data privacy laws, and is focused on helping startups answer all their strategic questions in a fully digital and AI-powered way. To do this, the SaaS solution offers modules for idea validation, benchmarking, market insights and a capital raiser. Currently, the focus is still on the industries: Technology, E-Commerce, Fashion Retail, Health and Energy.
The software is especially suitable for early stage startups.
Pedro also gives us an insight into gotely's innovation pipeline and philosophizes with Christian about what else will be possible in the future - also for German SMEs in cooperation with StartegyFrame.
Listen to the podcast episode to learn more about Pedro Stark and gotely. Have fun listening!
#08 Steffen Bersch: The strategic journey of the SSI SCHÄFER Group
jeudi 22 juin 2023 • Durée 30:30
In this English-language episode of "HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY," we take you on an exciting journey recorded live at StrategySummit 2023 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Steffen Bersch, CEO of SSI SCHÄFER Group, shares fascinating insights into the strategic development of the company in a Fireside Chat with Christian Underwood.
Experience how the SSI SCHAEFER Group is dealing with current trends and challenges. In a time of volatility, the global company has had to cope with events such as the Corona crisis, the supply chain crisis and even a cyberattack over the past year and a half. The latter temporarily forced the company to disconnect its entire organization from the Internet - an unprecedented scenario.
What influence did all these events have on the strategy of the SSI SCHÄFER Group? How is it possible to develop a successful strategy, implement it and continuously stick to it and develop it further? As a family business, the SSI SCHAEFER Group strives for sustainable technology leadership despite all the challenges.
At the end of the talk, Steffen Bersch provides an outlook on the future and the role that AI systems can and will play in it. Be curious about these exciting insights!
Don't miss this valuable episode and dive into the world of a global company and its strategic work. Listen in and find out what's going on behind the scenes!
#07 Strategies made in Germany
mercredi 7 juin 2023 • Durée 06:50
In dieser englischsprachigen Podcast-Folge vom StrategySummit 2023 sprechen Prof. Jürgen Weigand und Christian Underwood live über das fesselnde Thema "Made in Germany" in Zeiten des zunehmenden Wettbewerbs und der volatilen globalen Märkte.
Der Klimawandel, neue technologische Entwicklungen in den USA und China sowie die Übernahme deutscher Unternehmen werfen Fragen auf: Kann "Made in Germany" international noch mithalten?
Lerne, welche klaren Strategien bereits von anderen Regierungen verfolgt werden und ob Deutschland neben der Hoffnung auch eine fundierte Strategie besitzt, um im globalen Wettbewerb zu bestehen.
#06 From municipal energy supplier to platform for the energy transition
jeudi 18 mai 2023 • Durée 21:49
In this strategy interview, badenova Co-CEO Hans-Martin Hellebrand reports on the two-year journey of a municipal energy supplier with more than a century of roots to become the digital platform for the energy and heating transition in southern Germany. Christian Underwood and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Weigand get to the bottom of the secret behind the success of this strategic realignment: from the participative strategy process, to shared leadership in the highest corporate office, to agile target management with Objectives & Key Results (OKR).
Shownotes:
Website badenova: https://www.badenova.de/
Christian Underwood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianunderwood/
Hope is not a strategy podcast: https://www.strategy-frame.com/pages/strategiepodcast
Order now Hope is not a strategy book: https://www.strategy-frame.com/pages/strategiebuch
Digital strategy tool: https://www.strategy-frame.com/
#05 Better decisions with market intelligence
jeudi 12 janvier 2023 • Durée 24:26
If you want to make good decisions, you need the necessary data and information for your relevant markets and competitors. StrategyFrame® partner Cedura helps corporate decision-makers to know their relevant markets and their competitors as well as possible, thus optimizing internal decision management. This accelerates the situation analysis within the strategy process and enables you to adjust the strategy as quickly as possible through automation and regular updates in the CedDecider software. For this purpose, CedDecider is directly integrated into the digital StrategyFrame®. This makes StrategyFrame® and the leading market intelligence provider, Cedura, an unbeatable team for your digital strategy process.
### Shownotes
CEDURA: https://cedura.de/
Sascha Dongowski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sascha-dongowski-17a743ab/
Prof. Dr. Arno Lammerts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alammerts/
Christian Underwood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianunderwood/
Hope is not a Strategy Podcast: https://www.strategy-frame.com/pages/strategiepodcast
Strategy book "Hope is not a strategy": https://www.strategy-frame.com/pages/strategiebuch
Digital strategy tool: https://www.strategy-frame.com/
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