Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this episode, we dissect the difference between strategy and planning.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders who want to sharpen their thinking and make better strategic choices. If you're responsible for direction, decisions, or results, this conversation will challenge how you think about strategy.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…in this episode, Roger makes the case that real strategy is about making choices and accepting the trade-offs that come with them. He explains why too many organizations avoid hard decisions, how that avoidance weakens execution, and what it actually takes to build a coherent, winning strategy.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategy requires making clear, deliberate choices about where to play and how to win.

• Avoiding trade-offs leads to diluted focus and mediocre results.

• A strong strategy aligns resources, decisions, and behaviors around a single direction.

• Leaders must be willing to say no in order to build something truly differentiated.

• Execution improves dramatically when strategic choices are clearly understood.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Roger's insistence that strategy isn't complicated but it's uncomfortable. The real challenge isn't intelligence or frameworks; it's the willingness to commit to choices and live with the consequences. That reframes leadership in such a practical, grounded way.

Running Time: 25:39

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Show Summary on Substack

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win, and together, we're exploring the true meaning of strategy and how it's often misunderstood or misapplied in business today.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…CEOs, strategy leaders, and executives who want a clearer, more disciplined way to think about strategy. If you've ever questioned whether your strategy is actually driving customer behavior, this episode is for you.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…in this conversation, Roger revisits the most common ways organizations misunderstand strategy and explains why those misunderstandings persist. He walks through what real strategy requires, why execution often fails even when teams are aligned, and how leaders can move beyond planning frameworks to make decisions that actually lead to winning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

• Strategy succeeds only when choices reinforce one another and point toward a clear outcome.

• Many organizations confuse strategy with planning, which leads to activity without impact.

• Customer behavior is the ultimate test of whether a strategy is working.

• Poor strategic outcomes are often the result of incomplete or misaligned choices.

• Strong strategy requires leaders to be explicit about what they will and will not do.
  
  

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I love how Roger cuts through the noise and insists that strategy isn't mysterious, it's just demanding. His clarity around choice, discipline, and customer behavior challenges leaders to stop hiding behind complexity and start owning the real decisions required to win.

Running Time: 26:59

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Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I'm excited to welcome Serin Silva to the show. She is a strategic advisor to women founders, CEOs, and leadership teams. She led integration communications for eight acquisitions in a single year at a billion-dollar telecom, helping bring Oracle's first CRM and human capital management platforms to market. She launched the original MSNBC digital brand for Microsoft, and drove strategy for an early food delivery robot long before it was cool. She led five restructures and turnarounds for mid-sized companies, doubled revenue for mid-market tech firms, and delivered 150% business increase in eight months by forcing the right business and mindset pivots, which is why I wanted her to join today.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone feeling exhausted by trying to "push" alignment instead of creating it.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…drawing from her experience leading impressive acquisitions and product launches, Serin explains how leaders can shift from managing "by spreadsheet" to leading with human understanding. She discusses why high achievers often burn themselves out, how asking better questions changes outcomes, and what it really takes to guide people through change without losing momentum or yourself.

Key Takeaways:

• Leading change works best when leaders prioritize emotional alignment, not just operational efficiency.
• Asking better questions requires discipline, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge assumptions respectfully.
• Most resistance at work is emotional, even when it shows up as rational debate.
• Removing emotion from decision-making frameworks can unlock stalled progress and clarity.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Serin's honesty about learning to temper her fire without losing it. Her insight that growth often comes from separating self-worth from outcomes is a powerful reminder for driven leaders who care deeply about their work.

Running Time: 29:20

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Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I have the honor of welcoming Ashley Herd to the show. She is a former Chief People Officer and General Counsel who has trained over a quarter of a million managers through LinkedIn Learning and live corporate trainings. Ashley built Manager Method after leading HR in legal teams at McKinsey, Yum! Brands and Modern Luxury. She has a new book out called The Manager Method.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…new managers, experienced leaders, and anyone responsible for developing people who wants a more practical, human way to manage performance. If you've ever struggled with giving feedback, felt unsure how much autonomy to give your team, or questioned whether traditional performance reviews actually work, this episode will feel especially relevant.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most managers aren't failing because they don't care, they're failing because they were never taught how to manage. In this episode, Ashley breaks down why so many well-intentioned leaders fall into patterns like avoiding feedback, overcorrecting, or defaulting to vague autonomy. She introduces a more structured, honest approach to management. We talk about why people actually want feedback, how AI is changing (and exposing) broken performance processes, and what managers can do differently to help their teams thrive.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

• Most managers are promoted for performance rather than trained for leadership, creating gaps in expectations and feedback.

• Autonomy without structure often leaves employees feeling uncertain rather than empowered.

• Avoiding feedback is usually driven by good intentions, but it ultimately limits growth and trust.

• Consistent, direct feedback helps people feel respected, supported, and clear about where they stand.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I loved Ashley's honest take on how good intentions often lead managers astray. Her insight that people don't need perfection but rather clarity reframes feedback as an act of respect, not criticism. It's a powerful reminder that strong management isn't about control or charisma, but about creating the conditions where people know where they stand and how to grow.

Running Time: 28:57

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Ashley's Book: The Manager Method: A Practical Framework to Lead, Support, and Get Results

Making Better Strategic Choices with Roger Martin

I'm thrilled to announce a new show with my dear friend, Roger Martin, author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this 12-part series, we'll explore the true meaning of strategy and how it's often misunderstood or misapplied in business today.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders and strategists who are tired of strategy being confused with planning and want a clearer, more practical way to think about how real strategic choices drive results.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…strategy isn't a list of priorities or a collection of initiatives—it's an integrated set of choices that work together to drive customer behavior. In this conversation, Roger Martin explains why so many organizations misunderstand strategy, how that misunderstanding shows up in day-to-day decision-making, and what it really takes to close the gap between what leaders hope will happen and what actually does. Drawing on decades of experience, Roger challenges conventional strategy thinking and lays the groundwork for a more disciplined, choice-driven approach to winning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

• Strategy only works when choices reinforce one another, not when they exist as disconnected initiatives.

• The hardest—and most important—part of strategy is influencing customer behavior, not internal activity.

• Many companies mistake planning exercises for strategy, which leads to disappointing results.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I love how clearly Roger reframes strategy as a set of deliberate, reinforcing choices. It's a powerful reminder that winning isn't about doing more things, it's about making better, more integrated choices.

Running Time: 21:22

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Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I have the pleasure of welcoming from Australia, John Dwyer, also known as JD. He is a direct response customer attraction expert who thinks way outside the box. His marketing consultancy business is called the Institute of Wow and JD's mantra is that one's marketing needs to wow prospects. I'm sure you all understand exactly why I invited him to our show but dive into what you should be doing to grow and build a successful business in 2026.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, founders, and marketers who want to stand out in crowded markets and create real customer loyalty without relying on gimmicks or short-term tactics.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most companies say they care about customers—but very few design their business around them. In this episode, we explore what actually separates brands people remember from those they forget. John challenges leaders to rethink how they show up for customers, arguing that sustainable success comes from intentional experiences, not louder marketing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

• How small, thoughtful actions can create disproportionate brand impact.

• The difference between being visible and being memorable.

• How leaders can embed customer-first thinking into everyday decisions.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I loved John's reminder that meaningful differentiation doesn't come from copying what others are doing—it comes from truly understanding your customer and being willing to act on that insight. His perspective reinforces that growth isn't about chasing trends, but about committing to experiences that people actually care about.

Running Time: 30:47

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Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I'm thrilled to welcome Patrick Ledin, PhD, bestselling author and renowned leadership expert at Franklin Covey's Leadership and Culture Practice. He's teamed up with the amazing and legendary author, James Patterson, for their bold new book, Disrupt Everything—and Win, which we dive into in this show.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone feeling overwhelmed by constant change. If you're a leader, manager, or professional navigating disruption (from technology shifts to career uncertainty), this conversation will help you rethink what disruption actually means and how to work with it rather than fight it.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…disruption isn't just something that happens to us — it's something we can choose how to respond to. Drawing on years of research and hundreds of interviews, Patrick explains why winning in disruption isn't about chasing constant change or having all the answers. It's about clarity, purpose, and knowing when to lean into change and when to intentionally choose stability.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Disruption doesn't always mean blowing things up, sometimes saying no to change is the most disruptive move you can make

• The difference between micro disruptions and major life-altering ones and why both can shape your path.

• How reframing fear around technology and AI can turn uncertainty into opportunity rather than threat.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Patrick's reminder that leaders don't have to carry disruption alone. You don't need every skill, every answer, or every instinct perfectly calibrated. You just need the self-awareness to know what you bring to the table and the confidence to invite others in.

Running Time: 28:27

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Patrick's Book:

Disrupt Everything—and Win