As a business leader, you’re tired of hearing about countries with stagnant economies. Perhaps your own nation is among them — stuck in low-growth mode, with seemingly no way out. Yet, you’re committed to finding answers. You’re ready for bold ideas, not short-term gimmicks. Here’s one worth your time. A few weeks ago, I watched a YouTube video from a university research day featuring Michael Lopez, a BioPharma innovator with ties to Canada and South Korea. He’s also my cousin, so I thought I kn...
Jun 23, 2025•7 min
Imagine this: You’re the CEO of a growing company. You’ve gathered your executive team, ready to carve out a bold, breakthrough ambition. But there’s a moment of hesitation—you know someone will ask, “What’s the first step?” and you’re not quite sure how to respond. You’re not alone. Many leaders find themselves in this exact spot—excited about what could be , yet uncertain about how to turn ambition into insights then into action. The good news? You’re right to believe something extraordinary i...
Jun 20, 2025•7 min
Recently, I noticed two positive trends in Jamaica that haven’t exactly made the headlines. One is economic, the other social — and both are significant. Yet, they’ve flown under the radar. Why? It turns out, there’s a powerful leadership insight here. Let’s start with a quick story. On a recent trip to Trinidad — my first in nearly ten years — I was surprised by how well the country was doing. This wasn’t what I expected. Why? Because my impression had been shaped by dramatic, click-bait headli...
Jun 18, 2025•7 min
Your company is chasing bold results—but something keeps getting in the way. Again and again, your corporate culture seems to sabotage your efforts. Should you push forward anyway? Or is this just the way things are? As a seasoned executive, you’ve seen a variety of workplace environments—some vibrant and inspiring, others toxic and draining. You know how much culture matters. Yet, you might still be unsure whether it’s worth focusing on. Culture often feels vague and untouchable. Should you eve...
Jun 16, 2025•7 min
As a senior executive, you are no stranger to the relentless waves of change sweeping across North America. The onslaught of daily upheavals can feel overwhelming, making it tempting to believe that success hinges on reacting swiftly to each new development. But is this truly the most effective path forward? Is there a smarter, more strategic way to navigate the turbulence? If these questions have crossed your mind, you are not alone. For many leaders, it feels as though the world has downed a d...
Jun 13, 2025•8 min
Smart CEOs instinctively understand that game-changing decisions require a unique context. But what exactly makes breakthrough strategic thinking different? And why do so many leaders struggle to get it right? In almost every strategic planning project I participate in, there’s a quiet conversation with the top leader before we begin: “Don’t dominate the discussion.” It’s a simple directive, but not always easy to follow. Sometimes, we even have to step in to maintain the right balance. But why ...
Jun 11, 2025•7 min
As a leader, you have a clear vision of a brighter future for your enterprise. Yet, paradoxically, the more enthusiastic you become, the more resistance you encounter. How do you lead effectively when those around you refuse to be led? You notice negativity—cynicism, resignation, despair—permeating different levels of the organization. It’s not just an issue at the lower levels; even executives in the C-suite can fall into this trap. In some cases, their negativity makes them unapproachable. Per...
Jun 06, 2025•7 min
Donald Trump’s first weeks in office present the biggest distraction CEOs have ever witnessed. Apart from daily news explosions, there are material threats to their businesses. But is there a way for you to transcend continuous surprises? Many leaders believed that COVID-19 was the most significant disruption of their careers. The world came to a halt and took years to return to normal. But today, the constant stream of shocks originating from the US puts the pandemic in perspective. That was no...
Jun 03, 2025•6 min
Transcript Your company proudly touts its “comprehensive strategic plan.” But while its creators are satisfied with its depth and detail, perhaps it’s time to rethink. Narrowing its focus might just save it from failure. Somewhere in your email inbox, there’s a lengthy strategic document waiting to be read. It’s so long and dense that you haven’t even glanced at it. You’re not alone—no one has. Reading it would take hours, and your plate is already full. Deep down, you worry that months—or even ...
Feb 24, 2025•7 min
Transcript The world watches with anticipation as DeepSeek.com takes the lead in AI Large Language Models (LLMs). As a leader, you might wonder, “Why can’t my company achieve a similar breakthrough? What’s stopping us from uncovering game-changing insights?” As your team strategizes, you grow weary of the same old excuses—yours included. Stakeholders demand answers. Why isn’t your organization making a significant impact? You try to explain: “We lack capital, time, talent, cutting-edge technolog...
Feb 17, 2025•9 min
Transcript: A turbulent world demands game-changing strategies. Companies must stand out, yet executives quickly discover that setting exaggerated goals has its limits. How can you inspire staff and board members with ambitious aspirations while maintaining credibility? Case in Point: You anticipate breakthroughs during strategic planning retreats. Instead, you’re met with the same old ideas. Why? Tentative thinking holds everyone back. You want your team to think in lofty, inspirational terms. ...
Feb 10, 2025•7 min
Transcript Jamaica’s economic future is once again in the spotlight. With elections on the horizon, the Prime Minister has unveiled the ASPIRE program. However, given the backdrop of past disappointments and widespread skepticism, one pressing question arises: How can leaders inspire others to embrace a new direction when another, prior “new direction” is still fresh in people’s memories? From a political standpoint, the announcement has generated predictable headlines. Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t...
Feb 03, 2025•8 min
Transcript As a leader, you recognize the importance of inspiring your team with a compelling vision. Yet, you may find that your company’s vision statement, despite its lofty aspirations, fails to inspire meaningful change. How can you craft and communicate a future that genuinely motivates your team to take action? The Challenge of an Inherited Vision Statement Imagine you’re a newly promoted CEO. Among the many responsibilities you’ve inherited is a vision statement. While it might look passa...
Jan 27, 2025•9 min
Transcript As a leader, you likely have ambitious goals for your team. But the more you share your vision, the more resistance you seem to face. So, how do you move beyond jaded staff members and their skeptical responses to new futures? A Real-World Example: Jamaica’s Key Challenges In a recent discussion among thought leaders, three major issues emerged as Jamaica’s toughest challenges: crime, literacy, and high energy costs. Yet, they also agreed that the public is jaded, worn out from unmet ...
Jan 22, 2025•8 min
Transcript / Article from a recent blog post Some companies that survived the pandemic now tout extreme agility as their superpower. But is this a sustainable approach? According to Jeff Bezos of Amazon, the answer may lie in focusing on what hasn’t changed, even amid turmoil. The Agility Debate Critics of long-term strategic thinking argue that it stifles flexibility. They believe leaders must prioritize adaptability, mastering the art of the pivot to stay afloat. Adherents to this philosophy o...
Dec 09, 2024•7 min
If you’re part of a large public-sector organization or a multi-divisional private company, you probably operate within a framework of a “master plan.” This overarching strategy is meant to guide your organization towards its long-term objectives. Yet, despite the hard work, key milestones and targets may still be missed. How can you ensure that your organization achieves significant, measurable results? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...
Sep 29, 2024•9 min
Imagine this scenario: You’re a newly promoted executive involved in a strategic planning project and notice that one person is dominating the process. This individual is intelligent, but should you feel relieved or dismayed by their takeover? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com/subscribe...
Sep 15, 2024•7 min
As a leader in a government Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA), you’re deeply committed to creating strategic plans that make a significant impact. However, it’s easy to get caught up in bureaucratic compliance, which can divert you from making the meaningful contributions you desire. So, how can you truly make a difference? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com/subscribe...
Sep 01, 2024•6 min
As a company leader invested in the future of your enterprise, it can be frustrating to see others content with handling issues only when they arise. How can you instill a culture of forward-thinking in your organization? In many local organizations, strategic planning is often viewed as a luxury—an activity to be deferred until more stable times, when there’s ample time and money. For others, it’s merely a compliance exercise. Large companies and governments may conduct planning sessions just t...
Aug 18, 2024•6 min
In the business world, the end of a CEO’s tenure often brings about significant challenges. As CEOs near the conclusion of their careers, a troubling pattern emerges: their actions can sometimes undermine long-term value and pose serious risks to the organization. This phenomenon is rooted in several behavioral tendencies that intensify over time, but they aren't easy to spot. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lo...
Aug 05, 2024•7 min
As a proponent of long-term thinking in your company, you’ve likely encountered resistance. You may feel isolated, struggling to articulate the value of strategic foresight to colleagues focused on immediate concerns. This guide aims to provide you with a framework to effectively communicate the importance of long-term strategic planning (LTSP) and engage others in this crucial mindset. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes...
Jul 31, 2024•8 min
Your company has a long history of putting together strategic plans. And you have diligently read them all in a search to understand the intentions of prior leaders. But as you look them over you are concerned. There are lots of todo lists, action items, and budgets, but the underlying plan seems to lack something important - a strategy. You can’t quite explain why this is the case, but you can tell when that intangible quality is missing. Perhaps, there should be a better way to tell than just ...
Jul 26, 2024•21 min
You love your national sport. Seeing the Jamaican (or West Indian) flag soar above a global stage fires you up. But you also see that in football and cricket, we’ve fallen. Could it be about long-term thinking? When the West Indies men’s cricket team dominated the world in the 1980s and 90s, other countries envied them. They all tried to catch up, but Australia’s response was unique. They decided to invest in youth cricket like never before. Why? They recognized a long-term problem. Quick fixes ...
Jul 24, 2024•6 min
As a corporate or national leader, you’re deeply concerned about the future of your enterprise or country. But you may notice something is missing—a sense of shared hope and engagement. You ask yourself, “Why?” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com/subscribe...
Jun 23, 2024•7 min
Your organization has crafted a vision for the future, winning the approval of a wide array of stakeholders. But how do you keep that momentum alive beyond the initial excitement and actually deliver results? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 09, 2024•7 min
As a Jamaican employed in an organisation, you are worried about the future of our nation. It appears as if our country is stumbling along, barely keeping its head above water. At the same time, you are aware of the power of a corporate vision. Why hasn’t someone done one for our 2.8 million people on the island, and the other 2+ million in the Diaspora? The good news is that something is already in place in the form of Vision 2030. But why isn’t it changing your everyday experience? This is a p...
May 26, 2024•10 min
As a member of the C-Suite, you may readily support Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs)—those ambitious, industry-shaping aspirations that separate leading companies from the rest. These high-stakes goals have the power to disrupt entire industries, often turning bold vision into remarkable results. Yet, you’ve likely also encountered the sobering insights from *How Big Things Get Done* by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner. Their research highlights a harsh reality: major projects across the globe fr...
May 12, 2024•7 min
In today's dynamic work climate, a directive-driven leadership approach is a thing of past. The modern workforce is more knowledge-driven and expects not just orders, but understanding. The challenge now lies in crafting a leadership style that inspires and engages employees. This is where the subject of our podcast, 'presencing' plays a crucial role. To put it simplistically, presencing is about influencing what's 'present' in the mental space of your employees, shaping their actions and decisi...
Apr 20, 2024•6 min
As a leader, you navigate a relentless sea of deadlines and short-term goals. The pressure to be agile and decisive is immense. Yet, amidst the daily chaos, a powerful tool often gets neglected – the long-term vision. You might believe it’s a luxurious indulgence, a distant dream with little bearing on the here and now. But what if I told you that fostering a vision for a faraway future can have a profound impact on your company’s immediate performance? This is a public episode. If you'd like to...
Apr 02, 2024•6 min
Welcome to the latest episode of Chronicles from a Caribbean Cubicle Podcast. In this episode, our host Francis Wade shares insight on transforming the hypersensitivity found in employees into an urge for purposeful contributions. The discussion digs deeper into the significance of understanding the root cause of hypersensitivity in workplaces rather than addressing the surface-level symptoms. This enlightening piece reveals three strategic perspectives that can shape more profound senses of pur...
Apr 01, 2024•7 min
