SPOS #959 – Rebecca Homkes On Growth Strategies In Volatile Times

Welcome to episode #959 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Dr. Rebecca Homkes is a high-growth strategy specialist who has dedicated her career to helping CEOs and executive teams navigate growth and uncertainty. As the founder of her own boutique consultancy firm, she advises some of the world's leading organizations on how to thrive in challenging economic landscapes. Rebecca is a Lecturer at the London Business School's Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, and an advisor and faculty member at Boston Consulting Group University. Her rich academic background includes directing the joint McKinsey & Co and LSE Centre for Economic Performance Global Management Project, and her writings have been featured in publications like the Harvard Business Review, Businessweek, Fortune, and Forbes. In this conversation, Rebecca delves into the intricacies of formulating effective growth strategies amidst economic uncertainty. She emphasizes that true entrepreneurs can find growth opportunities in any market situation. While organizations often excel at short-term and long-term planning, Rebecca points out that many struggle with midterm strategies - a critical gap that needs addressing. She introduces her framework, Survive, Reset, Thrive (also the name of her recently published book), which serves as a roadmap for organizations to navigate uncertainty and build a sustainable right to win. Rebecca highlights the importance of internal predictability, suggesting that organizations with stable internal processes are better equipped to adapt swiftly to external changes. She also discusses how speed, when aligned with clear direction, can serve as a competitive advantage in today's fast-paced business environment. We debate the future of work, where Rebecca anticipates a potential renaissance in trades as industries evolve. She underscores the necessity of continuous learning and capability-building, urging organizations to invest in their people's development alongside their strategic initiatives. Rebecca's insights offer valuable guidance for leaders seeking to navigate growth amid uncertainty and provides thoughtful approaches to thriving in today's complex business landscape. Enjoy the conversation...

• Running time: 1:06:47.
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• This week's music: David Usher 'St. Lawrence River'.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction to Growth Strategies.
(03:00) - Navigating Economic Uncertainty.
(06:01) - The Role of CEO Tenure in Strategy.
(09:01) - Midterm Growth Strategies.
(12:02) - Understanding the Right to Win.
(14:51) - Building Loyalty Lock-In.
(18:06) - Survive, Reset, Thrive Framework.
(21:01) - The Impact of AI on Business.
(23:58) - The Challenge of Acting to Shape.
(27:07) - The Future of Work and Skills.
(29:50) - The Importance of Internal Predictability.
(33:06) - Speed vs. Direction in Strategy.
(36:13) - Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned.