The Leaders in Strategy Podcast

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 and how tailored AI strategies can transform how your company operates daily.
Oli shares practical insights from a decade in the tech industry, moving from data engineering to building advanced AI automation systems. He explains why you should never use AI to fix a broken process, how to avoid the trap of poorly generated marketing images, and why breaking your business challenges into digestible chunks is the key to scaling efficiently.
Mike and Oli also dive into the reality of AI as a leadership sounding board, debunking the common myth of using AI as a basic search engine, and exploring how AI could completely revolutionise the education and training sectors.
If your business wants to grow its turnover, work more efficiently, master the art of prompt engineering, or successfully deploy AI agents that actually move the needle, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can use right away.
 
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#ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessAutomation #AIInBusiness #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #PromptEngineering #BusinessGrowth #TechInnovation #BusinessPodcast #entrepreneurshippk
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Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://www.patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast
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To find out more about Oli and automating processes with AI, you can follow him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/woodoli/
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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.
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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.
To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
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Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775
 

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.
Mike shares practical advice on how to avoid sounding generic online, how to adapt when technology changes faster than your business strategy, and how to reduce risk when too much revenue depends on a small number of customers. The episode also explores why company values often fail, how leaders should redefine success over time, and how to understand what customers truly want by analysing behaviour instead of just listening to opinions.
If you are leading a business, managing growth, or navigating constant change, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can help strengthen your strategy and leadership approach.
------- Referenced Videos
Q1 - 5 Leadership Lessons Business Owners Usually Pay Thousands For https://youtu.be/7jTdNuSZBBc?si=M8jHgBHkNZJbszOR
Q2 - How To Make Money On LinkedIn https://youtu.be/ii6mosQAcP4?si=LtQutGPgJJr0MdHK
Q3 - AI Predicts the Biggest Business Challenges of 2026 https://youtu.be/r4TRdm1jGKc?si=4uZdN_sG-5etFuFB
Q4 - No Customers, No Business: Why Customer Management Really Drives Growth https://youtu.be/XxGtmtnujec?si=53MJOfTYlyy3i2t2
Q5 - The Business Plan Review Every Leader Should Do This Year https://youtu.be/6dahuAoTbLo?si=xIEcFBv2h0JgTUzm
Q6 - Christmas Special: Why Values Matter More Than Ever in Leadership https://youtu.be/Xym10OPHip8?si=0MvBVfbmKdlKdu4Q
Q7 - New Year Special: What Does Success Look Like for Business Leaders in 2026 https://youtu.be/dXCDFC_WvTo?si=Pws7wRoLBIWgmgDJ
Q8 - 5 Leadership Lessons Most Business Owners Learn Too Late https://youtu.be/9BuYhJLTxxc?si=2RY5fA7P8n3vYc1i
Q9 - The Business Plan Review Every Leader Should Do This Year https://youtu.be/6dahuAoTbLo?si=xIEcFBv2h0JgTUzm
Q9 - AI Predicts the Biggest Business Challenges of 2026 https://youtu.be/r4TRdm1jGKc?si=4uZdN_sG-5etFuFB
Q 10 - No Customers, No Business: Why Customer Management Really Drives Growth https://youtu.be/XxGtmtnujec?si=53MJOfTYlyy3i2t2
Q 10 - How To Make Money On LinkedIn https://youtu.be/ii6mosQAcP4?si=LtQutGPgJJr0MdHK
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#businessgrowth #leadership #businessstrategy #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #businesscasestudy #customerretention #LeadersInStrategy
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Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast
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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.
--------- Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business?
I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.
To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
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Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/
 

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 discuss the strong link between giving good customer service, running smoothly, and growing the business in the long run.
Dave shares practical tips from over 14 years of experience helping organisations change for the better. He explains how companies can improve their ways of working without adding unnecessary complications, why leaders often don’t realise what’s really happening beneath the surface, and how small, steady improvements can lead to a big competitive edge over time.
Mike and Dave also talk about why involving staff in the process is important, how the word “change” can put people on edge, and how listening carefully to both employees and customers can help businesses perform better.
If your business wants to grow, keep customers happy, work more efficiently, make use of AI, or simply find smarter ways to do things, this episode is full of useful ideas you can start using right away.
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#BusinessGrowth #ContinuousImprovement #CustomerExperience #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #OperationalExcellence #BusinessPodcast #GrowthMindset #ProcessImprovement #CustomerJourney
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Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast
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To find out more about Dave and implementing continuing improvement in your business, you can follow him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davestubberfield/
or visit his website at https://carter-consultancy.com/
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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.
To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
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Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775
 

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 uncertainty in decision-making, we discuss the common warning signs that often appear long before businesses realise they have a strategy problem.
Mike explains why many organisations mistake strategic issues for productivity or operational problems, and why reacting to challenges without clear direction can leave businesses stuck firefighting, instead of leading confidently. T
he conversation explores the dangers of trying to scale without structure, the importance of aligning teams around a clear direction, and why strategy should act as a decision-making filter for leaders navigating growth.
We also discuss the difference between businesses that wait for a crisis before planning their next move, and those that proactively build strategic foundations while things are still going well.
If you’re a business owner, director or leader feeling overwhelmed by too many priorities, struggling with direction or questioning what the next stage of growth should look like, there’s lots here you can take away and apply to your own business.
Stay until the end for a practical exercise where Mike helps you assess the current state of your business, identify strategic warning signs and define your direction for the next 12–18 months.
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#Leader #Strategy #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #StrategicPlanning #ScalingUp #BusinessAdvice #GrowthStrategy #CEO #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessTransformation #Management #StrategicThinking
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Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast
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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business?
I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies. To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775
 

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 customers.
We discuss the challenge of navigating a broad spectrum of marketing channels, and how understanding the link between your business plan and digital marketing strategy is key to successful implementation.
Gus also breaks down the Digital Marketing Ecosystem and explains how businesses develop and build relationships over time through their digital content. From initially discovering a business on Google, right through to purchase or enquiry, the customer journey is what allows people to build trust in a brand.
The conversation also explores LinkedIn, content creation, audience building and the reality behind social media algorithms. Gus shares his thoughts on what actually matters when creating content online, and why authenticity is still one of the most valuable tools businesses have.
We will also explore the importance of brand identity and reinforcement by discovering the story behind The M Guru’s distinctive black and orange.
If you’re a business owner, marketer or leader looking to improve your digital presence and create more meaningful engagement with your audience, there’s plenty here you can apply straight away.
Stay until the end for Gus’ practical top tips on improving your marketing strategy, strengthening your LinkedIn presence and creating better content online.
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#Leader #Strategy #digitalmarketingstrategy #digitalmarketing #socialmedia #LinkedInmarketing #businessstrategy #Leadership #GrowthHacking #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #StrategyTips #Branding #Storytelling #Collaboration #BusinessTransformation #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO
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To find out more about today’s guest, Gus Bhandal give him a follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mguruuk/
& visit the M Guru website: https://www.themguru.co.uk/ Want More? Watch more episodes on scaling and business strategy: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4j23J_5BCTMWQtXPEDDMCbOEHpQbjld1.
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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.
----------
Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.
To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.
 

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 up to five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. Existing customers also tend to spend more and are far more likely to buy again. Despite this, many leaders continue to prioritise the wrong areas.
I’m joined by Yemi Oluseun, business leader, LinkedIn strategist and client retention expert, currently Integration and Transformation Programme Director at The Change Hive. With experience across organisations like Barclays and J.P. Morgan, Yemi shares practical insight into how businesses can strengthen relationships and unlock more value from their existing client base.
We explore why so many businesses suffer from a “leaky pipeline”, the biggest challenges when it comes to retaining customers, and how improving the customer journey can transform performance.
You’ll also hear why focusing purely on funnels can limit growth, and how a customer-first approach creates stronger, longer-lasting results.
If you’re a founder, business owner or leader looking to grow more sustainably, this episode will help you rethink where your biggest opportunities really are. 
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#CustomerRetention #ClientRetention #CustomerService #CustomerManagement #Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO
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To find out more about Yemi and The Change Hive, you can follow her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemioluseun/
----------
Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.
----------
Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.
To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.
 

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 significant growth.
We break down the key questions every leader should be asking. From understanding the real problems you’re solving and the decisions your customers are making, through to assessing your external environment, internal capability and defining clear priorities.
You’ll also learn why a coordinated action plan, realistic resource planning and measurable outcomes are critical if you want your strategy actually to deliver results.
And finally, how to create a strategy story that people remember and can act on. If you’re a founder, business owner or leader looking to improve your strategy, increase performance and build a more focused, aligned business, this episode gives you a practical checklist you can apply immediately. 
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#Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO
----------
Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.
----------
Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business?
I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies. To learn more, please visit my website at
https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.
 

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 Leads, to explore how businesses should be thinking about AI right now.
One of the key takeaways is simple. AI won’t replace you, but someone using it will. The real question is how you adapt, where you apply it, and how you avoid falling behind.
We discuss the role AI plays in business strategy, real examples of how it’s being used effectively, and the common mistakes business owners are making when trying to implement it. This includes when not to rely on AI, how to approach it properly, and what leaders should be focusing on instead.
If you’re a founder, entrepreneur or business leader trying to understand AI and how it impacts your business, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters. ---------
#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO
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You can find out more about Oli Wood and his businesses here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/woodoli/.
----------
Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.
----------
Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.
To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
Follow me on LinkedIn:
http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.
 

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, but the internal and external factors that limit growth, slow progress, and keep organisations stuck.
From the comfort of the status quo to disengaged customers, misaligned teams and a lack of accountability, we explore the challenges that every business leader must recognise and address if they want to move forward.
This isn’t about theory. It’s about identifying what’s really standing in your way so you can make better decisions, sharpen your strategy and avoid falling into the trap of mediocrity.
If you’re a founder, business owner or leader looking to push your business forward, this episode will challenge how you think about competition, performance and growth.
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#Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO -
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.
----------
Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business?
I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.
To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.
Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.