The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast

Designing and Operating an Effective Strategy Office (Part 1)

Outthinker Season 1 Episode 5

In today’s episode, we're diving deep into the intricate process of designing and operating a successful strategy office. This is a critical discussion for any newly appointed CSO or those looking to fine tune their existing strategy office. 

Our guests today are two seasoned Chief Strategy Officers who have navigated the complexities of building strategy offices in different industries. We’re joined by Roopa Unnikrishnan, the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at IDEX Corporation, and Eric Chesin, the Chief Strategy Officer at Anywhere Real Estate who have both made significant strides in shaping the strategic direction of their organizations.

In this episode, we explore how these leaders set up their strategy offices from the ground up, how they adapted to the evolving needs of their industries, and the challenges they faced along the way. We’ll discuss the importance of aligning with the CEO and board, building the right team, and maintaining agility in a constantly changing business environment. 

We’ll cover: 

  • How do you determine the focus areas for a strategy office? 
  • Tips for managing stakeholders and building relationships and influence 
  • Four filters for managing the capacity of the strategy office and CSOs deciding what problem to work on and which to say “no” to  
  • The three things every CSO should do when they get promoted to the role or start at a new company 

Join us as we uncover the strategies and insights that have helped these leaders successfully navigate the complexities of their roles and drive meaningful change within their organizations. 

People on this episode