In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Beckman, Chief Strategy Officer of Ulteig.
Ulteig specialized in infrastructure solutions across power, renewables, transportation, and water. Sarah is an experienced structural engineer, shedesigning energy systems spanning the continental U.S., and also spent time in sales before moving into her current role leading corporate strategy. Her deep technical roots give her a unique perspective on solving complex problems and leading transformation in a traditionally slow-moving, high-stakes industry. Today, she’s focused on preparing Ulteig—and the entire sector—for an era defined by AI, electrification, and the race to build faster than ever before. Sarah brings a powerful systems-thinking lens to transformation in one of the most critical—and traditionally slow-moving—sectors: energy infrastructure.

Things we’ll cover in this conversation:

• How to drive innovation inside mission-critical industries where the cost of failure is high
• Why aligning strategy to purpose and stakeholder value is key to building urgency without panic
• How Sarah applied engineering skills to transform a sales strategy and sunset a commoditized offering
• What CSOs can do to prepare for industry-wide disruption—from AI demands to a nuclear energy renaissance
• The leadership behaviors and organizational systems that actually make strategy stick

Whether you're preparing to pivot, wrestling with internal resistance, or rethinking how to build a transformation-ready culture—this episode is packed with practical wisdom from the front lines.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
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• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
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• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
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Today, we are tackling a topic that holding back most organizations from adapting to our rapidly changing business environments, a topic rooted in a habit that is so engrained in most companies that we don’t even think about changing it: budgeting.

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Woodard, Head of Strategy at Primerica and former Bain consultant, to unpack the future of agile budgeting. Eric shares why the old model—locking budgets 12 months in advance—is no longer viable in a world shaped by digital disruption, economic volatility, and shifting priorities. He lays out a practical, compelling alternative: treat strategy as a living, breathing guide for capital allocation.

We explore:
- Why companies are being forced—not just encouraged—to rethink budgeting cycles
- The key difference between "run the business" and "change the business" spend
- How to structure dynamic, strategy-led funding pools
- What cycle times and KPIs work in an agile budgeting environment
- Why people—not systems—are the biggest barrier to change

Whether you're navigating growth, transformation, or efficiency, this episode will give you the tools to align your budget with your boldest strategic ambitions.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
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If you’re a strategy leader stepping into M&A or refining your inorganic growth strategy, there’s one relationship that can either propel you forward or hold you back: your relationship with investment bankers. In this episode, we dive deep into the often opaque world of investment banking with two strategy executives who’ve worked across both sides of the deal table.

Together, our guests bring more than 40 years of combined experience across investment banking, M&A strategy, and corporate development—having led acquisitions and divestitures in both public and private companies, across industries and borders.

Michael Arlotto is the Global Head of Corporate Development and Ventures at Kenvue, an American consumer health company and the proprietor of many brands you’ve heard of, like Band-Aid, Benadryl, Neutrogena and Tylenol.

Chris Nuttall is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Bazaarvoice, an American tech company that helps brands collect and leverage UGC, which stands for user-generated content.

Together, the three of us explore:

- How to assess and build the right relationship with an investment banker
- What “transformative M&A” really means—and how to pull it off
- The soft skills and cultural fit that matter just as much as deal terms
- How to avoid M&A regret by starting with strategy and ending with integration
- Why successful M&A is less about buying a company—and more about buying into a multiyear business plan

Whether you’re planning your first acquisition or fine-tuning your approach to external growth, this episode will help you build stronger partnerships, avoid costly missteps, and execute deals that deliver long-term value.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

Welcome to another episode of The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast! Today, we’re tackling a topic that sits at the heart of every successful organization: purpose.

For years, the question of what purpose an organization should hold has typically sat outside the auspices of the strategy office. It was the remit of the CEO or board, maybe corporate communications or the HR. But it is increasingly becoming a central strategic lever, especially as the success of strategy depends on activating ecosystem partners, employees, communities … and it is one we need to better understand.

How can companies define a purpose that isn’t just a slogan but a real driver of strategic decisions? How does purpose impact employee motivation, customer engagement, and long-term competitive advantage? And most importantly, how can CSOs play a role in shaping and embedding purpose in a way that creates measurable business impact?

To explore these questions, we’re joined by David Zapata, Corporate Head of Strategy at Grupo Bancolombia, and Claudia Ludovisi, former head of strategy at Disney ABC, assistant Dean of Marketing and Strategy at Pepperdine Business School, who has done interest research into the role of purpose in strategy. Together, they share firsthand experiences and research-driven insights on how organizations can make purpose actionable, sustainable, and truly transformative.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why purpose isn’t just about branding—it should drive real business decisions.
• The biggest mistake companies make when defining their purpose.
• How to measure whether purpose is actually working inside your organization.
• The evolving role of AI in shaping personalized and scalable purpose-driven strategies.
• Insights and a step-by-step approach for crafting a purpose that aligns with strategy and capabilities for your organization.

Whether you’re refining your company’s purpose or just starting to explore its role in strategy, this episode is packed with insights to help you take a more structured and impactful approach.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

Welcome to another episode of The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast! Today, we’re diving into a pivotal topic for strategy leaders: how to approach mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to accelerate your company’s strategic goals.

Joining us are two Outthinker CSOs with extensive Strategy and M&A experience. Kevin Ilcisin, has a fascinating career in high tech, most recently as SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development for NI, formerly known as National Instruments, which was recently acquired by Emerson Electric in 2023. Kevin brings a scientific approach and holds a phD in Astrophysical Sciences with a focus on Plasma Physics. Alok Agrawal is the Chief Strategy Officer at Celestica, a $7B multinational leader in the design, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions industries. Alok started his career as a management consultant with Kearney serving industrial clients before taking strategy and M&A executive leadership roles for industry leaders like Johnson Controls, Meritor, and Tenneco. In this episode, Kevin and Alok share their insights and practical experience in the art and science of successful deal-making and integration.

In this episode, we explore:

• The critical distinction between strategy and M&A. (hint- M&A isn’t a strategy- it's a tool to realize your strategy) —What people miss about this and why that matters.
• How to identify the right acquisition targets and develop relationships with key players like investment banks.
• Practical tips for building and managing a robust M&A pipeline
• Insights on navigating cultural integration and realizing post-merger synergies effectively.
• The unique role a Chief Strategy Officer plays in orchestrating and guiding the M&A process- and advice they have for CSOs and M&A leaders early in their career about what they wish they knew early on and mistakes to avoid

Whether you’re new to M&A or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with practical advice and lessons learned from two seasoned leaders. Tune in for actionable takeaways to become masterful at using M&A to accelerate your strategy and execution.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

In this episode, we’re diving into an increasingly hot topic for chief strategy officers: joining external advisory boards.

We feature three accomplished chief strategy officers who serve on numerous public and private boards : Desiree Castillejos, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of M&A for Scutum Group North America; Prasad Padman, Chief Strategy Officer of Moog; and Sukanya Soderland, former CSO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Together, they share their experiences and provide actionable advice for CSOs looking to expand their influence and impact through board service.

In this episode we talk about:

• How to craft a compelling board bio that highlights your unique value
• The importance of networking in securing board opportunities and practical tips and tactics for “board-specific-networking"
• The unique attributes and differentiators CSOs can highlight to strengthen their board resume and increase their chances of selection
• Important considerations, risks, and factors you don't want to overlook when evaluating board service
• Entry points for strategy officers who are looking to land their first external board position

Whether you’re considering your first board position or looking to refine your strategy for securing your next board opportunity, this episode is packed with insights to guide your journey.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

Welcome to another episode of The Chief Strategy Officer Podcast. Today’s discussion centers on one of the most transformative and rapidly evolving topics in business— artificial intelligence. We’re joined by three distinguished strategy leaders --- Joanne Sheppard of Holtzbrinck, Ed Knapp from American Tower, and Prashant Kelker of ISG, who bring unique perspectives about how organizations can think strategically about making investments in AI to minimize risk and maximize ROI.

In this episode, our guests explore the critical considerations for integrating AI into corporate strategy, from navigating the fast-changing AI landscape to evaluating the infrastructure and ethical implications. They share insights on how their organizations are leveraging AI for operational efficiency, data-driven innovation, and enhancing customer experiences.

Things We Will Cover:

• The three areas that you as a CSO should consider applying AI to in your organization.
• How organizations can build strong data infrastructure that supports AI and enables responsible innovation.
• Practical steps for CSOs to stay informed and strategically engaged with AI without needing deep technical expertise.

Join us to learn how other strategists are navigating the complexities of investing in and implementing AI solutions for their organizations.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

In this episode, we're joined by Eric Goldstein, Chief Strategy Officer at TIAA, to explore the challenges and opportunities of setting up and operating a strategy office. With over six years at TIAA and an impressive background in investment banking at JP Morgan and management consulting at McKinsey, Eric brings a wealth of experience to the table.

We dive into Eric’s journey of centralizing the strategy office at TIAA, the importance of aligning strategy with business goals, and how he navigates the complexities of managing a large, mission-driven financial services organization. We'll also discuss the role of the strategy office in fostering cross-functional collaboration, setting organizational KPIs, and striking the right balance between strategy development and execution.

Key questions and topics we tackle include:

• A breakdown of the TIAA strategy office responsibilities
• How to decide whether to centralize or decentralize the strategy office
• Keys to building a high-performing strategy team
• A CSOs role in setting KPIs, metrics, and measurements in the organization
• How to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders
• Eric’s top 3 recommendations for new strategy officers to drive success

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Eric Goldstein as we uncover the secrets behind building and operating a successful strategy office.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
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