Strategy Meets Reality Podcast
Traditional strategy is broken.
The world is complex, unpredictable, and constantly shifting—yet most strategy still relies on outdated assumptions of control, certainty, and linear plans.
Strategy Meets Reality is a podcast for leaders who know that theory alone doesn’t cut it.
Hosted by Mike Jones, organisational psychologist and systems thinker, this show features honest, unfiltered conversations with leaders, strategists, and practitioners who’ve had to live with the consequences of strategy.
We go beyond frameworks to explore what it really takes to make strategy work in the real world—where trade-offs are messy, power dynamics matter, and complexity won’t go away.
No jargon. No fluff. Just real insight into how strategy and execution actually happen.
🎧 New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe and rethink your strategy.
Strategy Meets Reality Podcast
Reimagining Risk with Stefan Gershater: How to Make Risk an Enabler, Not a Hindrance
Risk isn’t just about compliance or avoiding failure—it’s about enabling better decisions.
In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones speaks with Stefan Gershater, Head of Risk and Governance at Co-op, to explore a radically different view of risk. One that sees it not as a bureaucratic burden but as a long-term strategic asset.
They tackle the outdated orthodoxy still dominating boardrooms, unpack the human and cultural dynamics of risk, and discuss how organisations can turn risk into a driver of resilience, agility, and growth. If your risk register feels like a drawer-filler, this conversation will change how you think.
🔍 In this episode:
- Why risk must be tied to strategic objectives—not isolated frameworks
- How to challenge the 10,000-year orthodoxy of accounting-led risk thinking
- Using risk to enable growth, not just prevent failure
- Making better decisions, faster—with real-world context
- How governance and decision-making must evolve in the age of data
🎧 Keywords: risk management, strategy, governance, resilience, decision-making, organisational culture, stakeholder engagement, technology, objectives, risk assessment
📘 Learn more about Stefan’s work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefangershater/
👂 Enjoying the show?
Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast.
🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast
📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout
💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/