The Strategy Gap

The Strategy Gap

The Strategy Gap A show about the space between savvy strategy and practical execution — and everything that can go wrong on the way. Ever finish out the workday and realize you were super busy but didn’t actually accomplish what you wanted? A lot of companies operate this way. Many of us know where we want our organization to go, but struggle to understand how we’re progressing and how to make sure we get there. This is a show about the best-laid plans, properly executing as you scale, and the processes you need to achieve your goals. In this show, hosted by Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause, each episode features conversations with strategy and operational leaders on key insights in strategic planning, strategy execution, and more.

Episodes

June 11, 2025 33 mins
Who’s actually accountable in your strategic plan? If your answer includes more than one name… that might be the root of your execution problems. In this episode of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan (SVP of Operations at AchieveIt) and Joe Krause (SVP of Strategy Consulting) tackle one of the most misunderstood pillars of execution: accountability.

From the danger of group-think to the power of visibility and recognition, they...
Mark as Played
Collaboration isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the backbone of strategy execution.

In this episode of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan (SVP of Operations) and Joe Krause (SVP of Strategy Consulting) dig into why so many organizations say they value collaboration but still fail to practice it. From breaking down silos to running meetings that don’t suck, they share real-world lessons (and hard truths) about what it takes to turn b...
Mark as Played
In this episode of The Strategy Gap, we dive into the first pillar of the 2025 State of Strategy Execution Report: Alignment and Leadership. Hosts Jonathan Morgan, SVP of Operations at AchieveIt, and Joe Krause, SVP of Strategy Consulting, break down why so many strategic plans crumble at the top—and what leaders can do to reverse course. From lackluster vision statements to inconsistent communication, this episode challenges leade...
Mark as Played
Are you actually executing your strategy—or just making plans that collect dust? In this episode of The Strategy Gap, we dive into the key findings from the 2025 State of Strategy Execution report and break down what separates high-performing organizations from the rest. Hosting the conversation are Jonathan Morgan, SVP of Operations at AchieveIt, and Joe Krause, SVP of Strategy Consulting, two of AchieveIt's seasoned strategy expe...
Mark as Played
How do you transition from commodities trading to leading strategy at a global mental health company?

Mark Muston, Head of Business Operations & Strategy at Modern Health, shares how he made the leap, why hiring for potential matters more than a perfect resume, and how to pitch leadership like a startup founder. If you’re in strategy, operations, or just trying to build a team that actually gets things done—this episode is for y...
Mark as Played
Can a startup stay agile while scaling—and still innovate?

In this episode of The Strategy Gap, we're joined by Dave McMullin, Chief Strategy Officer at Anumana, to dive into the balancing act of startup strategy. With experience spanning biotech giants and high-growth startups, Dave shares his insights on aligning long-term vision with short-term wins, keeping innovation alive while building structure, and staying disciplined in ex...
Mark as Played
Ready to uncover the secrets to true organizational alignment and long-term strategic success? In this episode of The Strategy Gap, we’re joined by Ken Sagendorf, Chief Strategy Officer at True Alignment and host of the True Alignment Podcast. With decades of experience as a strategic leader, innovator, and educator, Ken brings unparalleled insights into bridging the gap between strategy creation and execution.

From the importance o...
Mark as Played
What does it take to turn strategy into real, actionable results? In this episode of The Strategy Gap, Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause sit down with Dave Parker, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Evergreen Life Services. With decades of experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Dave shares his unique insights on blending innovation, collaboration, and strategic clarity. From his groundbreaking "Mission Money Matr...
Mark as Played
In this episode of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause sit down with Tonjia Coverdale, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Operations and Technology at Associated Bank. With over 25 years of experience in technology and strategic leadership, Tonjia brings a unique perspective on how organizations can elevate technology from a back-office function to a powerful enabler of business growth. Her dual...
Mark as Played
What makes a business thrive in a constantly evolving world? According to Victor André Gamas Mayer, Managing Partner of Gamas Group, the answer lies in mindset, culture, and values. As the leader of a fourth-generation family business, Victor brings a unique perspective on balancing tradition with innovation.

In this episode of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause explore how Gamas Group has sustained success by em...
Mark as Played
In this episode of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause are joined by Tino Mantella, a seasoned executive with vast experience across industries including nonprofits, technology, and government. Tino shares his insights on the critical elements of strategic planning, the power of conscious capitalism, and the importance of aligning organizational culture with leadership goals.

From balancing top-down and bottom-up ...
Mark as Played
In this episode of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause interview Abhay Jain, VP of Strategy and Business Development at A+E Networks. They explore strategy creation, innovation, and execution in various organizations, emphasizing the importance of solving real problems to attract the right talent for startups.

Abhay shares insights on commercial real estate, focusing on lifestyle and startup incubation, and highli...
Mark as Played
In Episode 31 of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause speak with with Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer at Sunrise Banks. Eric brings over two decades of experience leading financial services organizations through transformational change and has extensive expertise in fintech, digital banking, strategy development, and leadership.

Together, they look at how Eric's extensive experience offers innovative insights f...
Mark as Played
In this episode of The Strategy Gap, Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause sit down with Isha Dhar, a talented leader currently heading Global Sales Strategy and Operations for Netflix's new ads platform. With over 15 years of experience in sales operations, business development, and analytics at big names like Meta Platforms and Dell Technologies, Isha offers a treasure trove of insights. She’s got an MBA from UNC and an engineering degr...
Mark as Played
Jonathan and Joe sit down with Cheryl Farr, founder of Signal Brand Innovation, for a powerful deep dive into what makes or breaks a brand. Drawing from her work with giants like Nike and Coca-Cola, Cheryl reveals why true brand leadership goes far beyond logos and slogans—it’s about staying authentic to your core values.
 
From Minnetonka Moccasins’ rebranding success to Allbirds’ missteps, and a conversation about Southwest Airline...
Mark as Played
In this episode of "The Strategy Gap", hosts Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause engage in a robust conversation with Marc Mertz, the Chief Strategy Officer at Kaweah Health. Marc, who has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, delves into the significant role of a Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). He explains that a CSO is pivotal in leading the development of the strategic plan, engaging various teams in the process, and ...
Mark as Played
Curious about how universities are navigating the fast-changing landscape of higher education?

In this episode of The Strategy Gap, Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause welcome Shawn Daley, the Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at George Fox University, for a deep dive into the challenges and innovations shaping the future of academia.

Discover how higher ed institutions are borrowing strategies from for-profit sectors to sta...
Mark as Played
In today’s episode, Joe and Jonathan speak with Strategy & Revenue Operations Leader Lester Ang about the crucial balance between big-picture strategy and detailed work in strategy and revenue operations. A seasoned strategy and revenue operations advisor with a robust background in global teams and growth transformation, Lester brings no shortage of insights when it comes to effective leadership transitions and the role of lis...
Mark as Played
When it comes to navigating turbulence and developing strategy in the face of challenges, few industries are more weathered than education. With how quickly education standards and practices are evolving—and how many stakeholders are involved—it’s hard to think of many areas that have more lessons to offer to all manner of strategists.

This week, Larkin Briley, Assistant Vice President of Strategy and Transformation at Belmont Unive...
Mark as Played
For humans, the fear of change is so real and pervasive that there’s a word for it: metathesiophobia. Even if you didn’t know about this clinical term until now, you’re probably aware that organizations and teams of all types suffer from a fear of change—especially because there’s no shortage of examples of change being implemented ineffectively due to poor strategy or leadership.

In today’s episode, Joe and Jonathan are joined by L...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    Latino USA

    Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S. centering Latino stories, hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa Every week, the Peabody winning team brings you revealing, in-depth stories about what’s in the hearts and minds of Latinos and their impact on the world. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.