Strategy Bites

🎙️ New Strategy Bites episode is live!Last week, I sat down with Melanie Kansil, Chief Strategy Officer at MECCA Brands.Melanie started her career at McKinsey, then went on to build startups, work across multiple sectors, and now shapes strategy for one of Australia’s most loved consumer brands.We talk about:✨ What the CSO role really looks like day to day✨ What consulting prepares you brilliantly for (and what it doesn’t)✨ The messy reality of moving from advising to owning strategy✨ The career advice she wishes she’d had earlier✨ The reality of consulting vs start-ups vs leading inside a top brandIf you’re a consultant wondering whether industry, start-up, leadership, or a CSO role might be in your future, this episode is a must-listen.

Today on Strategy Bites, I’m joined by William Loh, Executive Director of Strategy at Foxtel.Foxtel has pulled off one of the most impressive transformation stories in Australian media over the past decade.William has been there for the entire journey, starting as a commercial analyst and rising through the ranks to lead the group’s strategy.We dig into:what it was really like inside Foxtel when many saw it as the Titanic heading for the icebergthe bold strategic decisions that changed the company’s futurehow the team shifted from survival mode to genuine innovationWilliam’s views on loyalty, leadership and building a long-term strategy careerIt’s a brilliant conversation with someone who’s lived a transformation most strategists only read about.

Season 6 Episode 5 Charlie Newark-French, CEO of CascadeIn this episode of Strategy Bites, Anika Stokes sits down with Charlie Newark French, a former McKinsey consultant turned VC and now CEO of Cascade. Charlie brings a rare mix of strategy depth, tech insight, and startup scar tissue. From scaling AI-driven companies to surviving the rollercoaster of venture-backed growth, he’s lived the full spectrum.Charlie shares how he went from coding as a kid, to advising CEOs at McKinsey, to betting on cutting-edge tech in Silicon Valley, and finally to building AI products that actually deliver strategy execution in the real world. His take on resilience, long-term thinking, and the brutal honesty of startup life is a masterclass for anyone who wants to operate, lead, or invest in high-performance environments.Why listen to this episode?How elite storytelling skills from McKinsey still underpin effective strategy and leadership today.·How Charlie spots real opportunities in tech and what separates a “nice idea” from a viable, scalable business.·A brutally honest look at the emotional and operational realities of being a founder in fast-growth tech.Practical insights into AI’s real role in strategy execution, beyond the hype.How resilience is built, not born, from someone who has navigated existential crises week after week.If you’re leading, investing, or simply trying to stay ahead in a world where AI meets strategy, this one’s packed with insights you’ll want to replay.

This week on Strategy Bites, I’m joined by someone who genuinely redefines what it means to think differently.Jim Hogan has spent over forty years at the forefront of technology, innovation and leadership, and he just happens to be autistic.He was the Chief Innovation Evangelist at Google Cloud and the Vice President of Accessibility in Technology for Google’s Disability Alliance.Through his work, research and powerful TED Talk, Jim has become one of the most authentic and inspiring voices for neuroinclusion in business.In this episode, Jim shares how his autistic lens has shaped his life and career, the challenges, the brilliance and the occasional chaos, and why he believes neuroinclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do for any organisation that wants to innovate.We talk about what leaders can do to create truly inclusive workplaces, how introverts and neurodistinct thinkers can be heard in rooms full of extroverts, and how embracing difference drives better ideas, better teams and better outcomes.Oh, and yes, we get to the story behind the Rubik’s Cube.So whether you’re leading a team, hiring for one, or just curious about how diverse thinking fuels innovation, you’ll want to stick around for this one.Jim Hogan's Ted Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJrRnyNwm00

Stevie-Ann Dovico maps a clear route from consulting into the C-suite. Starting in Big 4 strategy and moving in-house across major banks before becoming CIO at Beyond Bank, she’s led high-performing teams, shipped real products, and picked up industry recognition along the way. In this episode we unpack how curiosity, adaptability and lifelong learning powered each pivot, what “tech fluency” looks like without a coding background, and how she balances leadership with motherhood while challenging stereotypes in tech. We also dive into what AI and even quantum mean for careers, and how mentors and sponsors accelerate the journey from analyst to executive.You’ll hear:Real first steps from consulting into tech that keep you close to strategy while building product and engineering exposureHow to overcome fear and embrace rapid change in tech and businessWhat AI and quantum actually mean for future roles, plus where the value is in banking todayA simple first-90-days playbook for ex-consultants in product or deliveryThree practical skills juniors should learn now for Tech and GenAIHiring signals that scream “future leader” vs “great slide maker”Why mentors and sponsors matter, and how to ask for sponsorship without the awkwardHow diverse leadership and early exposure to tech can inspire the next generationPractical advice for aspiring CIOs on building a credible path to senior leadershipIf you’re a consultant or aspiring CIO wondering how to future-proof your career in a fast-changing digital world, this conversation is packed with usable tactics and inspiration.