Episode 20: The Primacy of Culture and Leadership in Strategic Success, with Khoi Tu

In this episode we consider how strategy works in the commercial world. Ranging across a number of commercial sectors, Khoi Tu talks about the similarities and differences in strategy between defence and industry. Some elements, such as an ever-changing and competitive environment are shared, placing a premium on the right leadership and culture. But there are also differences.

He describes how all strategy is fundamentally about choices – choices about how one can win, how to instil a sense of purpose, and how to mobilise the team and make them adaptive to the environment. He also highlights how hard it is to find everything an organisation needs from a strategic leader in one individual, but asserts that taking a collective view yields better results – as Dr Christian Keller also argued when looking at the command teams led by Generals Lee and Grant (Season 4, Episode 15).

Khoi Tu is a senior partner at KornFerry Consultants, advising leadership boards in world-leading organisations. The author of Superteams: The Secrets of Stellar Performance from Seven Legendary Teams, his research covered the UK Special Forces, charities, and the arts and business sectors.

Khoi Tu, Superteams: The Secrets of Stellar Performance from Seven Legendary Teams, Portfolio Penguin, 2012.

Peter Ricketts, Hard Choices: The Making and Unmaking of Global Britain, Atlantic Books, 2022 Michael E. Porter, Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, Free Press, 1980.

A.G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin, Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works, Harvard Business Review, 2013.

Stanley McCrystal, David Silverman, Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, Penguin, 2015.

Ed Catmull, Creativity Inc: an inspiring look at how creativity can – and should – be harnessed for business success by the founder of Pixar, Bantam, 2014.