The Strategist: Be the Leader Your Business Needs

The Strategist: Be the Leader Your Business Needs by Cynthia A. Montgomery is a foundational business guide that challenges conventional thinking about strategy. Based on her renowned, highly oversubscribed executive course at Harvard Business School, Montgomery argues that strategy is far more than a tool for outwitting the competition—it is a leader’s most powerful means for defining and shaping the company itself.

Montgomery provides a radically new perspective, fusing leadership and strategy into one vital role: The Strategist. This role is not about simply analysing the market; it’s about deeply understanding and articulating why your business matters and what unique value it brings to the world.

This book guides seasoned executives, owners, and CEOs through the paces of her world-class course, teaching them how to develop the skills and sensibilities demanded by a living strategy. Readers will learn how to:

• Lead with Vision and Values: Understand how personal leadership vision must integrate seamlessly with strategic choices.
• Define Your Purpose: Identify and articulate the ultimate purpose and advantage that will power the company forward.
• Shape the Firm: Use strategy not just to react to external forces, but to proactively define the firm’s architecture, culture, and capabilities.

This challenging, intriguing, and ultimately inspiring read is essential for any leader ready to fully embrace the responsibility of strategy and create a compelling, enduring future for their business.