Oil of Olay was a tired lotion brand of no edge, no sizzle. Just memories. Yet Lafley didn’t see a product. He saw a strategic choice. Martin helped him frame it using five killer questions: What is our winning aspiration? Not survival. Domination. They aimed for $1 billion in sales and leadership in the North American skincare market. Where will we play? They drew a new battlefield between luxury creams (like Estée Lauder) and basic drugstore brands (like Nivea). The space between prestige and price. A new masstige category. How will we win? By being better, not cheaper. Formulate actual…
What makes a good strategy?
This five-question model didn’t just save a dying brand, but it created a $2.5B market leader. Because strategy is not fluff, it’s about making choices under uncertainty. That’s what risk is. Strategy is risk, organized. Let me explain. Here’s why it matters to you “Where will we play?” Most professionals skip this. They are everywhere; that’s how you get disrupted. “How will we win?” Not vague goals, actual trade-offs. Price or quality? Depth or reach? “What capabilities must we have?” If you want to lead tech but don’t invest in data talent, you are bluffing, simple. “What systems do we…
The deal that nearly bought my soul – when a gunman confronted me
Every entrepreneur talks about success, but no one tells you the price tags attached. Before I pivoted to strategy, risk, and leadership, I was a fraud investigator. Few professions offer the same mix of fulfilment and adrenaline as investigations. The thrill of responding to a crime scene, taking notes, preserving evidence, recording statements, analyzing facts, developing a fraud hypothesis, gathering proof, interviewing suspects, and confronting the prime suspect. It’s captivating and addictive. You find yourself chasing the truth relentlessly. Who did it? How? Why? The process of connecting the dots becomes an obsession. You don’t rest until the whole puzzle…
UGAFODE Microfinance didn’t just grow – it transformed and continues to thrive. Here’s why.
Most organizations don’t grow because they don’t change. They tweak processes, play with new products, or shift people around, but real transformation? Rare. UGAFODE Microfinance Ltd, however, didn’t just grow, it tripled its size, doubled its loan book, expanded into refugee settlements, and became a leader in financial inclusion. And no, this didn’t happen because of luck or market conditions. It was engineered. Back in 2021, UGAFODE was just a decent microfinance institution facing critical challenges. With UGX 84 billion in total assets, a loan portfolio of UGX 56 billion, and deposits at UGX 32 billion, most of which was…
I use the VAKS model—Values, Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills.
When I walk into an organization to drive culture transformation, I don’t start with posters, mission statements, or flashy words. I diagnose first just like a good doctor. I ask: What’s in the bloodstream of this organization? Culture isn’t what’s written; it’s what people do when no one is watching a)Values – If leadership doesn’t live the values, don’t expect employees to. I expose misalignments. If a bank claims “customer-first” but managers ignore clients, that’s not a culture it’s a lie. You have seen it the bank manager behaves like the President of a country. Not easy to meet. I…
DOGE moved the Cheeze! what next?
In Spencer Johnson’s “Who Moved My Cheese?”, we encounter two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two little people, Hem and Haw, navigating a maze in search of cheese a metaphor for the resources and success we seek in life. When their cheese supply is unexpectedly moved, the characters’ varied responses highlight the human reactions to change. While Sniff and Scurry quickly adapt and search for new cheese, Hem resists. However, Haw eventually learns to embrace the new reality. This story underscores the importance of anticipating change and being prepared to adapt when circumstances shift. When leaders of public or private…
