In today’s boardrooms, Chief Strategy Officers (CSOs) are under immense pressure. They must not only help CEOs shape the future but also ensure that strategy cascades through the organization in a way that business units can execute without friction. Yet, many CSOs find themselves caught between an executive board that wants clarity, business units that demand guidance, and strategy teams that struggle to balance competing mandates.
The hard truth? A significant share of executives are dissatisfied with their strategy organizations. Some CSOs even admit their own teams are not delivering the intended impact. The root cause isn’t usually a lack of talent or effort; it’s often structural. Many strategy functions attempt to be everything at once; CEO advisor, portfolio manager, orchestrator, and service provider. This “all-of-the-above” approach dilutes focus and lowers performance.
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