• Strategising is thinking about future events and the intended and unintended consequences of our decisions to ensure optimum results.
• One thing is for sure – the world is dynamic and boards and businesses need to be dynamic, if you stand still and carry on doing what makes you successful today, it doesn’t mean you will be successful tomorrow.
• To remain competitive and relevant you must seek to manage the unknown unknowns and that requires time and effort spent on thinking strategically.
• To transform what you do today to make it future-ready and importantly future relevant.
• All of this is meaningless unless you take people with you.
• It is just words on a page until people start living and breathing the change.
• To do this you need an open culture, a culture that encourages people to try new things and not to be afraid of failure.
• Culture is the essence of a business and can make or break a firm.
• It needs constant nurturing – that couldn’t be more relevant in today’s world of agile working.

This Lunch & Learn session by Zoë Bailey, head of strategic operations at Withers & Rogers LLP, examines the importance of strategy, culture and the board, especially in the new hybrid world of work.

Zoë Bailey is the head of strategic operations at Withers & Rogers LLP. Zoë is a senior business leader, board advisor and strategic development specialist. She is an expert in influencing the delivery of commercially-focused business strategies.

In her current role, Zoë supports the development and management of the firm’s operational activities, working alongside the chair of the board to deliver a business strategy that offers great results for clients whilst working to strengthen the firm’s employer brand.

As a senior leader, Zoë coaches and mentors cross-functional business leaders to elevate their thinking, drive personal growth and ensure long-term success while nurturing collaborative stakeholder relationships up to board level to clearly communicate and win buy-in to future organisational goals.

Zoë is also a non-executive director (NED) on the board of Nelson Croom being appointed in July 2019.