Outthinker Networks

In our latest Outthinkers podcast episode, Kaihan sits down with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, the thought leader who coined "The Project Economy" and author of the influential Powered by Projects: Leading Organizations in the Transformation Age. Antonio shares his compelling vision of how business structures are fundamentally transforming before our eyes: 👉 By 2030, a staggering 70% of work will be project-based rather than operations-focused, dramatically reshaping how organizations function. 👉 Traditional hierarchical structures are increasingly becoming barriers to growth as successful execution now depends on cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement. 👉 Digitalization and AI are accelerating this shift, making the transition from repetitive operational work to dynamic project-driven approaches inevitable. 👉 The PMO (Project Management Office) is evolving from an operational function to a strategic driver of organizational transformation. As a Thinkers50-recognized management leader, former Chairman of the Project Management Institute, and creator of the Brightline Initiative, Antonio brings unparalleled authority to this discussion of how every aspect of business—from strategy to management to departmental structures—must adapt to this new reality. This conversation offers critical insights for strategists navigating how to structure their organizations for future success in an increasingly project-driven business landscape. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eBtqHPB8

We're still buzzing from the Outthinker Summit we held yesterday in Miami, Florida! Here's what the day looked like: But this video doesn't show all the thought-provoking takeaways of the deep-dive strategic discussions we had with the 35 Chief Strategy Officers in the room. Here are a few of the top ones, as outlined by our founder Kaihan Krippendorff: 1. Agile budgeting is essential—but shifting to it means overcoming barriers like data, culture, and leadership. In today’s fast-paced environment, failing to adapt puts you at risk. 2. AI is reshaping strategy—moving us from a linear approach to a continuous cycle: sense, hypothesize, assess, select, implement, learn. 3. The DEI pullback in the U.S. doesn’t mean stopping all initiatives. If they drive business outcomes, they remain strategic. 4. AI strategy = chicken-and-egg problem. You need action to shape strategy, but you want strategy to guide action. 5. Massive innovation opportunities are being lost because academia and business struggle to understand each other. 6. AI’s impact on business models is underestimated. Take device makers (Apple, Samsung) designing their own chips—AI will drive similar shifts across industries. Which ones do you want us to tell you more about in our upcoming recap posts?

Join us in welcoming Jairo Riveros to the Outthinker Strategy Network! Jairo Riveros is a visionary leader, strategist, and transformational force in the fields of  Payments, Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. With a deep passion for shaping the future of financial services, leveraging data and analytics, and challenging traditional business models, he plays a pivotal role in the industry. As  President for the Americas and Head of Strategy at Paysend, a global FinTech powerhouse, Jairo  drives strategic direction, fosters a world-class FinTech team, and spearheads business development, licensing, and high-impact partnerships. His leadership continues to shape innovation and growth in the financial sector. Jairo has an extensive track record in financial strategy, fintech innovation, and global market expansion. His journey includes leading the acquisition team for a fintech payments company in Latin America and advising a global pension and insurance fund on a market-entry strategy, utilizing a direct-to-consumer model powered by analytics. We can't wait to hear more from Jairo's rich experience in the Outthinker community!

How do you pivot your strategy to embrace disruption rather than resist it?  What frameworks can you implement today to prepare for the unpredictable challenges of tomorrow?  How will AI and automation reshape your industry—and how can you gain a competitive edge?  What regulatory and compliance changes will define 2025 and beyond, and how should you prepare?  How do leaders sustain long-term growth while managing short-term volatility?  These are just some of the questions we'll be discussing next week at the Outthinker Summit "Strategy in Turbulence." ➡️ https://lu.ma/m4yeyqic We didn't set out to create a typical conference. We designed an event primed for peer-to-peer exploration of strategy applications. This is a transformational experience designed to equip you with the tools, insights, and connections you need to lead effectively in turbulent times. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from top experts and peers tackling the same challenges you face every day!

AI isn't about replicating human intelligence - it's about compensating for human weaknesses. This powerful insight comes from W. Russell Neuman, who appeared on our Outthinkers Podcast and shared a refreshingly different perspective on AI's future. Now, he's joining us for a live session that you can attend, too: https://lu.ma/ftkyzuys Russell argues that, instead of creating machines that think like us, we should focus on building systems that complement our cognitive limitations. This perspective flips the traditional AI narrative on its head. Instead of fearing replacement, what if we saw AI as a partnership opportunity? We'll explore this point of view and other thoughts on surmounting psychological barriers when driving innovation on February 18. We'll also explore: 👉 Why human psychology often resists technological change 👉 How to reframe AI adoption in your organization 👉 Practical strategies for implementing innovative technologies As a founding faculty member of the MIT Media Lab and former White House Senior Policy Analyst, Russell brings decades of experience studying human-technology interaction. We still have a few free guest spots for this thought-provoking session. You can apply to join us live here: https://lu.ma/ftkyzuys

Turbulence dominates the Chief Strategy Officer's agenda in 2025. Our upcoming Strategy in Turbulence Summit brings together leading strategists and innovators to explore the critical questions shaping strategy today: 👉 Resource allocation in turbulent times 👉 AI's impact on strategy development 👉 The convergence of emerging technologies Join us in Miami on February 25th for a pivotal discussion on navigating one of the most unpredictable periods in modern history. Swipe through to meet our exceptional speakers and find all the details here: https://lu.ma/m4yeyqic

Please join us in welcoming Michael Bennett, Chief Transformation Officer at Powin, to the Outthinker Strategy Network. Michael is a seasoned energy and data strategy leader with over 13 years of experience. As the Chief Transformation Officer at Powin Energy, he drives cross-functional strategic initiatives to enhance digital transformation, operational efficiency, and innovation in the energy storage sector. With a proven track record in North American power and natural gas markets, energy storage product development, and analytics platform design, Michael has consistently delivered impactful solutions across complex projects.    His expertise spans leading teams in data science and analytics, advisory services, and product strategy to optimize asset performance and support organizational growth. Michael's leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping Powin Energy's strategic planning and advancing the successful launch of innovative energy storage products. Welcome, Michael! We are proud to have you as a member of Outthinker Networks.

Most business leaders get this wrong: They chase growth and speed, thinking it's the key to survival in turbulent times. But Devin DeCiantis will persuade you that something else is true: The companies that survive chaos aren't the fastest or biggest – they're the most internally stable. And family businesses have mastered this art. In our conversation, Devin shares fascinating insights from his new book "The Enduring Enterprise" including: 👉 Why family businesses often outperform others in volatile markets 👉 The 7 stabilizing strategies they use to build resilience 👉 How "just-in-case" thinking beats "just-in-time" in today's economy 👉 What traditional corporations can learn from family enterprises that plan in quarter-centuries, not quarters Devin brings 15+ years of experience advising some of the world's largest family enterprises. His insights will change how you think about building lasting success. Listen to the full episode and find more from the Outthinkers podcast: https://lnkd.in/eBtqHPB8

Every breakthrough technology faces the same challenge: human nature. There's always a tension between curiosity and excitement on one side and hesitation and resistance on the other. We're excited to tackle this challenge head-on in our next Outthinker Accelerators Network session with W. Russell Neuman - Professor of Media Technology at NYU, founding member of the MIT Media Lab, and former White House Senior Policy Analyst. Drawing from decades of research, he will help us understand: 👉 Why humans naturally resist technological change 👉 How to predict and shape adoption patterns 👉 Practical strategies for implementing innovation This session is designed for strategists, innovation leaders, and change-makers who want to master the human side of technological transformation. Because the future belongs to those who can navigate both the technical and human dimensions of innovation. This thought-provoking session is organized specially for our Outthinker Accelerators Network members, but we have a few guest spots available. Apply and join us live: https://lu.ma/ftkyzuys

Traditional, annual budgeting processes are unable to match the pace of change in our environments today. And enterprises need a viable alternative. This is exactly why we invited Eric Woodard, Chief Strategy Officer at Primerica, former Consultant at Bain & Company, and co-author of their insights on Agile Budgeting, to be one of the speakers for our Outthinker Summit "Strategy in Turbulence." He will show us how leading enterprises are shifting from static annual budgets to dynamic, responsive financial planning that enables innovation and growth. We will unpack practical techniques for: ➡️ aligning budgets with strategic priorities, ➡️ reallocating resources efficiently, ➡️ making real-time investment decisions They will help your organization move faster, stay competitive, and turn turbulence into opportunity. There are two ways to join this exclusive event: apply to register directly or become an Outthinker Networks member and attend the full event and our exclusive VIP dinner. See the full schedule here: https://lu.ma/m4yeyqic