Focus on Growth: Sage Insights

Insight, Not Just Oversight with John Donovan | Navigating The Fog of Change™

Your Board Should Be an Asset In today’s environment of massive, fast, and continuous change, boards can no longer be satisfied operating in its traditional role. Oversight remains essential—but it is no longer enough.In this episode, I sit down with former AT&T CEO John Donovan, who now serves on the boards of Palo Alto Networks, Lockheed Martin, and U.S. Steel. Drawing on his unique perspective as both a CEO and board director, John explains how the best boards are shifting from compliance and monitoring to helping management see around corners.We discuss why today’s directors must provide Insight—not just Oversight by bringing informed perspectives on strategy, technology, cyber risk, AI, geopolitics, and the forces reshaping every industry. John shares practical advice on how boards can challenge management constructively, ask better questions, and become true strategic partners while maintaining their governance responsibilities.Your board is navigating today’s Fog of Change™. This conversation offers a powerful blueprint for becoming more informed, more engaged, and more valuable.Because in the fog, great boards don’t just oversee—they provide insight.Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/

Seeing Through the Fog: Our Progress Navigating The Fog of Change™ with Pete Hart

Over the past year, we have explored the reality that leaders face today:• Change is massive, rapid, and permanent.• Traditional strategic planning models no longer work.• Leaders need a Change Agenda to provide direction when certainty is impossible.But understanding the challenge is only the beginning.To lead successful change, leaders must:• Make the Case for "Why"—and "Why Now"• Assess whether the organization is truly ready for changeThese are heavy lifts. Without urgency and readiness, even the best strategies fail.To explore these critical leadership challenges, I am joined by Alex “Pete” Hart, former CEO and later Chair of Mastercard International and former Chair of Silicon Valley Bank. Drawing upon decades of leadership experience, Pete and I identify the next steps leaders must take to move our organizations forward.Because in the midst of the Chaos, we must continue to press forward—and help others see through the fog.Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/

Your Change Readiness Fitness Test with John Hansen | Navigating The Fog of Change™

To face off against the powerful forces of change pummeling us all, ask yourself this question: Do you have your enterprise ready for change? Really?If so, don’t waste your time on this podcast. But if not, and in our experience, most of you are not, then:You need this. Really!Sage Partner John Hansen and I describe the process you’ll need to ensure your enterprise can handle the stress of change.Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/

Realizing Value From Volatility with Barry Winer | Navigating The Fog of Change™

Most leaders hesitate in uncertainty. The winners act. For the third year, Barry Winer, Deloitte’s Head of M&A Research, joins me to explore how disruption in M&A is creating real opportunity—for those prepared to move. Drawing on Deloitte Consulting’s deep experience and Sage Partners’ perspective, we cut through the fog to show how leaders can identify, evaluate, and execute deals in uncertain times. The takeaway: Done wisely, M&A—across both large and small transactions—remains one of the most powerful engines of value-creating growth. In the Fog of Change™, winners don’t wait for clarity. They move before others do. To learn more about Barry and his work, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrywiner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrywiner] Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft. To connect with Tom, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomdoorley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomdoorley]https://www.sagepartners.net/thomas-doorley [https://www.sagepartners.net/thomas-doorley]To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/ [https://www.sagepartners.net/]

The Leader's Change Agenda with Larry Bennigson | Navigating The Fog of Change™

In times of massive, fast-moving change, leaders are expected to provide direction—but the old model of fixed plans no longer works.In the fog, certainty is elusive. What matters most is not just about being right—it’s more about being ready.In this episode, I’m joined by Sage Partner Larry Bennigson to explore how leaders can create a Change Agenda—a clear, adaptable framework that sets direction, builds alignment, and signals the need to learn and adjust in real time.This is how leaders steady their organizations when the path ahead is unclear.Watch now to learn how to lead when you can’t see the road ahead.Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/