Most leaders are told to be more strategic. Very few are ever shown how to think, decide, and act strategically under pressure.
If you’re constantly busy, making decisions under pressure, and still expected to think long-term, prioritise clearly and lead with confidence - you’ll recognise the tension.
Most organisations don’t struggle because they lack strategy. They struggle because strategy isn’t consistently practised, especially when the pressure is on.
In this session, Charlie Curson will show why being strategic is not about frameworks or plans, but about strategic capability - the ability to think clearly, decide well, and act deliberately in real-world conditions.
You’ll be introduced to a simple four-level model of strategic mastery, along with 12 essential practices that improve decision quality, strengthen alignment, and help leaders operate more effectively in complex and uncertain environments.
These are not abstract ideas or theory - they are the practical behaviours high-performing leaders and teams rely on every day.
If you want to stop reacting and start thinking more strategically, this session will show you where to begin.
WATCH NOW ON-DEMAND
I’m a strategic advisor, investor, facilitator and accredited leadership coach, and founder of Mandarin. For over 25 years, I’ve worked with more than 250 organisations across 30+ industries, par tnering with global brands including VISA, McDonald’s, Unilever, Experian, Volkswagen Group, L’Oréal and Barclays, as well as ambitious scale-ups and SMEs. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, leadership and performance - helping organisations design bold direction, build strategic capability, and turn positive intent into sustained impact.
My career began in engineering and continued through top-tier consulting, where I developed a deep appreciation for rigorous thinking, systems and execution. I later found my calling working in small, world-class teams helping organisations of all shapes and sizes navigate uncertainty, make better decisions, and move forward with more confidence and a clear strategy. A pattern started to emerge: leaders would say one of two things: “This new direction makes good sense but it’s terrifying. Can you help lead us through it?” or “Can you teach our team to think like this?”
Those questions have shaped the last 15 years of my work. I’ve since coached and worked with thousands of leaders and teams globally to strengthen how they think, decide and lead – not just in the boardroom, but day to day. I believe strategic thinking is a human capability, not an elite discipline reserved for senior executives or business schools. When leaders at every level develop this capability, teams and organisations move faster, collaborate better, and perform more consistently under pressure.
I’m known for blending robust research with real-world application, integrating evidence-based models with practical tools leaders can actually use. At the heart of my work is a simple belief: being strategic is not just a skillset, it’s a mindset. I challenge assumptions, create clarity, and help leaders translate insight into action. Whether coaching one-to-one, advising leadership teams, or facilitating large-scale events and programmes, my focus is always the same: building self-awareness, strengthening judgement, unlocking creativity, and enabling decisive action with positive intent.
Don’t just take our word for it. See what our clients have to say:
Andy Yeoman
Founder & CEO - Concirrus
Natalia Smoktunowicz
Global Head of Learning - Fujitsu
Nina Jones
Director of Customer and Partner Experience - Microsoft
James Coe
Director - L’Oreal UK&I
