If you want to bore, confuse or overwhelm someone, just talk about Strategic Planning! In this episode we are joined by fellow PC Joyce Schaefer to attempt to “decomplexify” the notion of Strategic Planning into its most basic parts – what questions we need to answer, how to document it and keep it on the forefront of our minds as leaders so that we put ourselves in the best position to realize our goals!

Matrix organizations promise efficiency and innovation—but often deliver confusion and dysfunction instead. In this episode, Keith Hadley and James Felton are joined by UK-based consultant Sophie Dummer to unpack the paradox of the “messy matrix” and how, when grounded in organizational health, it can amplify agility and effectiveness rather than amplifying chaos. Together, they explore the key reasons organizations adopt a matrix structure, the layers of complexity it introduces, and the common dysfunctions they encounter with clients. Most importantly, they outline five essential practices for making a matrix thrive: cultivating self-awareness, leading with vulnerability and empathy, leaning into hard conversations, influencing without formal authority, and aligning around the greater good.

Whether you're leading within a matrix or considering a shift in structure, this episode offers a candid, practical, and hopeful lens for navigating complexity with clarity and purpose.

Today we’re thrilled to welcome Joyce Schaefer to the podcast—someone who has truly lived out the evolving identity of HR professionals and the strategic power they can bring to the table. In this conversation, we dive into how HR leaders can move beyond traditional administrative roles and step confidently into positions of influence and impact. Joyce makes a strong case for seeing HR professionals as business leaders first, HR leaders second, reflecting a broader shift toward deeper integration within the business.

Together, we unpack the importance of clarity and communication, what it really means to have a seat at the table, and the often-overlooked role of HR as a coach and leadership developer. Joyce also shares how HR can act as a stabilizing, strategic force in talent management—and how vital that becomes in moments of change or crisis. It’s a candid, insightful, and energizing conversation about what HR leadership looks like at its best—and what it means for the future of work.