The Executive Lens - What is Strategy?

During my journey at IIM Bangalore as part of the EGMP 72 batch, one subject truly captured my curiosity and reshaped my thinking — Strategy.

As I delved deeper into Strategic Management by Frank T. Rothaermel, I began to see how the concepts in the book connect directly with real-world business dynamics and leadership challenges. Each chapter sparked reflection — not just on how companies compete, but on how leaders think, adapt, and create sustainable advantage.

It is imporant to mention that these principles apply to the world of IT and Security — where strategic thinking is not just about technology, but about foresight, alignment, and resilience. Whether it’s managing cyber risks, driving digital transformation, or building trust through governance, the same strategic frameworks help us make better, more integrated decisions in an increasingly complex environment.

Through this series, The Executive Lens, I’ll be sharing my learnings and interpretations — translating academic insights into executive perspectives. It’s both a way for me to deepen my understanding and, hopefully, to spark meaningful discussions with fellow professionals who are equally passionate about strategy and leadership.

This will be a series of events, each session capturing a new topic and elaborating on it in depth — mostly held on Wednesdays for an hour. Together, we’ll explore ideas, challenge perspectives, and connect theory to practical leadership in IT and Security.

Over the upcoming sessions, we’ll explore the 12 core chapters from Frank Rothaermel’s Strategic Management — from “What Is Strategy?” and “Strategic Leadership,” to “Innovation, Global Strategy.”

Each session will take us a step closer to understanding how strategy truly shapes organizations — and how leaders like us can apply it in IT, Security, and beyond.