The Business Strategist With Adam Strong
The Business Strategist is the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs, founders and business owners looking to scale, grow, and exit their businesses successfully.
Hosted by Adam Strong, an award-winning strategist with over 30 years of industry experience and three times best selling author.
Each episode delivers actionable business advice, practical tools, and insights to help you build a thriving enterprise. Whether you want to master leadership, craft a winning exit strategy, or implement proven scaling techniques, this podcast has you covered.
With expert interviews, real-world case studies, and a focus on achieving business freedom, the business strategist is your go-to resource for taking your business to the next level.
Tune in every week for new episodes designed to inspire, educate, and empower your entrepreneurial journey.
Adam's Contact details
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong
Is your business ready to run without you?
Take the 2-minute Exit Readiness Assessment — a fast, strategic scorecard for founders who want to scale, sell, or step back without becoming the bottleneck. Get instant insights across leadership, systems, marketing, and more. Click here to take the assessment: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com
1
From Stuck to Scalable: Building a Business Tha...
What if the very way you’re chasing growth is the reason you’ll never escape your business? I sat down with Damon Lembi on The Learn It All Podcast to unpack why so many founders stall out—and what it really takes to break past revenue plateaus while reclaiming your time. I share the hard truths I see inside firms every week: why micromanagement keeps you stuck, how fear, ego, and identity quietly kill exits, and the practical moves to build consistent demand without hiring sprees. We dive into my three-stage Exit Roadmap, the capacity math most leaders ignore, and the mindset shifts that let you step back without the wheels coming off.
53 min
2
The Hidden Cost of Average: How to Build a Team...
What if your obsession with sales, funding, or AI isn't what's holding back your scale-up—what if it's your people strategy that's silently sabotaging your growth? As someone who's spent decades helping founders scale smart, I know how tempting it is to chase the next shiny penny: more sales, more funding, more tech. But after my conversation with today's guest, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer—a USA Today best-selling author and a world-class executive coach—I realised that most founders underestimate their biggest growth engine: their people. Cynthia opened my eyes to what she calls 'human capital investment,' a strategic approach that treats your talent like your most important asset. In this powerful episode, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer breaks down the myths around talent management and explains how leaders often sabotage their businesses by treating talent as an expense rather than an investment.
48 min
3
Unlock Your Zone of Genius: How High-Performing...
What if the biggest thing blocking your next level… is the version of you that got you here? In this conversation, I sat down with the brilliant Taryn Voget, founder of The Genius Lab and host of The Everyday Genius Show. Over the last 15 years, she’s been the go-to guide for visionary founders, creatives, and CEOs ready to reconnect with who they really are — not just what they’ve built. If you’re scaling fast but something feels off… If you’ve hit your targets but feel strangely stuck… If you’re wondering what’s next — but can’t put your finger on it… This episode will strike a nerve.
62 min
4
Your LinkedIn Outreach Sucks — Fix It Fast in 5...
Are you still sending copy-paste outreach messages on LinkedIn and wondering why no one’s replying? Let me be blunt — most LinkedIn outreach is lazy, robotic, and instantly ignored. But what if you could turn it into your highest-converting lead engine... without being salesy, spammy, or pushy? In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the exact 5-step outreach strategy I’ve used — and help my clients use — to consistently book quality sales calls with decision-makers. It’s built on permission, psychology, and simplicity.
21 min
5
Archetypal Wisdom for Founders: The Operating S...
I had no idea the first episode with Rory Kilmartin would explode the way it did — it quickly became one of the most downloaded shows we’ve released for a while. So I brought him back. This time, we go even deeper into the archetypal patterns shaping how we lead, build teams, and scale businesses. We unpack why communication breaks down, why trust erodes, and why even the best strategy won’t work if your human operating system is out of sync. If you’ve ever felt friction with your team, struggled to hire the right people, or hit a wall trying to scale or exit — this episode will shift something.
65 min
6
Why Human-Centric Marketing Is the Future
What if everything you knew about marketing was wrong? Is the secret to standing out in a noisy world actually... being more human? Forget chasing perfection—connection is what cuts through. But how do you stay real in an AI-dominated landscape? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Phil Treagus-Evans, co-founder of the award-winning agency Giraffe Social and author of the bestselling book Human First Marketing. Phil’s on a mission to strip the BS out of brand-building and help us rethink what real connection looks like in business today
46 min
7
Unlock Growth: Master the Power of Niching
Is your business bleeding time, energy, and money because you’re trying to serve everyone? Discover why focusing on ONE high-value problem is the fastest path to unstoppable growth. In this episode, I break down my powerful “FOCUSED” framework—a step-by-step process to niche down without fear of missing out. You’ll learn how to face your resistance, pinpoint your most profitable problem, clarify exactly who you serve, and design premium offerings that clients crave—setting you apart in a crowded market. If your growth feels stuck, this episode is your breakthrough.
22 min
8
How to Become a LinkedIn Top Voice in 7 Simple ...
How I became a LinkedIn Top Voice without ads, algorithms, or hacks — and how you can too. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I earned LinkedIn’s Top Voice badge — not by playing the game, but by rewriting it. No shortcuts. No gimmicks. Just pure clarity, consistency, and connection. You’ll get the updated playbook for 2025, learn what really matters to LinkedIn, and understand why brand authority isn't built on trends — it’s built on truth. Whether you’re stuck at mediocre engagement or chasing credibility in your space, this episode breaks it all down.
19 min
9
Built. Burned Out. Sold for Millions
Most founders obsess over revenue, product, and performance. But no one talks about what happens when the pressure breaks you. This episode is that conversation. In this episode of The Business Strategist, I sit down with Luke Tobin, a three-time exited founder, award-winning entrepreneur, and digital marketing expert turned investor. We go beyond the business playbook and dive deep into the mental and emotional resilience it takes to lead through chaos, recover from failure, and build with an exit in mind.
56 min
10
Why 99% Fail on LinkedIn (And What the Top 1% K...
LinkedIn Is Broken for Most People… But Not If You Know This In this week’s episode, I reconnect with my good friend and globally renowned LinkedIn strategist Adam Houlahan. It’s been four years since our last deep dive—and what’s changed on LinkedIn since then is staggering. From collapsing organic reach to algorithm shifts and AI overload, we go deep into what’s really happening—and what still works.
62 min
11
The Real Reason Founders Burn Out Scaling
Most founders think scaling means more marketing, more hustle, and more chaos… but what if real growth comes from doing the exact opposite? In this episode, I’m joined by Leila Lahbabi, former Strategy Officer at Oliver Wyman, now a sought-after CEO coach and author of Billion Dollar Purpose. As someone who's worked with hundreds of founders, I’ve seen firsthand how strategy, mindfulness, and energy management aren't just “nice-to-haves”—they're the core of sustainable success.
62 min
12
Unlock Your Leadership Archetype: The Hidden Sy...
Have you ever noticed how your leadership style flips under pressure—sometimes you micromanage, sometimes you retreat, sometimes you charge ahead like you're putting out fires? That reaction isn’t random. It’s driven by an invisible operating system that's been with you since birth. In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Rory Kilmartin—relationship researcher and founder of the Archetypal Relationship Academy—to explore a groundbreaking framework for decoding human behaviour through four archetypes: the gorilla, the wolf, the fox, and the sheep. Rory’s 19 years of research reveals how your dominant archetype influences your leadership, relationships, and even who you hire (or fire). If you’re serious about improving the way you lead, communicate, and understand your team—and yourself—this one’s a game-changer.
67 min
13
10 common pitfalls when scaling a business
Want to scale your business but afraid you’ll make costly mistakes? In this episode of The Business Strategist, I pull back the curtain on the 10 most common pitfalls that ambush founders on the road to rapid growth — and share the proven fixes I use with my own clients.
24 min
14
Clarity Over Chaos: The Real Secret to Business...
If you’re spinning your wheels trying to build your brand, craft irresistible offers, or scale your marketing—but still not getting traction—this episode is for you. I break down why most business owners hit a wall: lack of clarity.
17 min
15
The Exit Strategy Most Founders Miss
What if the key to scaling and exiting your startup wasn’t hustle—but reverse engineering your success from day one? In this powerhouse episode, I sit down with Gregory Shepard—multi-exit entrepreneur, neurodivergent founder, TEDx speaker, and author of The Startup Lifecycle (Penguin Random House). With 12 exits, a $925M deal, and four Private Equity awards.
68 min
16
Toxic leaders kills cultures
Are YOU the Soul-Sucking CEO? What if the biggest barrier to growth in your company… is you? In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Garry Ridge — former CEO of WD-40, Top 10 USA Today bestselling author, and one of the most grounded, wise leaders I know. Over 25 years, Garry scaled WD-40 into a $3.6 billion global powerhouse — not through ego or control, but by building a culture of belonging, learning, and trust. We dive deep into what most leaders get wrong about company culture, how to recognise (and eliminate) toxic behaviours, and why servant leadership is the most powerful leadership style for scaling a business and empowering teams.
40 min
17
How Assets Set You Financially Free
What if everything you thought you knew about money was holding you back? Featuring Sharon Lechter—co-author of the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad, presidential financial-literacy advisor under Presidents Bush and Obama, and longtime philanthropist—this episode will transform how you think about income, assets, and true wealth.
32 min
18
Strategic Shifts for Successful Exits
What If Your Success Habits Are Now Holding You Back? You’ve built something from the ground up—but what if the very traits that made you a successful founder are now the biggest blockers to scaling and exiting?
67 min
19
From Chaos to Consistency: McDonalds Blueprint ...
Ever wonder how a simple idea can transform chaos into consistency—even during a crisis? Discover how McDonald's golden arches inspire a resilient, systemised business strategy for navigating uncertainty.
37 min
20
Unlocking the Science of Selling
What if your sales breakthrough lies in the science of decision-making? In this episode of the business strategist host Adam Strong and best-selling author Peri Shawn dive into the science behind successful selling. They uncover how neuroscience drives client behaviour, the power of emotional engagement, and the art of asking the right questions. Learn how to transition from traditional sales pitches to a strategy that aligns with the natural buying decision, ensuring your sales conversations are efficient, engaging, and conversion-driven.
46 min
21
Gratitude: The Leadership Superpower You’re Not...
How do you build a great culture? In this dynamic conversation, Adam and Chester delve into the power of creating a great culture. They explore how effective communication, intentional gratitude, and a deep understanding of people drive business success and foster lasting change—both in organisations and in life.
49 min
22
Cracking the Leadership Code
What truly separates a good leader from a great one? In this episode of The Business Strategist, leadership expert and bestselling author Alain Hunkins reveals how to crack the code that turns good leaders into great ones.
41 min
23
From $0 to $419M: Leadership & the 9-Figure CEO...
How do 9-figure CEOs think differently? Mike Fata built and sold Manitoba Harvest for $419M—today, he’s revealing the mindset shifts, toughest decisions, and biggest lessons that took him from startup founder to industry leader.
62 min
24
Leadership Reality Check: How to Align Your Int...
Why do 8 in 10 leaders accidentally repel their teams? (Hint: It’s not their strategy.) Sylvie di Giusto—part neuroscientist, part 3D wizard—unlocks the secret to aligning your intent with your team’s reality.
58 min
25
The Exit Playbook: Why Acquisitions Are Your Fa...
What if you could skip the 3-year startup grind and scale your business… by buying one instead?
54 min