Ever been told you need to “be more strategic,” only to sit there wondering what that even means, or what the heck you’re supposed to do next?
I heard that feedback countless times—and other versions of it like “think bigger picture”—and it drove me crazy. I knew I had great ideas. I just didn’t know how to package and present them so others saw me as the strategic thinker I knew I could be.
My CEO once told me I may have to face the fact that I might never become a VP because I just wasn’t strategic. To someone like me who had always been successful in my career, this was massively frustrating.
I was willing to take action but had no idea what action to take.
Fast forward through reading dozens of books, observing many leaders and a ton of trial and error, and I went on to become a successful VP and EVP.
I joke that I’ve thought about this topic more than any other person on the planet.
But once I was on the other side, I noticed that so many women struggle with this same perception problem.
My goal is to save you the 5 years it took me to figure it out!
So, I built a simple model to help you go from “just an executor” to “trusted strategic partner.”
And that’s what I’ll be sharing in today’s newsletter. Let’s dive in…
The Strategic Pyramid
Think of strategic leadership as a four‑layer pyramid:
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Expertise (Foundation)
Your deep knowledge of your function: technical skills, industry know‑how, and years of experience. You need this to come up with the key insights that come next.
Action step: List your top 3 areas of expertise and a recent win for each.
Insights (Next Layer)
When you’re sharing key insights, you need to go beyond “what happened.” The insight comes from uncovering why it happened and what it means.
Action step: Pick a metric you own, dig into the “why,” and craft a one‑sentence insight.
Judgment (Middle Layer)
Choose which insights matter most and decide the best path forward.
Action step: For that insight, write two possible recommendations—then choose one and explain your rationale.
If you’re stuck, reach out to a peer you trust and respect, and get their advice.
Framing (Capstone)
This is where you package everything so it lands: your opening hook, the story arc, and the clear “ask.”
Action step: Draft a two‑sentence intro to your recommendation: start with context (“Because Q2 revenue dipped 5%…”) and end with your proposal.
Stack these layers, and you’ll move from “Here are the numbers” to “Here’s why, here’s what we should do, and here’s how to make it happen”—the essence of being strategic.
Your leadership team will see that you recognize what’s important, and what to do about it. And this is the key to being seen as VP-ready.
Try It This Week
- Choose an upcoming meeting where you usually share updates.
- Apply the pyramid: lead with one strong insight, back it up with judgment, and frame your recommendation.
- Notice the shift as people lean in—because you’re speaking their language.
If you loved this framework, check out the ‘PS’ below!
Until next time friends… ✌️💜
Katy
P.S. If you found this helpful and want to master it, my Own Your Seat at the Table program dedicates two full sessions to this framework—walking you step‑by‑step through real examples and ensuring you’re ready to apply it and see results.
