Stories, thoughts, and ideas…
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The Battle for Consulting’s Identity Amidst AI Revolution
Please don’t forget to subscribe and like. The city’s skyline, mirrored in the glass walls of the BHNA boardroom, set the stage for a pivotal meeting. Seven partners—Aella, Alexa, Ehliam,…
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Beneath the Surface: Detecting the Early Signs of Financial Distress Before Crisis Hits
The downtown MBA classroom hummed with the energy of power brokers during break. I, Malvin, lingered near the espresso machine, notebook ready, when the conversation at the high table drew…
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Why Maximizing Customer Service Demands Intentional Business Operations
Designing for Excellence: The conference room at a Big 4 consultancy is humming with anticipation. Two companies—one renowned for its relentless pursuit of customer service quality, the other for its…
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The Hidden Engine: How First-Line Management and Real Problem Solving Build Lasting Organizational Success
Beneath the sprawling, flame-lit skies of Dar es Salaam, the city’s silhouettes rise sharply: glass towers reflecting the gold of a fading sun, palm trees trembling in the ocean breeze,…
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AI’s Transformative Impact on Work in 2026
In 2026, conversations on an Abidjan to Cotonou bus focus on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on work and society. Diverse perspectives highlight both opportunities and challenges, emphasizing…
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Under Fifty Thousand Eyes: The Awakening of Sophiascus
Citizens of Rome! Children of the Eternal Flame, witnesses of glory and keepers of memory: lend thine ears to the voice of thy Emperor. Today, beneath the blazing heavens, within…
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Beyond the 70% Failure Rate: What the Best Organizations Do Differently
Approximately 70% of organizational transformations fail due to poor leadership engagement, inadequate cultural preparation, and lack of strategic coherence. Professor Laurentz’s Effective and Efficient Strategic Transformation (EEST) emphasizes shared commitment,…
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The Hexagon of Success
Malvin’s Introduction You know, in the Netherlands, we have a saying: “Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg.” It means, “Just act normal, that’s crazy enough.” But what…
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How BlueBarred Is Redefining Human + Machine Advantage
In Bogota, BlueBarred, one of the world’s top three global distributors, is at an inflection point. The company has grown big, bulky, and successful, but executives know its scale and legacy…
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Navigating Black Hole Decisions in Business and in life
Edwin Kwame reflects on navigating critical business crises, likening them to black holes that distort decision-making. He emphasizes trust, preparation, and perspective as essential tools for leaders facing daunting choices.…
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The Perils of Affinity Bias in Immigrant Communities
The story of Marcus Okoro illustrates the unique optimism of immigrants, shaped by struggles yet refined by resilience. His journey reveals the complexities of community and the mistakes of assuming…
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Political Capital, Personal Brand, and Psychological Safety: The Coaching Trio Behind Breakthrough Careers
Written by Melvin Bosso The cabin lights were dimmed to a soft gold, and the hum of the engines gave the whole space a low, steady heartbeat. In the front…
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Transform Your Management Style with AI Insights
Written by Melvin Bosso Insightful conversation between Jim Gates and Richmond Buffet, with Bill Jobs, technology enthusiasts introducing the topics. Bill Jobs:Welcome, everyone, to our executive roundtable. Today, we’re diving…
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The Playbook Nobody Gave Me
Written by Melvin Bosso A Story About Mines, Money, and the People Who Keep It All Together The sun hadn’t fully committed to rising yet when Maimouna Diallo set her…
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You’re Buying One Level and Expecting Another Level
The Dangerous Disconnect Between What Clients Pay For and What They Actually Need Written by Melvin Bosso There is a conversation happening in boardrooms and executive suites across industries that…
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Design Begins with Discovery: The 5 Pillars You Must Explore Before Building Any Program
Join Graham Norton’s unique show where comedians tackle business transformation with witty insights into topics like Program Objectives and Success Levers.
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The Four Types of Account Leaders: Insights for Success
Nanan Martin explains four types of account leaders to David Lung while they repaint a living room. Rainmakers actively cultivate strong, multifaceted client relationships and collaborate with partners, while opportunists…
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Aboisso Airlines’ Journey to Forecasting Excellence
A BBC Documentary Narrative Prologue: Dawn Over the City The city of Abidjan stirs to life as the first rays of sunlight spill across the skyline, glinting off the glass…
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Waves, Footprints, and a True Beginning: Why Your ‘First Real Day’ at Work Matters
The conversation between Nanan Martin and his niece Aykway on Monogaga Beach explores the essence of genuine leadership. Martin emphasizes that a career truly begins when work aligns with personal…
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A Conversation on Leadership with Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela
Written by Melvin Bosso… A fictional conversation Setting the Scene The room was quiet but warm, tall windows breathing in the scent of rain-soaked earth, soft jazz whispering in the…
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Spin the Wheel, Leave a Mark
In business, everyone wants to make their mark, but few stop to ask what kind of mark they’re leaving behind. “Spin the Wheel, Leave a Mark” isn’t about chasing short-term…
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Understanding Where External Help Truly Adds Value
Written by Melvin Bosso, You will recognize the characters of the tv show Seinfeld George read the email from Tamia Professional Services for the fifth time in the hotel lobby.“Senior…
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Beyond One‑Dimensional Debates: The Discipline of Three‑Level Thinking
Thinking is hard; arguing is harder; and arguing constructively is harder still. When I was 16, growing up in the Netherlands amid rapid social change, I struggled to have conversations that…
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“The Blueprint for Tomorrow’s Aerospace Champion”
Strategic Shoring, Scarce Talent, and Tier 4 Bottlenecks Written by MB, Ruben Fletcher adjusts the recliner so that his former CEO, George Comoé, can see the printed pages more easily.…
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Signals in the Noise:
How the Abobo Refinery Uses Variance Analysis to “WIN”? Written by MB At the heart of West Africa’s industrial corridor stands the Abobo Refinery, a vast organism of metal, motion,…
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Under the Lilongwe Lights: What Football (soccer) Teaches About Work and Life
Lilongwe is alive on the night of the World Cup final. The city hums like an orchestra before a grand performance: streetlights glowing over jacaranda-lined avenues, market stalls spilling out…
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THANK YOU and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
To every reader and subscriber, thank you for showing up all year long, for reading, sharing, and debating these reflections on leadership, careers, transformation, and consulting. Strategy, Character, and the…
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Swinging Into the Future: A Playground Conversation About AI and Consulting
In a playground setting, seasoned consultant James observes younger colleagues Oliver and Popeye discussing the transformative impacts of AI on their consulting work. They acknowledge AI’s role in automating repetitive…
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Four Questions Every Cost Transformation Leadership team Must Answer
At the 2026 Jamestown AI-Powered Cost Transformation Conference, keynote speaker Paola Neba emphasizes the critical questions that define successful cost transformation. Instead of mere budgeting, businesses must clarify expectations of…
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Dilemmas at the Top, Symptoms at the Bottom: Rethinking How Organizations Decide
A 15-minute live podcast script concept for “Sophia’s Take on Business”, featuring Sophia King and Peter Katina . It blends tension, thought-provoking discussion, and audience-friendly framing.
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Ripples, Not Heroes: How Jacqueline Learned to Design Organizations Beyond Individuals
Jacqueline always said the beer tasted better in retirement. Fifteen years after they had both turned in their corporate badges, she and Christianne sat at the same mahogany bar where…
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Between Two Worlds (Part 4 – third conversation from the Middle)
Beyond Blame: Making Systems Learn from Failure Returning once more to the conference room in Metz, the memory of our first gatherings lingered like a familiar weight on my shoulders.…
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Between Two Worlds (Part 3 – Second Conversation from the Middle)
Culture Carriers: Storytelling, Clarity, and Joy in Times of Change When I think back to that winter morning in Metz, what stays with me is not only the smoke outside,…
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Between Two Worlds (Part 2 – First Conversation from the Middle)
The Quiet Thread Between Worlds “Between Two Worlds” explored the subtle, often invisible life of middle managers, a role poised between the ambitions of executives and the realities of frontline…
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Between Two Worlds: The Hidden Life of Middle Management (Part 1 – The Morning in Metz)
I have spent most of my professional life in the space between decisions and action, where strategy meets execution and ambition collides with human reality. That delicate territory is what…
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Authenticity, Ambition, and the Art of the Interview: Lessons from a Global Mentor
The air in Casablanca shimmered as if brushed by gold. Autumn light softened the city’s edges and set its old medina ablaze with mystery. Every alley and rooftop seemed to…
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Decoding Constraints: The 3-3-3 Method and the Future of Aircraft Assembly Excellence
Keynote Lecture for the Global Continuous Improvement Summit – Aerospace Edition Good morning, transformation pilots and masters of precision!Today, we take flight on a journey that merges the philosophy of…
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Choosing the Change Makers: The Art and Discipline of Proudfoot’s Taskforce Selection
Title: Friday Morning Potluck Choosing the Team for Project Blue Operations The cafeteria at Proudfoot Trail Company was unusually cheerful that Friday morning. The aroma of roasted coffee mixed with…
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Unpacking the Challenges of a Modern Bottling Line using DILO’s? (Day In the Life Of)
The first light of day barely pierced the fog coiling around the low hills along the Sassandra River as I pulled up to the brewery’s security gate at 5:10 a.m.…
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Tactical Harmony: How Four Systems Shape High-Performing Organizations
This article explores how KPI, Skill, Action Log, and Master Plan collectively drive business excellence. Set amid a lively workplace debate, the narrative illustrates their ongoing interplay—KPI trees steer strategic…
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How Leadership beats uncertainty during Transformation journey’s – Lessons from Blue Spider
Inside the Blue Spider Transformation Let me tell you, the day we kicked off the Blue Spider Project is burned into my memory. The Baka Group’s executive suite was humming…
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The Silk and the Self: A Mumbai Morning of Revelations
Mumbai’s morning is not just about sunrise—it’s a visceral awakening. Horns blare, hawkers sing, and the entire city seems to inhale the spicy tang of masala layered with the damp…
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Intangibles in Action: What it really takes to transform together
Let me draw you into the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba—a city accustomed to the formidable companionship of autumn wind. Here, endurance is measured in both steps and stories, and the…
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The Economics of Possibility: What a Cab Ride Can Teach Us About Strategic Boldness
On that day, Schiphol Airport hums with activity, alive with the rhythm of countless travelers. It acts as both gateway and threshold—each passenger arriving with anticipation, each carrying a story…
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At the Roundtable of Progress: Redefining Benchmarks for Real Impact
The sunlit executive dining hall is a microcosm of innovation—a stage elegantly illuminated for collective discovery and transformation. Imagine the gleaming glassware, the table round and inviting, each leader’s expression…
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A Call Home from Denisetown: How Professor Koplo Transformed My Understanding of Business, Failure, and the Power of Circularity
A Call Home from Denisetown: How Professor Koplo Transformed My Understanding of Business, Failure, and the Power of Circularity Before this semester at the University of Denisetown in the Ivory…
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When Viruses Meet Ventures: How Epidemiology Can Accelerate Innovation in Global Companies
The hotel bar buzzed with the low hum of post-conference conversations. Delegates from around the world, fresh from a day of sessions on “The Rise and Fall of COVID-19,” nursed…
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Motivation: The Dance Between Inspiration and Drive
Motivation: The Dance Between Inspiration and Drive Motivation is a subject that fascinates almost everyone—whether you’re striving for a personal goal, leading a team, or simply trying to get through…
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Let’s talk careers
Not sure who needs to read them but If it’s you I hope you enjoy it. Story 1: Kimbu – The Dawn of Ambition Kimbu sat at her desk, her…
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The New Sheriff on the Atlantic Platform
Onboarding a new Front Line Leader MentorAli Charlie leaned on the safety rail of the offshore platform, watching the Atlantic swell roll in gentle, heavy breaths against the steel legs…
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The Tamian Chronicles: Six People, One RFP, and Absolutely No Sleep
In “A Story About Teamwork, Deadlines, and the Fine Art of Not Killing Your Colleagues,” Melvin Bosso narrates the dynamics of a consulting team tackling a high-stakes RFP for Tamian…