Mike Jones
Transform strategy execution with Mike Jones, speaker, organisational psychologist, and strategy advisor. Mike works with CEOs and senior teams to bridge strategy-reality gaps, lead effectively through complexity, and eliminate strategy theatre, delivering proven insights for clients including Network Rail, the NHS, and Amazon.
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
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After leading soldiers on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and training future officers at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Mike left the Army with a medical discharge and complex PTSD—and a hard-won scepticism of tidy plans. That experience, of watching elegant strategies collapse on contact with chaos, became the foundation of his work.
As founder of LBI Consulting, Mike works with CEOs, boards, and senior teams in organisations including Network Rail, the NHS, Amazon, and England Rugby. His focus: helping leaders move beyond "strategy theatre"—the endless decks, slogans, and off-sites that look impressive but fail to change anything—toward organisations that can adapt while they act.
Drawing on complexity science, systems thinking, and military doctrine like mission command, Mike challenges the orthodoxy that strategy is about control and prediction. Instead, he helps leaders build structures where information flows freely, authority moves to where the knowledge is, and decisions survive contact with the real world.
Mike hosts the Strategy Meets Reality podcast and writes for a growing international audience of senior leaders through his Substack and LBI Consulting insights series. His forthcoming book, When Strategy Meets Reality, will be published later this year.
Mike speaks with candour, cuts through corporate nonsense, and brings hard-won lessons from war, trauma, and organisational life to help leaders think differently about strategy itself.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
In this talk, Mike Jones reveals that most strategies fail not due to poor execution, but because they are designed for an unrealistic world. Drawing on his military leadership experience and work with complex organisations, he highlights how traditional planning often leads to ineffective strategies. Mike advocates for viewing strategy as a dynamic process of orientation, decision-making, and adaptation. Attendees will learn how to create strategies that withstand real-world challenges and drive effective decision-making.
Mike Jones discusses how traditional organisational structures hinder agility by centralising control, leading to paralysis in fast-paced environments. He advocates for decentralising authority, empowering the individuals closest to the challenges to make decisions while remaining aligned with organisational goals. By applying principles from complexity theory and military practices, Mike emphasises the importance of clear intent at the top and freedom of action at the edge. Attendees will learn how to foster disciplined adaptability for successful transformation in their organisations.
In this keynote, Mike Jones addresses the common call for clarity in boardrooms and strategy reviews. He argues that an excessive focus on clarity can lead to strategic self-harm, creating fragility rather than alignment. Mike introduces the concept of strategic ambiguity as a disciplined capability, allowing organizations to remain agile while maintaining coherence. Attendees will learn how to balance clarity of intent with flexibility in methods, enabling them to respond effectively to dynamic environments.
In his talk, Mike Jones challenges traditional leadership models that rely on predictable cause and effect. He emphasizes that such assumptions lead to fragile organizations. Drawing from complexity science and his own experiences, Mike presents a new approach to leadership focused on fostering conditions for intelligent action rather than controlling every decision. Attendees will learn how to lead effectively in uncertain environments, recognizing that those closest to the work often possess the most valuable insights.
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
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Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
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Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
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