The CEO's Playbook: Winning Business Strategy for 2035

In today's rapidly changing global economy, CEOs of small-to-medium businesses face a mix of unprecedented opportunities and significant risks. A long-term strategy that balances innovation, technology integration, and sustainability isn't just an option, it's essential for survival and growth. This playbook outlines practical frameworks and future-proofing techniques to help leaders craft a winning strategy for the next decade, ensuring growth, resilience, and a lasting competitive advantage.

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Why Strategy Demands a New Mindset

The pace of change has never been faster. Emerging technologies, shifting consumer expectations, and intensified global competition are reshaping industries, leaving little room for complacency. The strategies that worked five years ago are unlikely to be effective in the decade ahead. For New Zealand businesses, the global market is more accessible than ever, but it also brings new vulnerabilities. Digital transformation, automation, and AI are democratising opportunity while simultaneously intensifying competition. Meanwhile, sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) responsibilities are now critical factors shaping investment and customer loyalty.

At Josty, we believe empowering growth requires more than reacting to trends. It demands a proactive approach to business model innovation, underpinned by clear strategic planning, robust leadership development, and a commitment to continuous corporate development. The next decade will reward businesses that blend market analysis, data analytics, and risk management with a culture of agility and resilience.

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Core Elements of a Winning Business Strategy

A long-term strategy provides stability and direction in a world defined by volatility and uncertainty. Key factors driving this need include:

• Globalisation: SMEs must both compete globally and defend against international competitors in local markets.

• Technological disruption: Technology presents both a risk (e.g., cybersecurity threats) and an opportunity (e.g., automation).

• Customer expectations: Modern consumers demand innovation, sustainability, and digital-first experiences.

Future-proofing your business is about adaptability, not just efficiency. You must invest in innovation to stay relevant and build resilience into your operations by diversifying supply chains and adopting flexible business models.

Here are the core elements to focus on:

• Market Analysis and Foresight: A deep understanding of the market is the foundation of strategic planning. Use data analytics to track customer needs, competitor moves, and industry shifts. Conduct regular market analysis and invest in scenario planning to test the resilience of your strategy against multiple futures.

• Technology Integration and Digital Transformation: Digital tools are no longer optional. Implementing automation can reduce costs, while leveraging AI can enhance forecasting and customer personalisation. Prioritise cybersecurity to protect your business in a digital-first world.

• Building Competitive Advantage Through Leadership and Culture: A winning strategy is executed by people. Strong leadership and a resilient organisational culture are crucial differentiators. Foster a culture of innovation, invest in leadership development at every level, and encourage cross-functional collaboration to enhance agility.

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Practical Frameworks for the Next Decade

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Data analytics is a central driver of business innovation. Leaders must embed data into everyday decision-making, using analytics for predictive modelling and customer insights.

• Sustainability and ESG Considerations: Sustainability is no longer a choice it's a requirement from investors, customers, and regulators. Embedding ESG principles into your strategic planning can drive efficiency and enhance brand reputation.

• Risk Management and Adaptability: The only certainty about the next decade is uncertainty. Build risk management into your strategy by identifying key risks, creating contingency plans, and building flexibility into your organisational structure to pivot quickly.

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Emerging Trends Every CEO Must Watch

• AI, Automation, and Data Analytics: These technologies will redefine industries, driving efficiency and unlocking new opportunities. Businesses that embrace them early will establish a significant competitive advantage.

• Talent Management and Leadership Development: Future success hinges on your people. Retaining top talent requires a focus on organisational culture, flexible work models, and continuous leadership development.

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Expanding the Playbook: Strategic Priorities

• Customer-Centric Innovation: Place your customers at the heart of every decision. Use technology for personalisation and build feedback loops to act on customer insights in real-time.

• Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystems: No business operates in isolation. The future will reward companies that build strong ecosystems of partners and suppliers. Explore cross-industry alliances and consider mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth.

• Agility in Business Model Innovation: The ability to pivot quickly will define the winners of 2035. Treat business model innovation as an ongoing process, whether through new subscription models, platform strategies, or hybrid operations.

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A 10-Step CEO Action Plan for 2035

1. Define Your Long-Term Vision: Create a clear strategic direction for the next decade.

2. Conduct Deep Market Analysis: Use data analytics to understand customers, competitors, and regulatory changes.

3. Prioritise Digital Transformation: Invest in automation, AI, and cybersecurity as core enablers.

4. Embed ESG into Strategy: Align operations with sustainability goals.

5. Strengthen Organisational Culture: Build a culture of innovation, wellbeing, and leadership development.

6. Diversify and Build Partnerships: Reduce dependency on single suppliers and explore collaborations.

7. Adopt Agile Business Models: Be ready to pivot with new revenue streams and offerings.

8. Build Robust Risk Management Frameworks: Prepare for supply chain, financial, and technology disruptions.

9. Set Measurable KPIs and Governance: Track progress with clear metrics and leadership accountability.

10. Commit to Continuous Adaptation: Treat your strategy as a living framework, refined regularly to align with new trends.

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Final Thoughts: Building the Strategy for 2035

The path to 2035 won't be linear. The challenges of globalisation, technological disruption, and sustainability will continue to reshape industries. However, with the right long-term strategy, small-to-medium New Zealand businesses can thrive.

At Josty, we are committed to empowering growth and securing success for businesses across New Zealand. Our expertise in strategic planning, leadership development, and corporate advisory equips SMEs with the tools they need to build winning strategies for the decade ahead. The next 10 years will reward organisations that act boldly, innovate consistently, and cultivate resilience at every level.

Post Written by Jason Jost

Can Your Business Model Adapt to Market Changes?

 

Navigating Change: The Agile Business Model

In today's dynamic business landscape, change is constant, not an anomaly. Whether it's technological shifts, evolving customer expectations, or global events, your business model must be adaptable to ensure long-term survival and growth. At Josty, we've witnessed how businesses embedding agility, resilience, and continuous learning into their operations consistently outperform competitors, while those clinging to outdated models risk obsolescence.

Your business model defines how you create, deliver, and capture value, encompassing everything from products and customers to cost structures and distribution. The need for this model to evolve is accelerating due to rapid technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviours (demanding transparency and personalisation), and relentless competition. Stagnation in profits, high customer churn, or significant industry and regulatory changes are all clear signals that it’s time to adapt. Are your competitors offering more value, or is your reliance on a single revenue stream becoming a vulnerability?

Strategically pivoting your business model involves several key steps. First, diagnose with data to identify performance issues and market trends. Next, engage stakeholders, your team, suppliers, and customers, to ensure a smooth transition. Crucially, redefine your value proposition to align with current market demands. Then, diversify revenue streams and optimise cost structures, exploring new models like subscriptions or bundling. Finally, implement, measure, and refine using lean methodologies, celebrating quick wins to build momentum.

My own experience highlighted this necessity: adapting our product range and production processes in response to changing customer needs allowed us to not just survive but gain a competitive edge and market leadership. This transformation was only possible by embracing business model innovation and risk mitigation.

To embed agility long-term, cultivate an innovation culture that encourages continuous learning and experimentation. Invest in R&D and talent development, strengthen strategic partnerships, and leverage technology as a force multiplier to automate workflows and enhance customer experience.

Ultimately, your ability to recognise the signs of change, act decisively, and pivot strategically will determine your success. At Josty, we help New Zealand businesses build agile, resilient models that flex with the market and scale with success, ensuring you lead change rather than merely reacting to it.

Read the full blog post here.

Post written by Jason Jost