Strategy
Planning

About the Event

“Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Strategy planning is one of those things everyone says they want to do—yet so many sessions fall flat. The reason? We confuse sticky notes with strategy. Real planning requires more than filling templates; it takes intentional facilitation, clarity on roles, and the right tools to turn vision into execution.

In this session of The Problem Solver’s Dojo, we’ll dig into what it actually takes to run a strategy planning session that works. From setting the stage, to guiding dialogue, to choosing the right framework, Sarah will share her playbook for making planning both practical and energizing.

Then it’s your turn. You’ll reflect on your own planning challenges, experiment with tools, and walk away with ideas you can use the next time you’re in the facilitator’s chair—or at the strategy table.

Key Takeaways

• Facilitate with Confidence: Learn simple tips to guide a strategy session without getting lost in the weeds.

• Plan the Planning: Discover how to set objectives, structure conversations, and define roles that keep strategy on track.

• Use the Right Tools: Explore frameworks—from SWOT to Hoshin Kanri—that help translate vision into action.

• Turn Vision Into Action: Leave with practical insights and templates you can apply to your own team or organization.

About Sarah

Sarah Tilkens is the CEO of The KPI Lab, a Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean strategist, and leadership coach who believes strategy is only as strong as the people who create it. With 10,000+ hours coaching leaders and facilitating large-scale planning sessions, she has helped organizations set bold visions and build the systems to reach them. Sarah’s approach combines operational excellence with people-first facilitation—because the best strategies aren’t just written, they’re lived.