Energizing For Our Management Team Rather Than a Drain on Them

MobileIron was seeking a partner to design and facilitate a strategic planning process that would be leveraged for several purposes. Michael Brainard and his team designed a custom, inclusive, and holistic planning process that was “right-sized” for our situation.

I have leveraged large strategy firms in the past and can say the Brainard Strategy process is substantially different for four specific reasons. First, Michael listened and built a framework that drove inclusiveness and a collective understanding of our challenges. This was fundamental in enabling the changes we need to implement as a team post planning process. Second, the process was developmental in nature. Many leaders on our team have become “rusty” or have been “less than” strategic relative to previous processes.

The best practices, activities, tools, and templates allowed us to move fast and to create learning around strategic planning that a “do it for us” firm might not have offered. Third, the process and the engagement was very practical and applied. Michael was able to touch on the “why” or the theory and then move us rapidly to a practical outcome around that segment. Finally, the process was iterative. We would do “short sprints” on a strategic question and then re-visit that topic 2-3 times as we refined our thinking. This was unique to my team and me, as we were not focused for 1-2 weeks deeply on a single challenge. Brainard Strategy used this innovative approach to drive comprehensive strategic planning around our most critical areas.

This process was energizing for our management team rather than a drain on them. MobileIron will continue to leverage Brainard Strategy relative to strategic planning, leadership development and organizational development.

Barry Mainz
President and CEO
MobileIron