Advice on career path (biz development/strategy/operations)

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Originally Posted by Brian

TS can you elaborate what you mean by business strategy? Which part of your current job as a sales support executive or your studies as an engineer is it that you don't like and think being in a strategic planning career path will be better for your interest?

I am asking because my gut sense is you are just throwing out big words without understanding what they mean.

My intention for biz strategy will be more like biz operation planning.
For example, the company decided to expand their services to another field and need some studies and planning on that. The nearest applicable I found is management consulting, particularly on energy companies, as that can utilize my engineering knowledge.

Indeed, my understanding might be different from what the real situation is, that's why I am asking here and hoping all the expect willing to share some knowledge =)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Another just left school youngster who just started work already fantasizing of being the strategy guy. If you really have the potential, you would be in 1 of those big MNC as a Management Trainee or in ministry as an Administrative Officer, not languishing as some sales support staff in an equipment company.

It is true that I am not really elite la..but I do hope I can work my way to it and I willing to try. I know reality is harsh, but at least gotta give it a try too, isn't? =)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Strategy refers to overall management strategy of the company, not just a department. You usually report direct to the CEO and your work involves the long term strategy of the company. This means you are heavily involved in m&a, business planning, project finance and other major projects.

My advise to the aspiring TS, try to get into commercial management or business development (the real kind, not sales), the "revenue centers", or finance. It will be tough to get into strategy by doing operations or support roles.

I apologize for didn't state clearly my definition for 'strategy' is..
I am not crazy with all those CEO/COO level job and wanna decide a fate of company when I am just a fresh grad..

My focus will be more like what mentioned above, such as a new operations planning by the company..

The nearest job I found so far is management consulting for energy companies, or perhaps business development (though most of the become sales) , as what you mentioned.

I am just a newbie to this world, I might sounds stupid.
Appreciate much for all the guidance provided =)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Strategy refers to overall management strategy of the company, not just a department. You usually report direct to the CEO and your work involves the long term strategy of the company. This means you are heavily involved in m&a, business planning, project finance and other major projects.

My advise to the aspiring TS, try to get into commercial management or business development (the real kind, not sales), the "revenue centers", or finance. It will be tough to get into strategy by doing operations or support roles.

There is no such thing as "overall strategy" of the company, that is a prevalent misconception of many junior level staff not familiar with how boardroom and exco dynamics work.

Any major project will involve multiple collaobration of departments & specialtise. For e.g. if you have a major M&A coming up, the project group will be chaired by the CEO and members will usually comprise representatives like CFO, COO, CHRO, CTO, Legal Counsel, major subsidiary/regional MDs and external side will have folks like investment bankers, management consultants, regulatory specialists and PR firms. There is also that complicated interaction of ideas between Exco, Board and Substantial Shareholders.

You don't have just 1 guy or a group of people doing "strategy planning" reporting directly to CEO and being the only guys involve in "planning" the strategy. It just wouldn't fly in any sizable company. What people usually refer to as company strategy is actually the convergence of various departmental strategies and the CEO/Board/Influential Shareholders' future vision interpreted and distilled as "strategy".

Originally Posted by Unregistered

There is no such thing as "overall strategy" of the company, that is a prevalent misconception of many junior level staff not familiar with how boardroom and exco dynamics work.

Any major project will involve multiple collaobration of departments & specialtise. For e.g. if you have a major M&A coming up, the project group will be chaired by the CEO and members will usually comprise representatives like CFO, COO, CHRO, CTO, Legal Counsel, major subsidiary/regional MDs and external side will have folks like investment bankers, management consultants, regulatory specialists and PR firms. There is also that complicated interaction of ideas between Exco, Board and Substantial Shareholders.

You don't have just 1 guy or a group of people doing "strategy planning" reporting directly to CEO and being the only guys involve in "planning" the strategy. It just wouldn't fly in any sizable company. What people usually refer to as company strategy is actually the convergence of various departmental strategies and the CEO/Board/Influential Shareholders' future vision interpreted and distilled as "strategy".

You are right. For M&As the working team on the buy side usually comprises of people from different functional departments who are double hatting on their regular roles. Not sure about the team composition on the buy side if buyer is purely a financial institution like a PE/fund/bank though.

The trend nowadays in big companies is for enlightened CEOs to have a C-Level Head of Strategy with no or very few direct reports. This guy is usually a brilliant INSEAD grad who graduated top of his class and works very closely with the CEO. He is not a Dy CEO or COO but looks specifically in charting overall strategy of the company. It could be M&A, it could be cost cutting, downsizing, outsourcing, anything under the sun. Of course, the actual work gets executed by the operational functions.

These people are usually on the fast track and go on to head major acquisitions/ subsidiaries. I have come across such people in 2 large organizations so far.

For a young aspiring executive aspiring to get into "strategy", you are the peon doing the number crunching and leg work in the M&A team. The CEO will then then have to get the EXCO and board/shareholders' buy-in and approvals depending on internal limits of authority.